12. Aurora
CHAPTER 12
Aurora
Angry and scared, I didn’t know what else to do, so I ran. I needed to get as far away from Matteo as possible. I was in shock. I didn’t want to believe what I had heard – didn’t want to believe that I had walked in on him ordering my father’s murder, but I had. And I couldn’t forget that. How could I?
My heart pounded as I crossed the estate to the back fence, not stopping until I successfully passed through the opening I discovered last week on one of my walks. I had meant to tell Matteo about it so it could be fixed, but right now, I’m grateful I didn’t.
I needed to find a safe place to think while I thought about my next move. I couldn’t believe I had let my guard down and started to think I could trust Matteo. What a joke!
Matteo was nothing more than a cold-blooded killer, and now my family was the target. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was next. The realization of who Matteo was was a cold, sharp knife slicing through my fragile heart. All the trust and hope I built over the last few weeks was instantly shattered.
Luckily, I found myself in the neighbor’s backyard. Trembling, I crouched behind a tall hedge. The neighbor’s yard was quiet, and the house appeared empty. Hopefully, it will stay that way while I gather my thoughts. I needed time to catch my breath.
My mind was racing. What in the hell was I going to do? There was no way I could go back to Matteo. I couldn’t trust him, not after I discovered his plan.
But I knew the neighbor’s backyard wasn’t an option. I needed help, someone I could trust. My father’s men were the only ones who came to mind. They had always been loyal to my family, and I knew I could count on them.
With shaking hands, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed the number of my father’s top man, Rico. The phone rang twice before Rico answered.
“Rico, it’s Aurora,” I said barely above a whisper.
Rico’s voice was immediately filled with concern. “Aurora, what’s wrong? Did Santoro hurt you?”
“I need help, Rico. I can’t explain now, but I need you to pick me up. I’m in the neighbor’s backyard, the one behind the mansion. Please hurry!”
“I’m on my way. Stay safe until I get there.”
I disconnected the call and clutched the phone tightly to my chest. I leaned back against the hedge and tried to steady my breathing. I was a sitting duck, and I could only hope I was rescued before the shot went off.
Time seemed to crawl by as I waited for Rico to arrive. My mind was a chaotic swirl of fear and anger as I continually replayed the conversation in Matteo’s office.
I’ve always known that Matteo was in the mafia. Everyone in the city knows that. However, I was also under the impression that Matteo’s dealings were primarily financial, hedge funds, and providing private equity for wealthy clients who didn’t want to involve a bank. People who wanted to invest fast but needed access to money without the red tape and holdups.
Why in the hell is he going after my father?
A fresh wound opened every time I thought of him, saying, “ Under no circumstances can I be tied to Dominic DeSantis’s murder .” I was such a fool. How could I let myself think that I could trust Matteo Santoro? Even worse, how did I believe our marriage could be more than a business arrangement?
I tried to remain calm, but every sound made me jump; every rustle of leaves or the distant bark of a dog sent a fresh wave of panic through my already shattered nerves. Hiding here was a risk; I knew that, but I had no other choice. I couldn’t go back to Matteo, and I couldn’t hide in the open.
After what felt like hours, I heard the soft purr of a car engine approaching. Carefully, I peered through the hedge and saw a sleek, black SUV pulling up to the burb. Rico stepped out, his eyes scanning the area.
“Aurora,” he called softly.
I stood, hurried to the fence, slipped through the gap, and ran to the car. Rico held the door open, and I jumped onto the back seat, my body trembling with relief.
Once I caught my breath, I closed my eyes and leaned back on the headrest.
“Thank you, Rico, I don’t know what I would have…”
Rico glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his expression serious and concerned. “What happened, Aurora? Why did you run away?”
I took a deep breath and tried to keep my voice steady. “I overheard Matteo on the phone. He’s planning to…he’s planning to…”
My voice cracked, and a tear slid down my cheek. I tried but failed to get out the words. “Just take me to my father, please. I need to see him right away.”
Rico’s eyes narrowed in sympathy. “Don’t worry, we’re on the way. Whatever happened, you’re safe now.”
As the SUV drove through the city, I felt relief and fear. I was safe for now, but this wasn’t over. Matteo would come after me, and then what? I need my father’s advice, but how do I tell him that my husband, his business partner, is planning to kill him?”
The silence during the remainder of the drive is tense. My mind races as I stare out the window. I couldn’t believe how quickly everything fell apart. Just a few days ago, I was happy and hopeful that my marriage might work. Now? Now, I was living in a nightmare.
Sensing he needed to be cautious, Rico took the back roads and avoided the main streets to ensure we weren’t followed. I appreciated the gesture, but it did nothing to calm my nerves.
Finally, we arrived at my parents’ house on the outskirts of the city. Rico parked the car, walked me, and led me inside my father’s office.
As I waited for him to finish a call, I paced. The ornate clock on the mantle ticked relentlessly as the seconds stretched into eternity. My emotions were a jumbled mess.
I was angry, scared, and confused, mostly confused. I know Rico would have informed him of what happened, so why didn’t he seem more concerned? Do I mean that little to him?
Finally, he ended the call and turned to look at me. His brow was furrowed, but I could tell it wasn’t due to fatherly concern. He looked annoyed that I was there. Why? I had no idea, but I suddenly felt like coming here was the wrong decision. Unfortunately, I had no choice.
“Aurora, are you okay?” he asked, trying to sound like a concerned father.
I nodded. I was definitely not okay, but he didn’t need to know that. Why was he so calm? What was going on between my father and Matteo that Matteo wanted my father dead? I needed answers, and I was going to get them.
He sighed, clearly irritated but trying to conceal his anger. For a moment, I observed the room. It was dimly lit, with heavy drapes blocking out the afternoon sun. It smelled like it always had, like polished wood and old books. When I was young, the scent always calmed me, but now it did nothing to ease my racing heart.
“If you are okay, then why did you run away from your husband and have Rico pick you up on the side of the road? What was so bad that you came running back here?”
He was sitting at his massive desk with his hands in front of him. I felt like a delinquent student who had been sent to the principal.
I took a deep breath to steady my voice. I had to be strong. It was the only way I was going to get the answers I needed.
“I want to know about my marriage to Matteo. I know it was a business arrangement, but I want the details. I deserve that much.”
My father’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he maintained his calm and detached composure. “What exactly do you want to know?”
Feeling my resolve come back, I looked him square in the eyes. “Everything. Why Matteo, and why so sudden? What was in it for you? What did you hope to gain from this arrangement? I know it wasn’t to make me happy. You don’t give a damn about that.”
He leaned back in his chair, looking at me with irritation and something I couldn’t quite place. “Matteo Santoro has power and resources, Aurora. Power and resources that could greatly benefit our business. It was a strategic alliance.”
I shook my head, and my anger began to boil inside. He wasn’t telling me the truth, and I was tired of it.
“You’re being vague on purpose, and I’m over it. I want specifics, Dad. What kind of resources? As far as I know, the Santoro family deals in financial investments- hedge funds and private equity, that sort of thing. How was this alliance going to benefit you?”
Dominic sighed again, but this time, there was a hint of resignation.
“As you pointed out, Matteo has connections in the financial sector, the kind that can help us expand our business.”
It didn’t add up. That only benefited my father. What was in it for Matteo? I hesitated before probing further.
Leaning across the table, I looked at my father. Dominic DeSantis is the man who sold his only daughter for financial gain.
“Okay, so that explains how it helps you, but what about Matteo? What’s in it for him?”
My father’s expression hardened. ‘Matteo has been using our most prestigious hotel for some of his more illicit activities.”
I cock my eyebrow and urge him to continue. “Such as?”
“Money laundering. He needed a legitimate front, and the hotel provided it.”
My blood ran cold. I no longer knew the man sitting across from me. Maybe I never did.
“And you agreed to it? You allowed him to use our hotel for illegal business?”
My father’s eyes flashed with anger. I did what I had to do to secure our family’s future.”
Outraged, I began yelling. “No, you did what was best for you! You don’t care about me or the family!”
“How can you say that?”
“Because you sold me to a mobster to protect your business! Not exactly Father-of-the-Year stuff.”
“Watch your tone, Young Lady.”
My eyes welled up with tears, and I began laughing hysterically. “Oh, that’s rich! I’m thirty-one, Dad, not thirteen, and I won’t let you control me anymore.”
“Be careful what you say, Aurora…”
“You’re insane, Dad. You thought you could handle getting involved with and threatening the mafia, but there wouldn’t be any repercussions. I hate to break it to you, Dad, but Matteo is more powerful than even you realized. He won’t be threatened or manipulated. You have no idea what he’s capable of.”
“I think I have a better understanding than you do, my dear.”
What I once saw as confidence, I now saw arrogance, which made me sick. “Keep telling yourself that, Dad. But if I were you, I’d have extra security around at all times.”
Before my father could respond, we were interrupted by shouting. My worst fear had come true: Matteo was here.