6. Chapter Six
Chapter Six
Mateo
“ A re you okay?” I ask again when Mariella doesn’t answer.
A shiver runs through her body before she slowly turns to face me.
Well, face me isn’t quite right, her gaze is firmly locked onto the tarmac.
Christ, this girl is shy.
Or perhaps this is Antonio’s doing, having raised his daughters to be deferential around men in power. I wouldn’t put it past him. Men like him and Renaldo expect nothing less.
“Of course, Signor De Marco,” she finally replies, her cheeks a pretty shade of pink.
Her voice is so soft, it takes me by surprise.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard this girl speak.
For a fleeting moment, my heartbeat seems to slow and stutter, like when a radio broadcast is disrupted by a passing interference before finding its own wavelength again.
Weird.
“Are you a nervous flyer?” I ask, shaking off the strange sensation.
Mariella shrugs, still avoiding my gaze.
“I don’t know,” she says quietly.
How can she not know? And then it dawns on me.
“Is this your first time flying?”
She nods. I’m taken aback. I can’t imagine being confined to this island. As much as I love it, the world beyond has so much to offer.
“Mariella,” I say softly, “you don’t have to be nervous. You’ll be perfectly safe. The aircraft gets thoroughly checked over before every takeoff.”
Ever since Molinaro blew up one of our planes, a plane I was meant to be on, we go the extra mile to ensure that will never happen again.
Mariella is still not looking at me, and it’s off-putting. I’m used to confident women.
But my annoyance fades as quickly as it came, replaced by understanding.
She must still be embarrassed by what happened today. Projectile vomiting on the priest during your own wedding? That would be humiliating for anyone, traumatic, even. Enough to make her faint.
Something heavy and unfamiliar settles in my gut. I can’t quite place it, but it makes me shift my weight, as if that might shake off the uncomfortable feeling.
A car pulling up behind me saves me from analyzing it further. Expecting it to be Romeo, I’m surprised to see my brother.
My brows furrow. Why is he here?
What’s happened now?
I walk toward the black SUV and tell Mariella over my shoulder, “Go on up and find a seat. Enjoy your first flight.”
I greet Tiero, slapping him on the back. I didn’t expect to see him again until my return.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
Tiero straightens his jacket, adjusting his cufflinks.
“I’m flying to Rome with you. I called but you were occupied.”
“That I was.” I grin at him. I would have been balls-deep in Valentina.
Tiero cracks a small smile. “Feeling better?”
“Much. I can recommend it. It eases tension.”
His face darkens. “As soon as I have Ella back.”
The poor girl will have to deal with a lot of his pent-up sexual energy. I’d normally suggest he let off steam with a random woman, but of course, no one else will do it for him now. When a De Marco finds his One he is loyal until his dying breath.
“So what’s happening in Rome that needs your attention? I thought I was handling the incoming shipments.”
“You are. But tonight we’re taking care of Rizzo. Uberto intercepted a message between him and the last stronghold of Molinaro supporters. He’s in Rome, trying to rally more backing.”
“It might be a trap.”
“I’ve considered that, but I think he counted on all our important people to be at the Conti wedding reception. Our troops in Rome are being pulled together as we speak. We need to act fast.”
He checks his watch, tapping his finger against the glass.
“We’ll leave for his hideout right after we land. Even if this was a trap, he won’t have our manpower,” Tiero adds.
“With Rizzo gone, the rest of the Molinaro loyalists should fall in line,” I comment.
If only it were that easy. It never is, though. There are always unpleasant surprises. Tiero knows it as well as I do.
“Is the plane ready for takeoff?” Tiero asks.
“Just waiting for Romeo. He should be here any second.”
Tiero rolls his eyes. “Fucking fuckboy,” he mutters under his breath as he climbs the stairs.
I pull out my phone to check where he is when I see his car approach. About time.
Tiero is in hunting mood and won’t tolerate delays.
When Rom jumps out of the car, laid back with a relaxed smile on his face, I motion for him to hurry. He knows me well enough to get my cue and sharpens up immediately.
“What’s going on?” he asks when he reaches me.
“You better call your regular Rome hook up. You’ll need the adrenaline release later on tonight.”
He rubs his hands together, taking the stairs two at a time. Unlike me, he gets a kick out of bringing down the opposition. It’s why I let him do it most of the time.
Okay, partly why.
We enter the cabin and sit down in the cream-colored leather seats. Tiero and Santino are across from us, spreading out papers and maps on the dark wooden table.
Rom joins the discussion of how to best access Rizzo’s hideout, but my gaze wanders through the cabin filled with our men until it finds Antonio’s daughter.
She’s chosen a lone seat toward the back of the plane, her head resting against the window as she watches the scenery glide past while the jet taxis to the runway. The soft twilight bathes her face in a golden hue, making her skin glow and eyes sparkle. Her excitement is almost infectious.
I think she’ll love flying.
I still can’t believe this is her first time leaving Sicily.
My first flight was shortly after I was born. And then, when I was two, we went on a long trip to America to visit extended family in Chicago. Not that I remember any of it. But mamma told me for years that it’s where I first became friends with Maximo, our cousin. He’s my age, and even though we don’t see each other much, we’ve stayed in touch all these years.
We traveled often. My favorite trip each year was visiting Nona in Tuscany for her birthday. Mamma was from there, and we’d spend a few days just relaxing and celebrating with family.
Most years, papà came with us. Life felt different there, more laid back. Papà tried hard to leave work behind and focus on mamma , Tiero, and me. It was wonderful. I felt like a normal kid, not the son of the Don.
Suddenly aware of my daydreaming, I realize my gaze is still on Mariella. As the plane accelerates and lifts off, her hands grip the armrest, fingers pressing into the soft leather.
Is it fear or excitement?
I decide it’s the latter when she leans forward, eyes fixed on the window, wonder lighting up her face.
A smile tugs at my lips. There’s something unexpectedly captivating about watching her unfiltered reactions.
I keep observing as the island’s fading silhouette reflects in her eyes.
To experience simple things for the first time, to find joy and excitement in such mundane things as takeoffs. I’ve long forgotten what that’s like.
“What are you smiling at?” Rom asks, dropping the piece of paper in his hand on the table and following my line of sight to see what’s captured my attention.
“Nothing,” I lie, tearing my gaze away from the enchanting girl.
Rom cocks his head to the side as he studies Mariella. “Is this the fainting bride from earlier?”
“It is,” Tiero answers, briefly glancing her way before turning his focus back to the map in his hand. “She’s going to stay with Mateo in Rome for the foreseeable future.”
“Why?” Rom asks, frowning.
“To keep her safe from her father, and the Contis,” Tiero says.
“Wise move. Both looked like they wanted to throttle her,” Rom chuckles as he lets his gaze travel up and down her body. When he licks his lips, something stirs in my gut.
“Don’t even think about it,” I grit out, narrowing my eyes at him.
“What?” Romeo asks, feigning innocence. “I’m just looking. She’s mighty fine.”
I open my mouth to speak, but Tiero beats me to it, his gaze zeroing in on my right-hand man, his voice stern.
“She’s to remain untouched until she gets married, or her father will really kill her… and you. Now let’s focus on what’s actually important, shall we?” Tiero raises an eyebrow, and Rom picks up the paper again.
My brother turns to Santino. “What about Manzini? How many men could he mobilize?”
What are they talking about? Crap, I’ve missed their entire conversation.
“We’ve got eighty men ready, twenty or thirty more if necessary,” Santino replies.
“Eighty is plenty. We just need to decide from which side to attack. What do you think, Teo? East or west entrance?” My brother looks expectantly at me, and I scan the map where his finger is pointing.
Strategy has always been my forte, but today I’m distracted.
Sensing my mind isn’t with it, Rom summarizes the pros and cons.“
The west entrance has more surveillance but fewer guards because of it. East one is more heavily secured but has a more direct route to the warehouse.”
“Umm, warehouse, right.”
“Where we suspect they’re gathering tonight.”
“Right.”
“Sheesh Mateo, keep up.”
I ignore his jibe and rub my finger along my upper lip, considering our options.
“Let’s go through both. Have Uberto hack into their security system and disable the cameras and sensors.”
“He’s already on it. I just got a text saying he’s through the first security layer. By the time we land, he should be fully in. He’s got his entire team working on it,” Tiero replies.
“Good. We’ll go undetected through the west first to make sure Rizzo doesn’t escape and slip through our fingers, then we go through the east gate, making noise to lure them out.”
Tiero nods his agreement. “That’s what I was thinking too. You and Rom lead the west team. Santino and I the east.”
With a plan of attack sorted, he reclines his seat and closes his eyes. “Wake me before we land,” he says, and I hope he’ll actually sleep. He needs it. Since Ella ran, he’s got little rest.
“Good idea,” Rom agrees, shutting his eyes too. “Agnes was a wild beast. I need a nap.”
“I thought she was Agneta,” I say, suppressing a snicker. Romeo is terrible with names.
“Could have been,” he yawns. “I think you’re right. There’s a reason I avoid calling them by name. ‘Baby’ usually does the trick.”
“You know, forgetting names is the first sign of dementia. You’re getting old,” I tease.
Keeping his eyes closed, he gives me the middle finger.
My eyes wander back to Mariella, not sure why.
Her head is resting against the side of the plane, her eyes closed. Her chest rises rhythmically, indicating she’s asleep. And on her first flight too.
She must be exhausted, having run on adrenaline this afternoon. The crash was unavoidable.
Her ebony hair is tied back into a ponytail now. It highlights her high cheekbones and her sun-kissed olive skin. It looks so soft, beckoning to be touched.
My gaze drops to her full, heart-shaped lips. They have the perfect bow on top of them and are slightly open as she breathes in and out.
She is fucking beautiful.
How have I never noticed that before?
My heart patters in my chest. It makes me feel warm.
A vibration in my pocket draws my attention to my phone. I pull it out and check the display.
Valentina.
Strange, it’s not like her to text me after we fucked.
Hey big boy. You were so driven earlier, I forgot to mention I’ve landed a gig in Rome. I’ll be there for the next few weeks if you want to let off steam again. Better still, I’ll be staying with a friend who’s very open to some serious fun. Drop by. Val
I grin, especially when not a second later a picture of Valentina with another stunning blonde drops in my inbox followed by an address. Yep, judging from what these two are doing in the selfie, her friend is definitely up for it.