24. Stefano
Ihear the front door opening, knowing it must be Amelia, I take a mug out for her to make her coffee as well.
I hear her footsteps as she walks towards the kitchen. Instead of coming inside, she gives me a fleeting glance, her eyes tightening and her body tensing, before quickly turning away and hurrying upstairs.
She looks exhausted and stressed beyond words.
She looks drained and tired.
My heart breaks for her.
I want to take away her pain.
I start making her a cup of coffee, planning to take it up to her then I stop myself. What the fuck am I doing?
I'm worrying about the woman who betrayed me.
I'm worrying and wanting to ease her pain away. How ridiculous is that? She doesn't deserve my sympathy or attention. She should suffer in her anguish.
I angrily throw the mug across the kitchen and it shatters in the sink.
I shake my head.
Fuck that.
I'm not making her coffee.
I'm not here to take care of her.
I make my own coffee and when the housekeeper comes in to see what the noise is I snap at her. "Clean the fucking mess." I storm out of the kitchen carrying my mug.
I'm going to head up to my office when I hear my brother calling out to Amelia.
What the fuck would he be doing here? Looking for Amelia?
"I'll be down in a second." Her voice drifts from the bedroom upstairs.
I step behind the wall, out of sight. What the fuck are they up to? Right in front of my face, while I'm at home, not even bothering to hide it from me.
Amelia's footsteps carry down towards me and I stay hidden. I watch her walk towards Matteo. Before he can say anything she glances nervously over her shoulder.
She takes his arm and leads him out onto the patio where I can't hear what they're saying.
But I don't have to. Their body language is saying more than any words ever could.
A deep, sadistic growl rumbles through my chest as Matteo pulls her close and hugs her against his body.
I will kill them both.
I will tear them to pieces, skin them alive. They will both suffer pain worse than they could ever imagine.
Who the fuck do they think they are?
Fucking around right in front of me? In my house?
I step out from where I've been hiding and make sure that they can see me as I stand staring directly through the patio doors toward them.
Amelia looks uncomfortable. Matteo seems not to notice.
Their conversation is cut short, but just before he leaves, he reaches out and gently touches her shoulders. Anger seers through me watching them.
I hate the idea of another man touching Amelia.
The fact that it is my own brother makes it a hundred times worse. The betrayal cuts deeper than I could have imagined.
I wait, staring, watching, until Matteo leaves.
When he walks past me he smiles broadly. "Cheers, man." He says, oblivious to the fact that his days are numbered.
When Matteo is gone Amelia stands alone on the patio. I can see she's crying. I would be too if I were her; she knows she's been caught. She knows I saw everything.
I walk towards her, pushing the patio doors open and stepping into the cool evening air.
"Stefano."
"So, you thought you could get away with it?"
"With what?" She looks tense with guilt. Horrified at the thought of being caught.
Anger gets the better of me and I grab her throat, locking my fingers so tightly she chokes.
"I saw everything. You're fucking my half brother -- right in front of me. How is it that you think I'd just let that kind of betrayal slide?" I snarl against her cheek as she fights for air. "I'll kill both of you slowly." I release her and she falls to the floor, grabbing at her throat and gasping for air.
I turn to walk away.
"Stop, Stefano, you're wrong." She cries out, her voice snatched and strained.
"I know what I saw."
"You misunderstood. I promise. Nothing is going on like that between Matteo and me. Nothing at all. Please." She's rubbing her throat; tears are streaming down her cheeks. I stare down at her, wanting to believe her, but I know I can't. She betrayed me before when she left. Why wouldn't she do it again?
I shake my head and turn away again.
"He promised to help." She shouts, sounding desperate.
I turn back towards her.
"Help with what?"
"Elle's surgery. I can't afford it. It's so expensive and I don't have anywhere near enough to cover the cost. I told Matteo - because - I told him I was worried."
"Why were you talking to him about this and not me?" I snarl.
"Because he's a match." She sobs.
"He's a match for Elle?" I say in disbelief. "When did he get tested?"
"A while ago. Then they were getting ready to go ahead with the surgery and I realized I couldn't get another loan. The banks won't help me. I told Matteo about it and he told me that he has access to private doctors who will help Elle and I don't have to worry about anything."
I stare down at her, trying to figure out what the hell is going on.
But the best possible news is the piece of information that is pushing to the front of my thoughts. Elle has a match. She is going to be ok.
My heart is flooded with relief. My throat feels tight with emotion.
I lean down and pick Amelia up off the floor.
"Why didn't you tell me that Matteo got tested? Why didn't you talk to me about the cost?"
She bites her lower lips, and it sends shivers through my body.
"Amelia - why didn't you tell me?" I demand.
"Because I was scared." She admits suddenly. "I was scared of you."
She looks so vulnerable, so delicate. I reach out and hold her face in my hand. Brushing my thumb across her lips as I lift her face so that I can look into her eyes.
Tears are still staining her cheeks.
She stares up at me.
The silence between us feels heavy as I watch her, wondering what she is scared of. Why wouldn't she want to tell me such good news?
Her lips feel soft beneath the pad of my thumb. I feel her lips part - her warm breath against my skin.
I step even closer to her, the heat of my body seeping into hers.
Then I lift her face higher and slowly, gently, I press my lips against hers.
The kiss is slow and tender. It feels far more intimate than I want it to. It teases my thoughts with things I don't want to admit.
The fact that I'm falling for her.
That she means something to me.
That I'm falling in love with her all over again.
Suddenly I pull away from her kiss.
Angry with myself.
Wanting to deny the realization.
I turn away from her and she says my name.
"Stefano - what's wrong?"
I ignore her and keep walking away. I can't let myself fall for her. It's too risky.
"Stefano?" She calls out again.
Still - I don't turn around. I can't. I have to leave.
I walk straight out of the house.
I need to speak to Matteo. I need to find out what his story is, and why he's helping her.
I don't know why I've had a bad feeling about him lately. His attitude stinks. His ego is getting too big. If he's helping her there's something he stands to gain from it. I've never thought of him as a man who would go out of his way to help another person without getting something in return.
I dial him as I duck into my car.
His voice comes through my Bluetooth.
"Matteo, meet me at the casino. We need to talk."
"Sure, I'm here now. Let me know when you get here."
I hang up and drive towards the casino.
Going to speak to Matteo is at least distracting me from whatever the hell just happened at home now.
My heart - my heart needs to catch a fucking wake-up call. I can't be falling in love with her again.
Did I ever stop loving her?
I sigh and shake my head; the streetlights flash past me in the dark night air.
Just forget about it. Let it go.
Don't dwell on the past.
I press my foot against the accelerator.
At the casino, Matteo is waiting for me by the bar.
I walk over to him and speak to the bartender first.
"Whisky, on the rocks."
"Double?"
"Yes."
"Stefano. What's going on?"
I turn to glare at him. He's been hiding shit from me. Why didn't he tell me he got tested for Elle? Why didn't he tell me he was planning to help Amelia?
"What do you get out of helping Amelia?" I ask - straight to the point.
He shifts slightly. He wasn't expecting that.
"Why do I have to get something out of it?" he sounds bitter.
"Because I know you. I was even surprised to hear you agreed to get tested. There has to be something you are gaining. Tell me what it is."
He chuckles, shaking his head and he stares down at his drink.
Then he drains the last of it from the glass and when the bartender brings my whisky, he slides his glass over to him. "Another."
Matteo sighs heavily, taking a deep breath, and there it is again - that smug look.
I don't say a word. I just continue to stare at him.
Finally, he shifts and looks at me.
"Elle's your daughter. I found out. I guess it was obvious when Amelia asked me to be tested. She was looking for someone in Elle's family as a donor."
Is that why he's helping her? Because Elle is family? I feel guilty for assuming bad things. He's my brother after all. Why wouldn't he want to help my daughter?
"So, you found out she was my daughter," I say, sipping my drink, feeling a little more at ease.
"I found out and Amelia made me promise not to tell you. But you don't seem surprised. Did you know?"
"I didn't - not until I saw her medical reports and realized she had the same, very rare disease that Merelda died from."
"Ah, yes, that would be a giveaway."
"So, you got tested to help your family. Thanks, man. I appreciate that."
"Yeah. Not so fast. You might want to hear the full story first." He chuckles again.
What the fuck is that look on his face now?
"What do you mean?"
I throw a side eye at him, squinting, trying to work him out as my stomach tightens, warning me to stay alert.
"I'll help your kid, Stefano. But I want the casino."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I want the casino. If you sign it over to me in full, then I'll help your kid."
"The casino that I built through my own blood, sweat, and tears that you were never interested in. What the fuck are you talking about? Do you just want to walk in and take over? Do you think you can even run this place? You're a fuck up. Whenever I tried to get you involved you've fucking messed everything up." I'm furious. Not only because he wanted my casino - but because I was right about him. He won't even help his own family if he's not getting something in return.
"Hey, asshole, stop talking to me like that. Watch your mouth or I won't help your kid. Casino deal or not." He snarls angrily.
"You won't even save your own niece unless you're getting paid. You are fucking psychopath."
"Me? I'm the psychopath? I've seen some of the shit you do. Don't judge me for doing what I need to do to survive this world."
I stand up, my fists clenched at my side, my eyes full of hate and my heart slamming against my rib cage.
"I've always been there for you. I might have done some fucked up shit in my life - but family - I'm always there for my family." I snap, wanting to punch his fucking face in.
I force myself to step away from him.
This is my casino.
My reputation.
I can't be starting a fistfight in my own bar.
I down the last of my whisky and shoot Matteo one last look of pure hatred before I turn to leave.
At least I know the truth now.
I know what he's after. I know what his attitude has been about.
He better fucking watch his back around me.
He crossed a line tonight.