3. Matteo
Chapter 3
Matteo
I open the text app on my phone to see if Renata has texted me that she made it home. Nothing. Not a damn thing. She left nearly an hour ago, so where is she? I shouldn’t have let her leave upset. I should have insisted on driving her. It’s late in the evening, and that would have been the gentlemanly thing to do, at least. But I know Renata, headstrong and defiant, and she needed that time to herself to calm down. She’s a fiery little thing, which is just one of the things I love about her. Should I text her? Or will that just piss her off further? I begin typing out a message then stop when I hear someone enter the house. I stand quickly, hoping maybe she decided to come back after she calmed down. I head toward the entrance to meet the visitor and pause when I realize it’s just Duncan.
Our security guard nods up at me. Duncan has a pass from my family to come and go in our house as if he’s my brother.
“Oh. Hey. What are you doing here?”
“Expecting someone else?” He chuckles to himself. “Just thought I’d see what you were into.”
I turn on my heels and head back to the den, knowing Duncan will follow. I fall back against the couch and flip the TV off, not even realizing the movie had been playing all this time. Duncan takes a seat on the corner of the couch. “You didn’t answer your phone when I called. Did you have company?” he asks, waving toward the uneaten popcorn on the coffee table.
“You called?” I ask, then glance at my phone. I couldn’t care less if he called or not. I open the text app, and there’s still no message from Renata. “Fuck,” I mutter under my breath.
“What gives?”
I scrub my hand over my face and toss the phone on the cushion beside me.
“Nothing. I need to go for a drive. Let’s catch up later.”
“A drive? Where to? I’ll tag along.”
“It’s all good, Dunc. I just need to clear my head and would rather be alone.”
“If you’re going after Renata, she’s fine. Just give her some space.”
Is this fucker serious? Duncan knows Renata and I have been seeing each other, but he doesn’t understand the complexity of our relationship. “How the fuck do you know anything about Renata?”
"She was walking, so I stopped and offered her a drive home. She seemed pissed off, wouldn’t hardly say two words to me, so I figured you’d upset her somehow.”
“You were at her house? Duncan, you’re a fucking fool. If Renata and I are made, it will be your fault. You’re gonna get me killed. Why didn’t you drop her at the corner or something?”
“I’m not a Mancini.” His face darkens as if he has the right to be pissed, not me.
“No, you’re definitely not, but you’re a known associate of the Mancini family, and the last thing I need is you trying to play the hero. Just stay out of our business.” Jesus Christ, why is everyone driving me crazy today?
“Nobody saw me.”
“That you know of. The families … they have eyes and ears everywhere, Dunc. That’s why I try to play it safe with Renata, but neither of you obviously understand the complexity of the situation.” Anger boils just under the surface.
“I made sure your girl made it home safely. More than you did obviously. I’d expect you to be more appreciative.”
“Fuck you, Dunc. I’m sure her safety was exactly what you had in mind when you offered her a ride, eh?”
I pick up my phone and open the text app again. She’s pouting, and I hate that I made her feel like this.
“Let me guess… She’s giving you the cold shoulder?” Dunc suggests, but I ignore him.
“What happened? Why was she so upset, Matt?”
“Why do you care, Dunc?”
“Because you hide her like she’s a dirty little secret. You should be proud to have her as your girl. If you don’t make a move soon, someone else will.”
Dunc doesn’t understand the unspoken rules between our families. He isn’t an heir to the family, like Renata and I both are; his family is normal. But he’s pushing my buttons and pissing me off. I don’t want to have this conversation with him. I wish he’d fucking leave.
“And is that someone you ?” I laugh.
“Renata isn’t interested in me, Matt. She only has eyes for you. But you said it yourself she promised you her virginity, so why haven’t you acted on it yet? If she’s ready, she’s only going to wait so long before she gets tired of waiting. Unless she loves you, of course. But I don’t see her letting her guard down so easily when you insist on keeping her at arm’s length, stringing her along like a little rag doll.”
“Since when did you become so insightful on our relationship, Dunc? That’s creepy as hell.”
“She asked if you were seeing someone else, Matt. This have anything to do with the DeLuca girls?”
Fuck.
“That’s enough, Dunc.”
Dunc puts his hands up palms out as if to ward off my impending attack. “Just watching out for you, Matt. Like any good friend would do. Chill.”
Fuck it. I have to clear my head, and I can’t do it here with Duncan in my space. “I’m out. Feel free to hang around, but don’t be surprised if my father doesn’t toss you out on your ass when he gets home if he finds you in his house and I’m not here. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t shoot you. If that’s a risk you’re willing to take…” I leave the suggestion hanging in the air between us as I grab my phone and shove it in my pocket.
I head toward the garage and grab my keys off the hook on the wall.
Dunc follows me to the garage, watching me curiously. “Mark my words, Matt. You’re pushing her away. All I’m saying is if I were in your shoes, I’d claim her properly, so every guy in the village knows she’s not to be fucked with. You’re gonna fuck around and find that she’s valuable to the right guy; you’re just too blind to acknowledge it.”
I dismiss him with a wave of the hand, then climb in my car and start the engine. I back out of the garage and close the door swiftly as Duncan makes his way toward his car.
How dare he hold Renata over my head like that. Shitty thing coming from your best friend.
I drive through the small market village with zero concern for the traffic laws. Fuck it all. Renata has my head all twisted, and I don’t know which end is up. I hit her name in my phone then click call, the sound of ringing grating on my nerves as the call routes to voicemail. “Damn it, Renata. Answer your phone.” She’s acting like a petulant child who didn’t get her way. All over sex? It doesn’t make sense to me.
I pull off to the side of the road and put the car in park.
I open the text app and begin typing.
I’m sorry, Rennie. I’m only trying to protect you. Please let me know you’re safe. -M
I don’t mention anything about Duncan because I don’t want her to think I’m jealous—I’m not. But I didn’t like the insinuations he was making.
Fact is, there’s more at play than either Renata or Duncan understand. My family has formed an alliance with the DeLuca family, and my father expects me to get close to one of the twins to strengthen their trust in our family business. I’m not fond of the idea, but denying an order from my father isn’t acceptable. On the other hand, if he finds out about Renata, he’ll take the shot himself.
I type out one more text to Renata before pulling out on the road.
If you forgive me, meet me at the café Saturday afternoon at 2.
Meeting her in public has to give her hope. It puts me in a vulnerable position, but I’ll do whatever I have to prove to Renata that she’s it for me.