70. Anson #2
“Father, what’s going on?” I asked, dragging his attention away from her.
“Ah, well, I had word there’s been some activity happening in the Underground. I thought maybe you could check it out here shortly and ensure everything is running smoothly.”
“What kind of activity?”
“The kind that pisses me off. It would seem Everett Church has been continuing to collect after being told to stop. Rumors, of course. I just thought it was worth looking into.”
I nodded. “OK. I can do that. Just say when.”
“I will.” Matteo looked back at Rosalie. “Soon.”
I watched him study her. He seemed intrigued by everything she did.
“ Bel fiore, tell me. Why are your nails not done?”
She blinked at him and placed the remainder of her sandwich down. “I-I don’t know?—”
He tutted at her. “Truth, pretty flower.”
She exhaled. “I guess I never thought about it before. I-I’ve never had them done. It’s difficult to get away to do it with everything going on. I-I guess I don’t want to disturb everyone’s schedules.” She winced as she rambled.
He seemed surprised at this information. “Alessandro, why have you not taken her?”
I had no answer to that. “I guess I don’t know.”
He tsked and gestured for Alessio. He was at his side in a moment. Matteo murmured to him in Italian. Alessio backed away and pulled out his phone, stepping away from us as he made a call.
I cleared my throat. “Father, I do have a question.”
“Certainly.”
“The palace,” I said delicately, knowing that was Dom’s territory.
“Ah, Dominic’s kingdom of misery,” he mused. “It’s trivial.”
“Trivial? Is he not to run it?”
“He is. He won’t. Alessio runs it. It’s just a gnat for Dominic to deal with. Something that hangs over his head. It means nothing.”
“So you’re only doing it to torment him?” Rosalie asked.
Matteo leaned forward. “Ah, you do pay attention. I thought you were more than just a beauty.”
Rosalie’s cheeks flushed again.
“Dominic is soft. It’s a means to harden him.”
“Maybe soft is good,” Rosalie said. “I’m soft.”
“You’re sweet, not soft. Someday, bel fiore, you will be hell in heels. I can see that in you. You’re tired of the life you’re in. At one point, you’ll have enough. When that day comes, I eagerly look forward to seeing what you do with the power you wield.”
“How do you know?” she asked.
“Because you remind me of someone I used to know,” he said sadly. “Alessandro’s mother was a lot like you. Terribly sweet, overwhelmingly beautiful, intelligent, and much too good to love a man like me.”
I looked at my hands, my throat tight. My mother had been an incredible woman.
“Do you have a picture of her?”
I looked at Matteo, who pulled out his wallet and handed her a tiny square. Rosalie peered at it.
“Anson has her eyes,” she whispered.
“He does. She had the bluest eyes. Like looking at a bright summer day. She lit up my world of darkness by walking into the same room as me.”
“She was beautiful.” Rosalie handed the photo back to Matteo. He studied it briefly, his Adam’s apple bobbing before he tucked it back into his wallet.
“She was.” He reached out and took Rosalie’s hands in his. I was surprised she didn’t flinch away from him.
“I want the world for you, Rosalie Bishop. Tell me what you desire, and I shall make it yours. Anything.”
“Anything?” she whispered. “Promise?”
He nodded. “Yes. Anything. I promise. I never break my promises.”
She bit her bottom lip for a moment. I leaned in as she spoke in a soft voice.
“I want you to stop fighting. I want you to leave this life behind and live in peace for the rest of your days. I-I want you to be happy, Matteo. I want you to fall in love again and realize it means more than any war or pile of money. It means more than power and fear. I want your happiness. I mean that.”
I sat frozen in place and looked at my father. He hadn’t expected that response either.
“Rosalie Bishop,” he murmured. “You are an intriguing creature.”
He continued to hold her hands despite her answering him.
“You said anything,” she said, her voice soft. “You promised.”
He chuckled softly. “I did, didn’t I? I don’t break my promises, either. Interesting turn of events. Rosalie Bishop. ” He shook his head, a tiny smile on his face. “Alessandro, she’s really something. Keep this one around. I like her.”
I smiled at that. “I will, Father.”
He released her hands as Alessio came out with a woman in tow.
“Ah.” Matteo clapped. “Rosalie. This is Vanessa. She’s our resident nail technician.”
“You have an in-house nail tech?” Rosalie asked, glancing at Vanessa, who couldn’t be much older than me.
“No.” Matteo laughed and waved her off. “But yes. She works for me at the palace. She handles all the girls there. I had Alessio summon her to do your nails.”
“Oh.” Rosalie flushed. “That’s not necessary. I don’t want to trouble anyone. I-I didn’t even bring my wallet?—”
“It is my treat, bel fiore. It requires nothing on your part but to tell Vanessa what you’d like so she can make it happen. She’s quite talented.”
Vanessa offered her a big smile at the compliment from Matteo.
Rosalie glanced at me with uncertainty in her eyes.
“Go,” I urged, giving her a reassuring smile. “We have dinner tonight. I think you’ll like having your nails done.”
“I just… how do I explain it to the guys when they ask?” She chewed her bottom lip nervously and shot a look at Matteo, who watched with an impassive expression.
“Tell them the truth,” Matteo said. “And if they have an issue with it, they can take it up with me.”
“I’ll handle it, LeeLee,” I assured her, knowing she’d not tell them it was a gift from Matteo. I’d say I got them done for her.
She nodded and backed away, going with Vanessa into the house. Vanessa was already talking a mile a minute. Rosalie would have fun. I knew she would. Matteo nodded for Alessio to follow them. He did so without a word. I knew it was so I could relax with her being out of sight.
“Now. Let’s talk,” Matteo said.
“Did you plan to have her nails done?” I asked.
“No. It worked out well, though. She’s a beautiful woman, Alessandro. She should be taken care of in that manner.”
“She’s not my girl, Father. If she were, she’d want for nothing. As it stands, she tries to fight me on everything I want to do for her.”
He waved me off. “She will be yours.”
I scoffed but didn’t push it. “What do we need to talk about?”
“How is Tomasso? He rarely visits.”
“He’s been busy staying out of sight,” I said. “He goes out only when Hail summons him. Of course, with recent events, that might not happen anymore.”
Matteo nodded. “He has a room here if he wants it. So do you. You’re my boys. You’ll always have a home with me.”
I smiled at him. “Thank you. I appreciate that. Really.”
“Good.” He returned my smile, looking the most relaxed I’d ever seen him. “How is Constantino?”
I sighed and told him how he had been lately. Matteo said nothing, but he seemed like he expected that.
“Does this need to happen? His death? It’s going to kill Rosalie. I-I’ll fucking die too if something happens to her?—”
“Rest assured, Rosalie will not come to harm,” he said fiercely. “I lost the love of my life, and I’ll be damned if my son loses his. I won’t let that happen. I promise to give you the same world I give to her.”
“I don’t want that,” I said softly. “She loves Fox. I don’t want him taken from her. I wouldn’t even be second best when compared to the horsemen. So please, Father. Reconsider this. I’m begging you.”
He studied me for a moment before nodding. “I will consider it.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you.”
The conversation was easier after that. He asked about classes. More about the horsemen. The kings. Trent. Rosalie. Bianca. I told him what I knew. Within the hour, we were both smiling. I enjoyed the time I spent with him. Even Klaus managed to chuckle before looking away and righting his face.
Matteo had laughed and shook his head at that. Before long, Rosalie returned with Alessio, her nails done.
“Let me see,” Matteo said, reaching for her hands as he greeted her.
She held her hands out to him, and he smiled. “They are perfect, bel fiore. Do you like them?”
“I do.” She nodded. “I like pink.”
“Pink French manicure. Perfect for you,” Matteo said. “The hearts are a nice touch. Alessandro, look.”
I got up, took in her nails, and smiled. They did look good.
“They’re pretty, LeeLee.”
“Vanessa did a good job.” She smiled as Matteo released her hands.
“Alessandro tells me you have a dinner meeting tonight with a record producer. This is exciting news,” Matteo said as Rosalie retook her seat.
“Uh, yeah. I’m nervous. When we leave here, we’ll get an outfit for me.”
“I can arrange something at one of my favorite shops,” Matteo said. “If you’d be OK with that.”
Rosalie glanced at me. I’d let her make that decision.
“I appreciate the offer, but I already owe you for the nails?—”
“Alessio. Set it up,” Matteo said. Alessio immediately pulled his phone out and made the call.
“Mr. De Santis?—”
“Matteo,” he corrected her.
“Matteo.” She cleared her throat. “You don’t need to do this. I-I can go into a boutique on the way home and grab something?—”
“You could, but that’s silly when I can access everything you’d need. Please. Allow me this joy,” he said softly. “I enjoy indulging women. My daughter is no longer here for me to offer these things to.”
“What about the girls in the palace? The ones who are enslaved? Who are sold by the hour? They deserve better.” Rosalie blurted out.
Fuck.
Before I could say anything, Matteo nodded.
“You do not like my business practices.”
“No,” she answered. “I don’t. I want to like you, Matteo. I want to believe you’re a good man. You can’t be a good man and do what you do.”
“Is Lorenzo a good man?”
She licked her lips.
“Does he not do what I do?” he pressed.
“He doesn’t have women forced into sex work.”
Matteo chuckled. “I will tell you a truth, bel fiore. The palace is not what you think it is. Indeed, many of those women are there for one reason or another. However, they can leave should they want to.”
“I-I heard some were in cages…”
“Some are in cages. Those are the ones who are very bad girls. They did terrible things. Those are the ones who suffer. Killers. Abusers. Thieves. Liars. They are dealt with. The other women are free. They are taken care of. They earn their own money through their work. Some men only wish to have someone spend time talking to them. Others want to bury themselves inside something soft and warm. We cater to that, too. I do not, however, harm the innocent.”
“Do you promise?” She stared him down. She’d grown brave. I reached for her hand and held it, not wanting my father to get upset and shit to hit the fan.
“I swear it, bel fiore ,” he whispered.
“And you never lie. Just… twist the truth a bit.”
He smirked at her. “You are so very smart.” His eyes twinkled as he stared back at her. “Alessandro, bring her here more often. I do love the conversation. She is both beautiful and brave.”
Rosalie flushed at his words, making him smile.
“I will bring her if she wants to come,” I said.
“Good.”
Alessio came back. “It’s set. They’re awaiting their arrival.”
“Perfect. Alessandro, Alessio will send along the address. Jenny will treat you right. She adores fashion.”
“Thank you, Father. This means a lot to us,” I said, getting to my feet and taking Rosalie’s hand.
He stood and hugged me before going to Rosalie. He pulled her into his arms and whispered something I couldn’t hear. She smiled as he released her, but didn’t say anything.
We left after that.
I asked her what he’d told her when we got into the car.
She stared out the passenger window as I pulled out of the gated drive and turned onto the main road.
“LeeLee? What did he say?” I asked again.
“He said he thinks of me as his daughter,” she whispered. “And that I’m his family now. I will want for nothing.”
I swallowed thickly. “He likes you.”
“I like him too,” she whispered before going silent.
I turned the radio on, hoping to make things better. She was clearly deep in thought. I knew what that was like. I was told Matteo De Santis was one way, only to discover he was another.
I had to hand it to my father. He knew what the hell he was doing. Enzo needed to be careful. My father played the game better than he did.