Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Matteo
Three Weeks Later
Ican’t remember what my days used to be like when they didn’t include talking to Anya.
We’re constantly in contact, whether it’s texting, calling, or video-chatting.
There hasn’t been a morning since meeting her where I wake up and my first thought isn’t wanting to hear her voice or needing to send her a text.
She pops into my mind even before breakfast does, and if you knew me at all, you’d know how surprising that is.
Jade and Ana have started to talk to me about my new friend as well.
Jade out of curiosity and longing for a connection with her sister-in-law, and Ana out of desire to tease me.
I never thought that Cassio remarrying would result in another close sister for me, let alone one who acts more like another brother.
I think she tries to push my buttons more than Apollo does.
My older pain-in-the-ass brother has been far too busy mentoring Yordan to get on my nerves as much as he typically would. I was almost jealous when I realized how much time and effort he’s been putting into the kid, but I quickly got over it. Yordan needed him, and I didn’t.
Besides, I have more than enough stuff to occupy my time and energy.
Like this impromptu meeting with Dad that I’ve just been summoned to attend.
Normally, if anyone is being called to Dad’s office, it’s Apollo.
Or even Nico, to be informed or what he’s needed for now that he’s taken over as our main enforcer since the passing of Uncle Cesar.
But today, Dad requested my presence and mine alone.
Knocking on his office door, I let myself in since it’s only half shut.
“Matteo,” he says, waving me in. “You got here quickly.”
“You called, I came,” I joke, giving him a mock bow as if he’s a king. And in some ways, he is. “Though, does it count as calling when you send Jade to summon me for you?”
“Would you have preferred I sent Apollo?”
I snort at his attempt at returning my humor. “Nice try. Overlord Apollo isn’t even home. I’m starting to think he doesn’t live here at all with the amount of time he spends elsewhere. Remind me to send Yordan a fruit basket or some shit for that.”
He huffs, gesturing to the leather chair facing his desk. “I’m sure he doesn’t need a basket of fruit. Now, sit. This will be quick.”
“Sit but this will be quick?” I ask, arching a brow but sliding into the seat nevertheless. “If I did something wrong, I prefer my reprimanding to be—”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Dad cuts in, not allowing me to finish my quip. “I have a task for you.”
“For me?” I ask, head jerking back in surprise. “Since when do you give me responsibility? Did everyone else die and I missed the funerals?”
He rolls his eyes, unamused by my antics. “It’s not that kind of task.”
“Not an Outfit task, but a task for you?” My brows lift up slowly. “Are you finally letting me set you up? I knew you’d trust my matchmaking skills above everyone else’s. Tell me, Father, are we talking hookup or wifey?”
“Matteo.”
“What?” I ask innocently. “I need to know if we’re talking Tinder or eHarmony.”
“Matteo,” he repeats sternly, though he can’t hide his half smile.
“All right, all right,” I relent. “I’ll stop. What do you need, Pops?”
“I need you to go to California for me this weekend.”
Excitement hits me so fast that I feel a wave of dizziness. In my disorientation, I pray that I haven’t misheard him.
California, as in Anya’s California.
As in the place that I’ve been considering going to visit for almost a month now. The concept that led Anya to call me for assurances that I wouldn’t mind her disappearing on me in the middle of a conversation if a wave of panic hit her.
A conversation that I took in stride, if I do say so myself.
It felt good to remind her that before our first call, I told her she was free to hang up on me for any given reason. This wouldn’t be any different for me. If needing to know that she can flee made her feel more comfortable, hell, I’d encourage her to actually do it.
Leave me at the drop of a hat, I’ll wait for you to want to come back.
Oddly poetic of me.
“You do?” I ask, blinking rapidly to pull myself out of my head. “Okay.”
Dad chuckles, deep and hearty. “No questions asked? Just okay?”
Damn, Dad, call me out, why don’t you?
“I mean, knowing why I’m going would probably be helpful,” I admit, smirking. “But I will do as my Capo commands, of course.”
“I’m not acting as your Capo right now, and I’m not commanding you,” he clarifies, shaking his head. “I’m asking you as a father, Matteo. It’s not a difficult task, but you do not have to say yes.”
“Dude, I’m already on board,” I tell him with a chuckle. “Not sure why you’re trying to talk me out of this. You said you need me in California. I’m already mentally packing my bags. What do you need?”
He eyes me, looking like he wants to laugh at my eagerness. “I need a house. And don’t call me dude. You know I hate that.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “You have several houses.” Including the giant mansion that we all reside in. “And shit, sorry, it slipped out.”
“A house in California,” he explains further, though that should have been obvious. “Jade is going to live with Dmitri out there sooner than later, and I want a place for our family to stay if and when they go to visit her. Something large, and something close to Anton’s home.”
“That makes sense,” I admit. It’s actually a really great idea. But… “You want me to go house hunting for you? You’ve got a horde of kids to choose from and employees you could send instead. Why me?”
He tilts his head, surprised by the question. “Matteo, we both know that you know this family better than anyone. You’ll find something that fits all our needs, and you’ll do it because you love Jade and want her to be happy. The more we visit, the happier she’ll be.”
All solid points.
“I don’t have Armani’s eye for style, though. I’m surprised you didn’t ask him instead. He knows everyone really well, too.”
Dad almost snorts. “Armani would pick what Armani likes. He can decorate the interior as he likes when the time comes. But can you say that he’ll remember there are babies to be considered when picking a house?
He’d probably find something with glass stairs and an indoor water feature that would be a hazard for the youngest members of our family. ”
I chuckle, imagining it. Armani wouldn’t mean to—he loves the kids as much as any of us do. But once he gets in his style-focused mind, he can’t be pulled out of it.
I made the mistake of letting him revamp my closet for his birthday present one year, and he almost brought in a construction crew to make it bigger before realizing that it would cut into another bedroom. He’s feral for all things pretty, and I can’t fault him for it.
“And Anton knows about this?” I ask, tilting my head in contemplation. “Because I’m pretty sure we need his go-ahead to buy property in his territory, especially close to his own home.”
“Anton knows,” he confirms. “But Jade doesn’t.
I want this to be a surprise for her. I’d prefer if you don’t tell her you’re going to the West Coast at all, actually.
She might want to tag along, and though I wouldn’t object to her visiting Anton with the kids, this weekend isn’t ideal.
You wouldn’t be able to go house hunting with her on your case. ”
I purse my lips, thinking about it. “Where should she think I’m going? She’ll notice if I just disappear for several days.”
“I thought about having you tell her you were going to visit Leon, but she would want pictures of the kids. So, for the sake of speaking to anyone about this trip, you’re going hunting with Nico.”
My eyes widen. “Jade is supposed to think I’m going people hunting with Nico? Have I fallen, hit my head, and woken up bloodthirsty?”
“She’ll think you’re going when you assure her that I’ve asked you to look out for him. He’s been wound up and snippy this week. He’s agreed to be your alibi and this way, Jade won’t be expecting check-in phone calls from you.”
“Yeah, all right,” I finally agree, nodding hesitantly. “I don’t love lying to her, but it’s for a surprise so it seems acceptable.”
“Good,” Dad grunts, sitting back further in his seat. “There’s a Morozov hotel not too far from their home that Anton has agreed to set you up in. And I’ve set up a few viewings for you already, but I have a list of properties I’ll email you as well.”
“Can’t remember the last time I stayed in a hotel.” I chuckle. “But all right, I’ll look through them when you send it over. Should I bother asking for a budget?”
Throwing his head back, Dad laughs hard and I have my answer.
Unlimited it is.
Nearly as soon as I’ve left his office, my phone is in hand, texting Anya to see if she’s free to video call. Thankfully, it only takes a few minutes for her to confirm that she is.
When her familiar face lights up my screen, I can’t let small talk get in the way of the information that’s practically trying to burst out of me. “So, I’ve got some news…”
She lifts a pale eyebrow. “Hello to you too. What news?”
“My dad wants to send me to Morozov territory this weekend.”
I hear Anya’s breath catch but her face betrays nothing. No fear, no happiness, no surprise.
“He does?” she asks, voice soft and smooth like velvet. “Well, now I know why you forgot to say hello.”
“Yeah, my bad.” I scratch the back of my head, a little embarrassed at my display of eagerness. “I couldn’t wait.”
“That’s okay,” she replies gracefully. “What does he want to send you here for?”
“House hunting, can you believe it?” I joke, my lips lifting into a friendly smile. “I’ll be there Friday to Monday, I think. Staying in some big-ass hotel your family owns while I shop for mansions for my dad.”
Anya blinks, lifting a hand up to tuck a lock of golden hair behind her ear. “He wants to buy property here?”