15. Matheus
“Maybe we already have a problem?” Tomás states, looking right into my soul with his black eyes. “Do we?”
I sigh heavily. “I said we’d have a problem if you go after Dani. Back off and we won’t need to find out.”
“What sort of problem would we be talking about, Matheus? My little brother coming for me with Carlos Blanco backing him?” he asks, his expression deadpan.
“Is it more power you’re after? Or are you looking for a father figure in him, or maybe a puppet master? Looks like Blanco’s daughter is pulling your strings already. Or perhaps you’d pull a gun on me again. Remember how I told you that would end?”
The hairs on my nape rise like hackles. I bare my teeth at him, anger boiling my blood.
“Don’t, Tommy. I’m not a fucking traitor and I’ve never planned to go up against you,” I assure him. “You might be the big boss…and the man I respect more than anyone else on the planet…but it won’t stop me from punching your teeth out of your face if you don’t stay away from her. And yeah, I’d do it, Tommy. Me and you. No weapons. No soldiers stepping in to help or snipers at the ready. Just us, sorting it out. Brother to brother.”
Tomás doesn’t even try to hide his smirk. But something different flashes behind his eyes, a look that reminds me of Papá.
A hint of paranoia––or maybe it’s the true sense of power running through a man’s soul.
“Right. Me and you, yeah.” He places his hand on my shoulder. “Our brother is in intensive care. Let’s focus on family for now. We’ll figure the rest out after.”
I nod. “Agreed.”
“One more thing, Mat,” Tomás says when I go to leave. “We don’t need to kill each other for a fake crown. I’m the head of this family regardless. Every decision goes through me. I’m in charge and that won’t change anytime soon. But you…Dré…and Gio…you’re the reason I do it. And you three play your part too. Papá thought he’d created a replica version of himself in me. I let him believe that, when all this time I was protecting my family from him.” His eyes darken. “And no one will stop me.”
“Please use the hand sanitizer, sir,” the male nurse instructs. “It’s strictly one visitor only for now. His wife is with him. However, as you’re his brother, I’ll allow you thirty minutes.”
“Thanks.”
I use my elbow to depress gel into my palm and thoroughly clean my hands.
“Is he okay? I mean…will he get through this?”
“The surgery went well. We’ve kept him under sedation to prevent further trauma while he recovers. Tomorrow the doctor will consider reducing the dosage. We’ll know more then.”
“So, he’s not going to die?” I ask.
“I’ve seen guys shot fifteen times who’ve hobbled out of the hospital. Then there’s people who were shot once and didn’t make it. Every case is different, sir.”
Not wanting to talk anymore, I slide the door sideways and step onto a blue strip on the floor.
A clinical smell surrounds me and the constant beep from André’s heart monitor makes the rhythm of my pulse go faster.
Staring at my typically energetic brother, propped up on a high-tech wheeled bed with raised sides like a crib, and tubes fixed in his nostrils––it all hits me hard.
I’m used to seeing this larger-than-life guy strutting around in Gucci boxers or his favorite biker jacket. Sometimes, simply the two items as an outfit, depending on his mood, but this––he’s not a god, not today.
He’s just a man who needs a miracle.
“Matheus,” Sinéad’s voice slashes through my shock.
Suddenly, I’m staring at her pale-skinned face framed by long, loose raven strands. Toe to toe, she throws her arms around my middle and hugs me.
“God, Mat…it’s so good to see you.” After a silent second, she whispers, “We need to talk.”
I hug her back, needing someone to hold on to, but unable to take my eyes off André.
“I’m sorry, Sin. This is all my fault,” I mutter, letting anger strip my sadness, so my tone comes across emotionless. “I didn’t follow protocol and put everyone at risk because of it.”
Her head shakes and she lets go of me.
“Gio and I have spoken about your mission in Colombia and what happened afterwards. It doesn’t add up, Mat. What happened at the mansion is still a little blurry. What I do know is the bitch who shot Dré got inside our home too easily. That took planning and there’s no way those lower rank guys had the foresight or resources to infiltrate my security team so soon after your woman killed Eduardo.”
My woman…
“Please…don’t blame yourself. Okay?”
Sinéad takes my hand in hers and squeezes.
“There’s more to it. Bigger things are at play here.”
She glances over her shoulder, her tired, turquoise-colored eyes settling on her husband.
“You aren’t the only Souza who has enemies.”
Something dark slips over me, that deep need for justice rich in my blood.
“Do you have someone in mind, Sin?”
She releases my hand and slowly moves from the blue strip to the bright white section where the bed sits. Taking her time to sit in a comfy armchair at Dré’s bedside, her wince isn’t missed.
And then my heart burns.
“Sinéad…” I round the bed and sink to my haunches, taking her hands in mine. “I can’t wait to meet the twins. Congratulations. Mama must have sent me twenty photos of them already.”
Sinéad blinks wildly and I think she’s going to cry. She doesn’t, but she sucks in a tattered breath.
“Are you okay?” I ask. “Do you have enough pain meds? What about food? Have you eaten?”
Her eyes glisten and she offers me a small smile.
“I’d be lost without our family, Mat. Tommy ordered food and had it delivered earlier. Teresa is watching over the twins while I stay with Dré. And India and Carina take it in turns to sit with them too. The babies are so beautiful…we’ve cloned ourselves.” Her laughter is light. “It means a lot to me knowing they’re so loved.”
I watch her carefully. “And you? Did the whole birthing thing go okay? I’m sure it was brutal.”
“I’m fine…” She shrugs. “I’ll feel better when he’s awake, so I can talk to him about it. I’m not used to Dré being so damn quiet…” After a pause, she sits back and sighs. “Indy was with me through it all.”
“That girl was made for Gio.”
“She was,” Sinéad agrees. “But this…seeing Dré like this. It’s breaking her…us. And Gio…he has a constant glare of death about him. Dré has to get through this, Mat.” She swallows. “I’m not the only one who needs him. Our babies need…” Her voice trembles and she clears her throat.
“He will.” I assure her, full of confidence. “He has too much to live for, Sin. You know my brother is a fighter. That fucker has more energy and hunger for life than we all have in one hand. He’s finding his way back to you…all he needs is time. I promise.”
Sinéad squeezes my hand. “She’s a lucky woman, Mat.”
“Who…Dani? Nah, not really,” I mutter. “We were doomed from the start. She’s Blanco”s daughter and even more shut off than Gio.”
Sinéad’s brows pop up. “His daughter. Wow, you sure like a challenge. Although, think about it this way. I’m technically a Sapori, right? But that doesn’t mean I’m anything like my father. We were nothing alike.”
I nod, thinking. I was nothing like Elias either. Why hadn’t I questioned things before now?
“Yeah. I guess so.”
“It all boils down to the people who helped raise us and the family we choose to be with now. That’s what”s important.”
Rising, I lean into her and press a gentle kiss to her forehead.
“My family is all that matters to me. Everything else is just white noise. We should visit the twins now. They need to meet their Uncle Mat.”
Sinéad’s gaze cuts to André and she swallows loudly. Her forehead scrunches and she palms her much smaller belly under her dress, conflict causing obvious discomfort.
“Ummm…okay.” She grimaces. “I do miss them…even though I was there a little over an hour ago. But there’s something I need you to do for me. Something important.”
“Whatever you need, I’m here for you, Sin.”
“Good, because you’re the boss while I’m with Dré and the twins. I need time to focus on them and not the business.”
“Me?” I frown. “Why not Tommy?”
“Why not you? You’re more than capable. Dré would want this too. You’ve been in Sicily with us for a while now. My men know you and my associates have heard…” She laughs lightly. “They’ve heard how Matheus Souza deals with sensitive situations.”
“The Di Rossi incident…”
“Incident?” Her eyes sparkle. “It was genius. However, we need to rule out the Di Rossi family as suspects. Though it couldn”t be them, not when you still have their daughter. Wait. You do, don’t you?”
“She’s in a safe place.” I rub my jaw, eyeing the tube attached to the inside of Dré’s arm. “If you think her father was responsible for this, I’ll say the word and have her executed.”
“Her father wouldn’t risk her life. I’m certain of that.”
Sinéad stands, her movements stiff.
“There’s a meeting scheduled for tomorrow at lunchtime. I need you to attend on my behalf.”
She sets her hand on top of Dré’s and thumbs it slowly.
“The man you’re going to meet says he knows who tried to kill my husband. And whoever that fucker is…they’ll die. I’ll make sure of it.”