Chapter 37 Matteo
MATTEO
Istood in the hospital and held Sante in my arms. He looked a lot like Dominic had as a baby. A pang shot through my heart, wishing Dominic could be here to meet his son.
“You look like your daddy, Il piccolo principe,” I murmured before kissing the top of his head lightly. He’d been born with a full head of dark hair. Even his twin, Kingston, had hair.
“You will be strong like him, too,” I continued. I glanced over to see Bianca staring tiredly at me as she nursed Kingston. We’d been in the hospital for three days now. She’d be leaving tomorrow, and the twins were free to go.
She gave me a tired smile as I came to her.
“You should rest,” I said.
She shook her head, tears in her eyes. “The babies leave me today. I-I don’t know when I’ll see them again.”
“Soon, little queen,” I said gently.
Alessandro came into the room with two carseats, his hair windblown. Rosalie was with Trent and Alessandro’s friend Ryder at my estate. It was funny to me that she was only a few levels away from Evan and didn’t even know it.
Alessio waited in the hall, keeping watch as was our way.
Alessandro placed the carseats on the long table in the room, and I kissed Sante’s head one last time.
“I love you,” I whispered to him. “Be grandpa’s big, brave boy. Take care of your daddy when you get to him.” My throat burned as a tear slipped down my cheek.
“Dad?” Alessandro murmured, clearly having heard what I said.
I shook my head, letting him know we’d speak later, before I went to Bianca. Sante already had his fill.
She wept softly as I placed him in her arms.
“You won’t be away from them for long,” I said. “I promise, Bianca. This is to end the madness. It’s to give them a safe world. I swear.”
Her bottom lip wobbled, but she nodded and kissed each of her boys.
“I love you both so much,” she said, tears on her cheeks. “I’ll be home soon. Take care of your daddies for me.” She kissed them again, and we gave her a few moments as Alessandro went to look out the window next to me.
“Is everything in order?” I asked softly.
“Yes. I will leave here as soon as Bianca is done. The babies will go to Dom and the kings.”
“And your flight is booked? Everything settled?”
“Yes. We will stop in Colorado. Kurt—Santino—reached out and invited us to stop in. Rosalie wanted to go there anyway, so it worked out perfectly. We will hang out there for a few days before we continue on to L.A.”
I nodded, liking his plan.
“Is Klaus coming back?” he asked softly. “Or has he decided he doesn’t want Rosalie?”
“Klaus is handling his business. He needs this,” I said. “Trust that.”
“I just don’t want her to get hurt. He hasn’t reached out at all—”
“She is going to be yours, son. I saw to it,” I said.
He crinkled his brows at me. “You… did?”
“I did. Just give it time, OK?”
He nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “What about you?”
“I have plans with Bianca in the works.”
“What?” His eyes widened. “What plans?”
“Things we can discuss later. You have already broken things off, correct?”
He nodded, frowning. “I did. She really didn’t seem to mind.” He gave me a sad smile. He was quiet for a moment. “Dad? You and her… while I was engaged…?”
“I did not sleep with her,” I said.
“OK.” He didn’t question me. “Will you come out to L.A. and see us?”
“Yes. I will come.” I gave him a sad smile.
“You better.” His eyes raked over my face, like he knew I was full of shit. “Promise me.”
“I promise,” I said softly.
He nodded, his throat bobbing. “You fucking better, old man.”
I chuckled at that. “I would not lie.”
He stared at me for a moment before hugging me tightly to him. I hugged him back, my eyes burning.
“I love you, son,” I said. “We will talk soon. Get those babies to Dominic, and I will see you and Rosalie before you leave.”
He pulled away and wiped his eyes quickly before he went back to Bianca, who was still loving on her boys.
It took another moment, but finally Alessandro had the babies packed up. Alessandro hugged her, and she whispered something to him that made him nod his head before they broke apart.
Bianca sobbed as Alessio helped him carry them out to his car.
“It’s OK,” I soothed her. “They are in good hands.”
“I know.” She wiped at her eyes. “He said he’d call as soon as Dominic had them.”
“He will,” I assured her. “He will.”
The next few hours were rough as Bianca cried, but she finally slept, and I took up my spot on an uncomfortable couch that I was too tall for.
Luckily, she slept through the night, even when the nurses came to check on her.
Bless Alessio, because he spent the night in a hard chair outside the room.
I’d have invited him to share the couch if I thought there was room for us.
I knew he had to be exhausted since he’d been in that damn chair for three days, but we’d get to go home soon, and I’d give him some time off if he wanted it.
In the morning, Bianca woke, looking a lot more refreshed than she’d been the last few days.
“You get to leave today,” I said. I’d been up for hours. I was ready to get the hell out of here. “The nurse told me this morning.”
“The babies?”
“They are well. They are home, and I have not heard another thing. That is a good thing.”
She breathed out, looking relieved.
The doctor came in, and he gave me a smile.
“It’s home time,” he said.
I stood and stretched. I needed a shower and my own bed. I was certain Alessio felt the same way about himself.
“I want you to rest in bed for another day or two, then just relax. No heavy lifting, no running marathons, no giving Matteo a heart attack.”
“Guess that ruins my Sunday plans,” she muttered.
I chuckled at her answer.
I took the printed handout with instructions that the doctor handed me, and knew he’d be available if I needed him. He left us after Bianca signed her discharge paperwork, and I helped her to dress in an oversized hoodie and sweatpants that I’d picked up for her in the gift shop.
“You OK?” I asked as she winced when I slid her sandals onto her feet.
“I hurt,” she replied. “And I’m hungry.”
“We’ll get you some food,” I said. “Whatever you want.”
“I’d love some pizza from Giorgio’s.”
I smiled. “I’ll ensure you have it.”
The nurse came in with a wheelchair, and I helped Bianca to sit in it as I slung her bag over my shoulder. Alessio met us at the door, looking like hell.
“Ready for a break?” I asked.
“Without a doubt,” he said before turning his attention to Bianca. “How are you?”
“Hungry,” she answered.
“Me too. We should make Matteo buy us food.”
I chuckled. “She wants Giorgio’s.”
“Perfect. Me too.”
We left the hospital, and Frank met us with my SUV. After getting Bianca inside, Alessio vowed to get the pizza for us.
My phone buzzed. I looked at the message from Alessandro.
Alessandro: I got us an earlier flight instead of us separating with Trent and Ryder. We’re leaving. I love you. Please be safe. Call me if you need me. I will come back for you.
I smiled at his words. I never thought I’d have my family back, and perhaps I’d lost half of them, but I still had my boys.
Matteo: I love you. I am proud of you. Take care of Rosalie and your brother. Call me when you get to Colorado, so I know you’re safe.
Alessandro: I will. Talk soon.
We drove in silence the entire way home, and I knew the next step I had to take. Sylar had told me months ago to do it, and now was the time.
When we got to my estate, I helped Bianca out and led her to the elevator, then to her room. She snuggled into her bed immediately, her eyes half-mast.
“I’ll let you rest. We can eat when Alessio returns.”
“Mmhmm,” she mumbled, her eyes closed.
I left her and went to my room, where I stripped my clothes off and showered.
I stood beneath the warm spray and let it soothe my tired, sore muscles for a long time before I got out and toweled off. I returned to my room and sank onto my bed naked before I lay back. It was immediate.
I was too tired to fight it, so I closed my eyes and took the rest I desperately needed.
I woke late into the evening. I blinked in confusion as I sat up and looked at my watch.
It was almost eight at night.
“Damnit,” I muttered, sliding across the bed. I hadn’t intended to sleep that long. Granted, I’d needed it, but Bianca had been hungry hours and hours ago. I winced at thinking I’d let her down, and she was likely starving in her room.
She did have a stocked kitchenette in there, but she asked for pizza, and I’d made a promise.
Quickly, I went downstairs and saw a note from Alessio on the kitchen island.
Teo,
You looked peaceful. I didn’t want to disturb you. Bianca slept as well. I am taking the evening off. Hopefully, you do too. Pizza is in the fridge. Frank took two slices. He called it a cousin tax. I punched him in the balls. I called it the best friend tax. You’re welcome.
Sio
I chuckled at Alessio’s note and went to the fridge. My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my pocket before answering.
“Matteo,” Sylar’s voice greeted me.
I closed the fridge and took a seat at the island.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I will be there in a few. We should talk.” He disconnected the call, and I sighed.
I went upstairs and checked on Bianca, who was sleeping peacefully, which was a relief. It would buy me time to feed her. Returning downstairs, I went to my study and waited for my guards to escort Sylar in.
It wasn’t long until he was settling on the couch while I sat in my chair.
“What do you need?” I asked.
“I’m waiting for someone,” he said.
I raised my brows. “Who?”
My study door opened, and Santino walked in. He mentioned staying with Evan in the lower levels, so I wasn’t surprised to find him here. I’d given my men the OK to let him come and go, and it seemed they’d listened. Of course, if they hadn’t, Santino would likely have killed them.
“There he is,” Sylar said, watching as Santino moved to sit on the loveseat.