Matteo
I’m in the mood to punch something.
But that will mean acting even more out of my character than I have in the past couple of weeks. I’m pretty sure my brothers think I’m possessed.
We’re currently in Salvatore’s study, waiting for the Don to show up.
Raffaele has been staring at me like I’m his new favorite toy while Elio keeps sneaking amused glances in my direction. When Salvatore walks in, he completes the trifecta with the rage in his expression.
“You’re not walking out of here until you explain yourself, fratello,” he states, sinking into his chair behind the desk.
I arch an eyebrow. “What are you going to do, break my legs?”
“That’s tempting,” Raffaele drawls.
“We just want to know what’s going on with Lindsay Beaumont,” Elio starts.
“You’ve been acting weird, Matt. First, you rush out on a meeting to find her when she goes missing.
And then you go to the hospital to see her when her father was shot.
I thought she was the enemy. I’ve never known you to lie in bed with women who want to take our family down. ”
My jaw tightens. “I’m not lying in bed with her.”
We had sex once and since then have traded kisses that made the world stop. In no way does that count as lying in bed together.
“Really?” Salvatore’s eyebrows rise. “Where is she now?”
There’s a beat before I reply. “My house.”
Elio lets out a low chuckle, shaking his head like he can’t believe it.
“You like her, don’t you?” he says. “All these women throwing themselves at you, and you don’t even spare them a glance.
You spend years talking about how love makes men weak, how feelings get you killed… then you go and fall for the enemy.”
His grin widens, amused now. “And not just any enemy. A gangster prosecutor. Do you know she told Sal she’d shoot one of our men herself and write it off as suicide?”
I stay silent, which only makes him laugh harder.
“Actually,” he says, leaning back in his chair, “now that I think about it, she’s exactly your type.
Violent. Mouthy. Crazy enough to pull the trigger without blinking.
” He smirks. “Still… Lindsay Beaumont? Damn. Of all the women in this city, you had to fall for the one most likely to put a bullet in you.”
“You know you’re the soft one out of all of us, right?” Elio adds casually.
“Actually,” Raffaele cuts in dryly, lifting his drink, “you’re the soft one, Elio.”
Elio scoffs. “Fuck you, Raf.”
Raffaele shrugs. “Just saying.”
“I didn’t fall for her,” I grit out.
“But you’ve slept with her,” Raffaele prods.
I let out a sigh, “This entire conversation is irrelevant. How about you all mind your damn business?”
“On the contrary, your association with the prosecutor is our business,” Salvatore retorts. “What’s going on with you, Matt? You’re supposed to have your head in the game. And yet it turns out you’re making moves behind our backs. You had something to do with Morozov’s death, didn’t you?”
The anger in his voice makes it clear he already knows the answer to that. And he’s right. I did fuck up with the entire Morozov fiasco. I should have told them.
“That wasn’t planned,” I say. “The bastard kidnapped her and tried to kill her. I intervened.”
“You impulsively murdered three men in the Bratva when we already had a carefully laid plan. Do you realize what happens if this shit comes to light? Everything gets blown up.”
My mood darkens even more. “I’m aware of the risks, but I took precautions. They won’t be able to trace it back to me.”
Salvatore is silent for a moment. “Stai facendo l’idiota.”
The words are said in Italian, his tone low and vicious. I haven’t punched my brother since we were teenagers. He’s my Don, and I’m obligated to show him respect, but he’d better not push it.
“I’d expect this type of behavior from Raf, not from you,” he continues in English, ignoring the offended grunt from Raffaele. “You’re acting like this because of a woman?”
“Careful, Salvatore. Don’t be a fucking hypocrite,” I say darkly.
“You want to compare Lindsay Beaumont with my wife?” he snaps.
“Valentina belongs to this life. Even when she wasn’t a part of it, it has always been her birthright.
Lindsay doesn’t. She’s a fucking prosecutor, Matteo.
You think she’s going to love you? What the hell do you think is going to come out of this? ”
“I say we hand her to the Bratva,” Raffaele says, his voice cutting through the tension and then fortifying it even more. “Let the Russians deal with a prosecutor who won’t stop. One less problem.”
Rage cuts across my vision. It’s not the suggestion that surprises me; Raffaele has always known exactly which nerve to press.
“How about I make you regret saying that?” I say without thinking.
His eyes widen and I hear Elio suck in a sharp breath. Raffaele recovers from his shock with a laugh. He turns to Salvatore, his eyes gleaming.
“Looks like he’s really serious about her, Sal.”
“Shut the fuck up, Raffaele.”
“How about everyone takes a breath?” Elio cuts in. He looks at me calmly. “What do you plan to do with her, Matteo?”
“Nothing,” I grit out, remembering our conversation from yesterday. “We’re not fucking together.”
“Why not?”
“Like Salvatore said, there’s no way in hell Lindsay Beaumont falls in love with me. And I don’t need to fill my head with nonsense. We have an empire to build, boys, we can’t all half-ass it like Salvatore.”
Sal rolls his eyes.
“Whatever this is, it will come to an end eventually. I need some time to get her out of my system, that’s all. Once the Bratva’s taken care of, I’ll put everything back in its place.”
None of my brothers seems to have much faith in that statement. But they must be able to tell that I’m walking on a razor’s edge. I need them not to push me any further. Eventually, Salvatore clears his throat.
“Do you know who went after the mayor?”
“I’m guessing it’s someone in the Bratva.” I shrug. “They’re growing weaker and must have tried to get the mayor on their side. He refused, so they thought to take him out.”
“Or they know about the RICO case, and this was a warning to Lindsay,” Elio points out.
Salvatore’s about to say something else when the door opens.
His wife walks in. She’s moving more slowly than usual; it’s been less than forty-eight hours since the birth and she’s navigating the room with the careful deliberateness of a woman whose body has just done something extraordinary and is not yet willing to admit the cost.
Salvatore is on his feet before she’s fully through the doorway.
“Valentina.” The particular softness that enters his voice in her presence never fails to catch me slightly off guard.
This man, who commands rooms, who makes other men lower their eyes without having to ask, and she walks in, and everything about him rearranges.
“You should be resting. The doctor specifically said—”
“The doctor said light movement is fine,” she replies evenly and allows her husband to pull out a chair before she’s even reached for one. She sits with a small exhale she’s clearly trying to make invisible. “Is there any news about Lindsay or her father?”
“I believe Matteo is better suited to answer that question,” Salvatore drawls.
Valentina’s gaze lands on me, expectant. I huff out a short breath.
“The mayor’s in recovery. The bullet didn’t hit any major arteries and the surgery was successful,” I inform her. “And Lindsay is with me.”
“With you?” she questions, confused.
“Yes. I’m keeping her safe in my home. She’s alright.”
“You’re keeping Lindsay Beaumont in your home? Did you kidnap her?” she asks, accusation in her tone.
“No.”
“She went to your place willingly?”
“Something like that.”
Valentina goes silent for a second. Then realization dawns in her expression.
“Is there something going on between the two of you?”
“I don’t have an answer to that question,” I reply, my jaw clenches.
She considers this before sighing. “Take me with you when you leave, I want to see her.”
“I think you should wait,” I say gently, recognizing the worry in her expression. “She’ll come to you when she’s ready.”
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.” Her expression clears, and she turns to her husband with a small smile. “Sorry for interrupting, my love. I’ll leave you boys to get back to business.”
He shakes his head. “Please lie down. I’ll be in there soon.”
She blows him a kiss before leaving the room and then it’s just us left. We discuss business for a couple more moments until Raffaele starts to grow restless.
“Is there anything else left on the agenda?” he questions, groaning softly. I raise an eyebrow when I notice he’s twirling a silver knife in his hand. “I have business of my own to attend to.”
“What business?” Elio questions curiously.
Raffaele’s eyes gleam as he leans forward in his chair. “I caught two snakes attempting to slither away at my nightclub. Let’s just say they left permanent damage to two women, and I’m in the process of carving their apologies into their skin.”
My brother has always despised men that inflict violence on women. It’s the one line he won’t cross. And he punishes those around him who dare to do so.
“I want in,” I say before I can think better of it.
Raffaele arches an eyebrow. “Come again?”
“I need to release some tension anyway.” I shrug.
“The prosecutor must not be very good in bed if you’re looking to release tension elsewhere,” my idiot brother says with a smirk.
I roll my eyes. “Raf, don’t test me. You just might find the pointy end of that dagger inside your arm.”
“So many threats from you today, Matty. It’s so very out of character.”
“Can I get in on the violence or not?” I grit out.
“Sure. I’ll drive.”
“No way in hell am I getting in a car with you, fratello,” I say without hesitation.
Raffaele drives like a madman with nine lives. Every experience with him at the wheel of a car has been worse than the last.
“Can I join too?” Elio speaks up.
“Wouldn’t want to offend your delicate sensibilities, little brother,” Raffaele replies.
Our youngest brother opens his mouth, probably to argue but he doesn’t get a chance to.
“Elio, stay. I need you to do something for me,” Salvatore states.
He frowns, obviously unhappy about being left out but he nods anyway. Raffaele and I make our way out of the house. Soon enough we arrive, heading down to his torture dungeon.
It’s late when I arrive home. Past Leo’s bedtime, but I head up to his room regardless, if not for anything but to see him tucked in and hopefully asleep.
He’s not. I find him in the room adjacent to his bedroom.
His playroom. The door is wide open, and he’s laughing hard as two cars race on the flat-screen TV.
My heart stutters for a second when I catch sight of Lindsay’s blonde hair.
They’re both turned away from me, their concentration fixed on the video game they’re playing.
I watch as the red car zooms past the yellow one, reaching the finishing line first. Leo lets out a shout of triumph.
“Beat you again. Take that!” he exclaims.
Lindsay lets out a sigh, flopping backward on the couch. “I hate video games.”
“No, you’re just a sore loser.”
“And you are a little boy who’s up way past his bedtime,” she retorts.
It’s impossible not to hear the smile in her voice. It makes my heart clench. And I’m glad for it at the same time. I’m not sure when they bonded but I’m not surprised. I can’t imagine a better person for my son to get to know.
I just don’t know how permanent Lindsay is. I don’t know if she’s here to stay or just passing by, and I hate that it fucking matters either way.
Lindsay laughs and the sound has my cock throbbing in my slacks. Even the sound of her laughter gets me hard, it’s pathetic.
They must sense my presence, though, because Leo suddenly looks behind him and lets out a grin at the sight of me.
“Hey, Daddy,” he greets.
Lindsay, on the other hand, takes her sweet time turning around. When our gazes connect, my throat dries. We stare at each other for a long moment, things left unsaid floating between us. So many things pass across her expression, I wouldn’t know where to start dissecting them.
Eventually, she looks away, clearing her throat.
“That’s my cue to leave,” she states, getting to her feet. “I’m sure your dad will tuck you in for bed. I’ll see you tomorrow, Leonardo.”
“Good night,” he tells her.
She ruffles his hair before heading for the exit of the room, which I’m currently still blocking. When she stands in front of me, I have to fight demons not to reach forward and touch her. Every inch of me comes alive in her presence.
She waits patiently until I move, shifting from the doorway. It’s impossible to miss the way she stiffens as she passes by my side. Her sharp inhale and then her quick steps down the hallway.
Leo climbs out of the couch as well, moving to stand in front of me.
“How was your day, buddy?” I ask him.
“Good!” He launches into a rundown I’m happy to listen to. I lead him to his room as he speaks, picking out his PJs for bed.
“Lin and I had so much fun. We ate chocolate chip pancakes, and then we had ice cream. She met all my pets, and then we played hide and seek. It took her ages before she found me, Dad.” He laughs.
“And then we had quiet time. She made me read a book and she was on her computer for a long time. But then she read it to me. It was a nice story. I liked it. And then we ate dinner, and then I said, ‘Do you want to play videos games?’ and she said yes, so we played. But she isn’t good at video games, Daddy. I always win.”
“Sounds like you had a great time,” I state once he’s done.
“The best. Can we keep her, please?”
I smile, amused. “People can’t be kept, Leonardo.”
And I doubt she’d want to be kept by us anyway.
“Okay,” Leo says sadly. “But before she leaves, you should teach Lindsay how to swim, Daddy. She says she’s scared.”
I consider that for a moment. And then my mind wanders to the other things Lindsay Beaumont could possibly be scared of. I wonder if she could ever let me in enough that I could conquer her fears.
I’d drive them all to the edge of darkness and then plunge them to the abyss.