Chapter 37 Matteo #2
“Both brothers. Together. It’s a good sight,” Sylar continued. “I wish I could see my brothers, but alas, we’re all a little crazy and spread out. I blame my old man.”
“Have you seen your father tonight?” I asked.
“Yes. He was eating pizza that I suspected he pilfered from you.”
I nodded. “So I’ve heard.”
“I tire of the banter,” Santino broke in. “My son is getting antsy. Rosalie is gone. What is the next move?”
“To the top,” Sylar said, snapping his attention to Santino. “We don’t talk nearly enough, Kurt.”
“For good reason,” he muttered.
“Why’d you choose that name? Kurt? You’re a good-looking guy, and that name is so… ugly.”
“It was to keep the bitches off me,” Santino replied.
Sylar nodded. “Yeah, bitches are the worst. You don’t get laid. Celibate for years. The name worked. You know…” Sylar leaned forward as I shot a look at my brother. I’d have assumed he had many women. His face remained impassive, though, so Sylar was clearly right.
Sylar’s eyes seemed to cloud over as he appeared to look right through Santino.
“Not far away, she waits to be saved. A beautiful woman, in light she is bathed. Purple. Green. Gold. One look at her, and your soul will be sold.” Sylar shook his head. “You will love again one day.”
“I did not come here to have my love life read to me,” Santino snapped. “ I don’t give a shit about any of that. What I am here for is my son. What are the plans for him, and what are we doing with Francesca and Carmine?”
Sylar blew out a breath and looked at me. “You’re still my favorite. He’s an ass. Ass… hammer.”
I shot a look at Santino, who shook his head and rolled his eyes.
“Anyway, Rosalie and Alessandro are in Colorado. Matteo, check your phone.” Sylar nodded to my phone next to me on the table. It buzzed, and he smirked at me.
I chuckled and picked it up to see a message from Alessandro.
Alessandro: We made it, Dad. Sorry, I didn’t reach out sooner. Alessio said you were sleeping, but I figured you were awake by now. We are settled in.
I didn’t send a message right away. Instead, I looked at Sylar.
“As I was saying,” he continued. “Rosalie and Alessandro are in Colorado. That means it’s time.
Fox promised Rosalie he’d meet her on a mountaintop.
You need to let him go, and you.” He turned back to Santino.
“Need to ensure he gets there. The next part of the plan rests heavily on his being with her and Alessandro joining them. We’re looking for an HEA, boys, and we can’t do it without some good old matchmaking. ”
“I release Fox,” I said, looking at my brother. “Take him to her. She deserves to be with him. My boy deserves to have his dreams come true, too. He loves her just as much.”
Santino nodded and pulled his phone out without question. I assumed he was making travel arrangements.
“And now you,” Sylar said softly. “It’s time. He’s coming.”
I nodded tightly. “OK.”
“Soon, Matteo. It cannot wait.”
I breathed out. “Will it work?”
“I don’t know,” he whispered. “I don’t get to see everything the way I’d like. I have seen numerous outcomes, but I am hopeful.”
I swallowed hard. “It is our best shot, and I will take it.”
Sylar eyed me. “So be it.”
We were quiet for a moment before he spoke.
“Dante Church entered into a deal with Lorenzo De Luca.”
I sat forward at that.
“He is to bring all the big and bad to Dante for punishment. Lorenzo can run his empire any way he sees fit, but he cannot let anyone guilty of underground activities go. He agreed and signed in blood. The deal is done, but there will be more. Rosalie and Evan. Alessandro. They will not hear from Lorenzo or the horsemen for many years. That deal is coming. I have seen it. I do not know if they ever reunite, but I do know that they will be forbidden to contact Rosalie or risk death in the underground. It will happen over the next few months. I want you to know your son will be safe, and so will Rosalie and Evan.”
“Good,” I murmured.
“Dante takes care of his family,” he said. “And Rosalie is his sister. He will care for her.”
I expected nothing less and said as much.
“I need to go. The plane is booked,” Santino said, getting to his feet.
“So soon? I had my old man get ice cream,” Sylar said. “Thought we could make some sundaes.”
I typed out a quick message to Alessandro while Santino and Sylar went back and forth on the ice cream.
Matteo: I’m glad you made it. I will call you later. I am in a meeting. I have a gift for Rosalie, and it’ll be there in the morning.
I darkened my screen and looked to my brother and cousin.
“He said he’s skipping our sundae. We can still have a bonding moment. Bring Bianca. I like pizza too,” Sylar said.
“You should probably meet her anyway,” I replied. “For Sirena.”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“I need to get Fo—Evan,” Santino said. “I don’t want to miss this flight.”
“Then let’s hurry,” I said, leading them from the room and down to the lower level where Fox was.
We went into his room to find him sitting on his couch with his laptop, typing quickly.
He frowned as we all came into the room.
“Rosalie?” he asked thickly. “Is everything OK with her?”
“Everything is fine, son,” Santino said, going for him and kneeling in front of him. “We’re leaving.”
“Where?” Evan frowned at him before looking to me. “Matteo?”
“I’m releasing you. It’s time to get your girl and your forever,” I said.
His eyes misted over. “Really? I can go to her?”
“She’s at the cabin in Colorado. She doesn’t know you’re coming or that you’re alive. We leave soon to go to her,” Santino said. “Alessandro is with her. Rosalie signed her contract and is headed to L.A. after a brief stay at the cabin.”
Evan sobbed softly and got to his feet. He came to me and hugged me tightly.
“Thank you,” he choked out as I hugged him back. “Uncle. Thank you. For everything. I-I will give Alessandro the world. I swear it. I will keep him safe with my Rosalie.”
“I know you will,” I answered softly, giving him a fierce squeeze.
“I-I can never thank you enough.”
“Keeping my boy safe is all I ask. Tomasso, too, if you can.”
“Of course,” Evan murmured. “I will.”
We broke apart, and I stared into his eyes. “I am sorry for what you have endured.”
“I would do it all over again if it meant Rosalie was safe,” he replied.
I nodded. I knew he would.
“Stay safe, Matteo.”
“Of course,” I replied softly. He eyed me like he knew everything ahead of us wasn’t safe, but opted not to say anything.
He turned to Santino.
“I’m ready.”
“Let’s get a bag packed for you,” Santino said, going to the closet, Evan following him.
“Will everything be OK?” I murmured as Sylar stood next to me.
“Surely not everything,” he replied. “I lied earlier. I brought ice cream in case you didn’t have any.
It’s likely melting on my front seat.” He sighed as I shook my head.
“But where’s the fun in the calm? We all have to die sometime, right?
May as well go out with a bang. And maybe a little chocolate waffle cone. ”
I nodded.
“With a bang, indeed,” I whispered, thinking of the engagement ring in my pocket.
It was time to claim my queen.
Thank you for reading Separate Sins.