Chapter 26
AMALIA
I CHECK MATTEO’S ROOM, but the bed’s untouched and the light’s off. Huh. I was sure I’d find him here. Maybe he couldn’t sleep either. I head toward the kitchen. Maybe he was hungry or something.
But the kitchen’s empty too. Where is he?
I told myself I’d find him and just say something before I lost the nerve. Even if he doesn’t feel anything for me, I want to know. Now I’m half relieved and half annoyed, because I have to go looking for him like an idiot, and maybe I won’t tell him anything in the end.
I check the study, then the back room where he likes to clean his gun, but both are empty. He’s not on the terrace either. I lean on the railing and look across the dark yard, but I don’t see anything.
Maybe he’s in the gym if he’s wound up. But as I turn back inside, I hear footsteps coming fast up the stairs. Marco appears at the top, his jaw set.
“Boss,” he says.
“Have you seen Matteo? I’ve checked half the house.”
He stares at me for a moment, as if he’s deciding what to say next, and I don’t like that because Marco never hesitates.
“What is it?” I ask. “Did something happen to him?”
“It’s about Matteo, yeah.” He glances down the stairs behind him. “But it’s not what you think.”
“Just say it.” My heart rate speeds up.
“He’s the one who sold us out. It was him.”
I blink at him. “No,” I say. “No, that’s not... That’s not even possible.”
Marco just stares at me.
“He took a huge risk out there, right next to me. Dominic almost killed him too. You think he set himself up to almost get shot?” I shake my head. “And we’ve been watching him all the time. It’s not like he had access to a secret phone or anything. You’re wrong.”
Marco pulls his phone out and turns the screen to me, his finger on the play button. “Watch.”
I furrow my brow. It’s footage from one of our hidden cameras on the side road that only Marco and I know about.
It’s dark, but then I notice two figures walking together.
Matteo and... Dominic. They make their way to a car as if they’re having a nice little chat.
I don’t see any weapons pulled out, and Matteo isn’t tied up either.
What the fuck?
Marco stops the video.
“When was this?” I ask, my chest constricting.
“About an hour ago.”
Right. So while I was thinking about what to say to Matteo, he was getting into a car with the man who killed Tomasso. Fuck!
But it doesn’t make sense. When could he have set this up? He’s been under my roof, right next to me. Someone was always with him. He doesn’t have a phone and he hasn’t left the house alone.
“Boss,” Marco says. “There’s more, but it can wait. Right now we need to move.”
“Move where?”
“Out of the house. If Matteo’s with Dominic, and Dominic’s people dared to come all the way here, then they know everything, or Matteo will tell them more. We have to assume they might attack, and we can’t be here when they do.”
I want to tell him no so I can stay and wait for Matteo to return so I can confront him. But Marco’s right, and a smart enemy who knows your whole house and everything doesn’t wait long to use it.
“Get the cars,” I say.
He nods and heads for the stairs, then glances back at me. “I’m sorry. I know you—”
“Don’t.” I lift my chin. “Just go.”
I keep telling myself Matteo wouldn’t do this, but maybe I created a story in my head because I wanted it to be true, and he just let me.
Tomasso warned me. The moment you love something, you hand your enemy a weapon. And I went and handed Dominic the best one he could’ve asked for.
I press my lips together, because falling apart won’t help me.
I trusted Matteo. I let him in and I shoved him out of the way of a bullet and I almost told him how I felt, and maybe the whole time he was Dominic’s. He played me so well I’d have bet my life on him.
Fine.
If that’s how he wants it, then he stops being a man I cared about and starts being a target, same as Dominic. I’ll find him. I’ll find both of them. And when I do, Matteo’s going to learn he messed with the wrong person.
Because I’m going to bury them both.