Chapter 5 Matteo
MATTEO
“What the fuck?” Frank shouted, grabbing at his bleeding nose. “Why the fuck did you punch me?”
“Learn to drive,” Klaus snapped, shaking out his hand. “My dick has razor burn from your ass.”
“Stop putting your dick in Frank’s ass,” Alessio said conversationally as he stepped out of the SUV and stretched.
Klaus gave Alessio the finger as Frank called Klaus an asshole.
I sighed and shook my head.
What a night.
“Brothers,” I called out. “Come. Let us relax for the evening.”
I nodded to my men at the front door to my mansion. I’d drunk a little too much and fucked a little too hard. Kayley hadn’t been a very good lay, but it was probably better than nothing, and she was willing to have turns taken on her.
We entered the house, leaving Frank to his bleeding nose. The doctor who had been watching over Evan reported that Evan slept well and was happy to receive the new laptop, notebooks, and a variety of pens I’d gotten him.
That made me happy. He was a talented guy, and I saw great things for him. It gutted me that he had to give up his passion for football because I really thought he’d make it big, but we all make sacrifices in this world. I knew that firsthand.
We went into my office, where we settled around the bar and drank some more.
“I should have gone home,” Klaus muttered, finishing his second drink.
“You have a room here,” I said. “I don’t know why either of you bothers with your own places.”
“I do enjoy my alone time,” Alessio said. “And I know Klaus does as well. It is nice for us to leave this world behind for a moment.”
I grunted. Lucky for them. I never got to leave. It was my world, a hell I couldn’t escape.
“News on your old man?” Klaus asked, eyeing me.
I sighed. “No. He said something had come up that he needed to deal with. I assume that was the fire in the underground.”
Alessio scowled at the information. “He is a prick, Teo. We should have killed him long ago.”
“And you know I would have if I could get to him.” I took a deep drink, my irritation rising. I hated my father. I hated my mother. In fact, I was certain they hated one another. Arranged marriages were the norm in my family, and we had certain… traditions.
Giving up my family and marrying the woman I was arranged to marry to save the love of my life and children had nearly killed me.
Despite my sacrifice, my daughter still died, and my father still fucked my wife and created a half-brother I was forced to raise as my own.
I hated Dominic. Whenever I looked at him, all I could see was what was forced on me. On what I’d lost. On what I’d watched happen as my father sank his dick into my wife’s trembling body first. As I got news that my daughter and soul mate had both been murdered, and my sons were gone.
I never stopped looking. I searched the city every night. Rarely slept, and when I did, I had nightmares of Del reaching for me and begging me to save her. Or hearing my little girl cry for her daddy. Of my sons trying to be brave.
I wanted to find my boys. Bring them home. Alessio and Klaus gently told me the boys were likely dead by now.
And then… Alessandro called Alessio. He’d been here the entire time. The best kept secret Everett had. I’d heard my son’s name, the Archangel, whispered in fear and never knew it was him.
I tried to make it through, though. I was still trying with Dominic, and now Alessandro and Tomasso were home.
Dominic was…
Damnit.
I didn’t want to think about it. It made me sick to know I might have ruined everything.
Sylar assured me everything was going to plan as long as I did as was instructed. I didn’t like having someone else guide my life, but I’d been struggling lately, and I needed the help.
I also needed a break.
Waiting to be killed wasn’t working for me. I was untouchable.
I breathed out and drank more. Our conversation continued until both Alessio and Klaus wandered to their rooms upstairs. I drank another glass before I went to the third floor, where my room was.
The same floor I kept Bianca on.
I paused outside her door. It was late. Too late to be bothering her, yet I found myself pushing open her door and stepping inside.
Quietly, I walked to her bed to see her sleeping soundly.
She really was beautiful. I admired her more than I’d ever have the guts to admit to her.
The girl was so damn brave. The things she’d been through…
It made me sick to know she’d been through such horrors, but it made me sicker to know I’d made her hate me long ago with my own anger and hatred.
I had to own that, and it was hard to face my mistakes. It didn’t help that I was still struggling with my feelings for Dominic.
I blew out a soft breath and reached out. Gently, I lifted a lock of her long, silky blonde hair and rubbed it between my fingers and thumb.
Her eyelids fluttered before I was met with the brilliant blue of her eyes.
“Sweet princess,” I murmured, but only my words came out a little slurred.
“Matteo?” She sat up. “What are you doing in here?”
“I don’t know,” I said softly.
“Are you drunk?”
“I am.” I closed my eyes and decided I needed to sit. “So if you planned on killing me, now would be the time.”
She scooted out of bed and stood in front of me. I looked up at her.
We didn’t say a word.
Instead, I reached out and placed my hands on her swollen belly.
“Do the babies move a lot?” I asked, my voice low. “At night? Dominic was a night owl. Used to keep Anna up.”
“Sometimes,” she answered.
I closed my eyes as she placed her hands over mine.
“Dominic is lucky,” I said after a long pause. “To have love. I do not remember what it feels like.”
“You could,” she murmured.
I scoffed and moved my hands to her small waist. She tensed beneath my touch, but didn’t pull away from me.
“Do you love my son? Alessandro?”
“I care about him. He’s a good man.”
“Do you want to marry him?”
My question hung in the air for a long time before she answered.
“I want my babies to be safe. He offered me that.”
I closed my eyes. I knew this answer. It was the only reason he was doing it, because I knew he loved Rosalie.
“He is in love with another,” I said. “Like I was.”
“I know,” she said, her voice wavering.
“As long as you know,” I said, getting to my feet. I stumbled and swayed, but she grabbed me to keep me from toppling over.
“You’ll never make it to your room,” she said, helping me back to her bed. “Stay here tonight.”
I nodded, not wanting to fight it because I knew she was right. There was no way in hell I’d make it back to my bed. Klaus or Alessio would likely find me passed out in the hallway.
She helped me remove my shoes before pulling off my suit jacket. I fumbled for a moment before getting my pants off and dropping my shirt to the floor.
I looked at her tiredly, and she stared at me, her lips parted.
“What?” I asked.
“You just… um, I-I didn’t realize you had so many tattoos.”
“I enjoy art,” I murmured, sliding back in the bed and letting my head hit the pillow. “Come. Lie with me.”
She hesitated for a moment before crawling into bed next to me.
“If you want to kill me in my sleep, there’s a gun in my jacket. Safety is on.” I grabbed her hand and pressed it over my heart. “Shoot here. I want my boys to be still able to see my face after I die.”
Her hand trembled over my skin. I let her go, but she didn’t move it. Instead, she settled in close to me.
“You’re sad,” she said.
“I am.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No.”
We were both quiet for a moment before I spoke, my head spinning.
“I will let you speak to Dominic tomorrow if it is what you want.”
“Really?”
My guts clenched at the hope in her voice.
“Yes.”
“Are you only saying this because you’re drunk?”
“I am saying it because I promise it. Sleep, Bianca. The babies need their mommy to be strong and healthy. Tomorrow, you’ll speak to Dominic. Swear it.”
She didn’t say another word, but she didn’t remove her hand from my heart either.
I slipped into a slumber, really hoping she found my gun.