Matteo’s POV
Aurora stared at me, her eyes pleading that I become lenient with my decision but I couldn’t allow her to change my mind in the presence of everyone.
“Take her out of here,” I ordered and stormed out of the room.
She followed me down the stairs till we got to the car. “Matteo, please you have to listen to me. Her husband tried to kill her because she didn’t tell him what I said to her yesterday. It was self defense,” She cried.
I snorted, “Self defense, you say? That woman almost killed one of my underbosses. Do you expect me to let her go just because she has been having issues with her husband?”.
Her expression dimmed as she stared at me with a surprised look, but I couldn’t blame her because my actions surprised me. I’d never liked Antonio from the beginning because of how rebellious he was sometimes, but he was loyal.
“So it’s right for you to kill her when you know that she had always been the victim? What happened to the strong dislike you had for Antonio?” She yelled and flinched at her.
She moved backward as she shook her head and dashed out from Antonio’s building. I could tell that Aurora was in pain, but I couldn’t show weakness in front of my subordinates or they would see me as weak Capo, and my enemies would use her to hurt me.
Francesco came to me, his shirt smeared with blood from helping out to clean Antonio Sconti’s room.
“They are taking her to the torture room. Do you want me to do anything with her?” He asked
“Don’t do anything until I ask you too. Just lock her up in one of the clean rooms at the underground club and make sure that she is well fed. And don’t let anyone into her room,” I instructed him and one of my men opened the back door for me to get in.
Deep down, I knew that Giselle didn’t kill him on purpose and I felt better that Antonio was dead. He was a thorn in my flesh because he didn’t expect me to take over the Outfit at such a young age. He had no choice but to bow to me when I showed him my strength and now that he was gone, I had less to think of.
My only worry was the reaction of the Outfit. I’d always shown them how strong I was by my tough decisions. We didn’t believe in sentiments and freeing Giselle would create a crack that would take time to patch.
“Take me home,” I ordered the chauffeur when I saw that he was taking the route back to where I was earlier.
The ride home felt very slow as dread filled me when I thought of meeting Aurora. I’d seen the fire in her eyes when she was trying to defend Giselle. No one had ever stood up to me that way before.
I walked in with my heart beating faster than normal. When did talking to a staff of mine become a problem?
My eyes darted around the living room in search of her but she wasn’t there apart from Ginevra who perched on the armchair.
“Are you alright, Matteo? You seem worried,”
“It’s nothing.” I waved her concern off. “Where is Aurora?”
She looked displeased but knew better than to voice it out when I was in an edgy mood. “She’s in her room, I guess.”
I nodded and headed hastily for her room. I pushed the door open and saw her sitting at the edge of her bed, scrolling through her phone. She got up when she noticed my presence, her shoulders tensing.
“You do realise that it is wrong to walk out on your Capo in such a manner.” She snorted and rolled her eyes, but surprisingly I wasn’t annoyed.
“You are not my Capo because I’m not a part of the Outfit. I’m just your cook and nothing more,” She spat with so much anger that aroused me.
I chuckled and folded my hands at the back while I walked around her in circles.
“It doesn’t work that way, Aurora. You are under me and that automatically makes me your Capo. Do you understand that?” I thundered, gripping her arms firmly but gently so that she wouldn’t get hurt.
She was silent as she locked her eyes on mine. Damn her smoky grey orbs that enchanted me even though I tried to remain angry.
“I understand that you don’t have a heart and you are trained to be this way. But imagine if it was your daughter that was being punished because of her gender, won’t you want to shield her?” She asked, her eyes getting misty.
“My decisions aren’t to be argued by anyone, Aurora.” I cut in sharply.
Her words were already cutting deep into my heart which was the last thing I wanted.
“You know, I actually hate everything about this world of ours. Women are treated as trash because we are seen as the weaker vessel and you men ride on us because you think you have all the power, forgetting that we are stronger even in our weakness. I’m sorry if I have said anything insulting but I would never forgive you if Giselle dies.”
I felt my heart tearing into two with her threat but I masked my face with a carefree expression and shrugged.
“What makes you think that I care about your feelings?”
“Nothing, Matteo.” She replied and without warning, she delved her lips into mine and kissed me senseless.
I reeled from the shock of her initiating a kiss, then I melted, allowing her to take the lead as her soft lips sucked mine. She teased me with her tongue, palming my face as I wrapped my hands around waist.
Then she broke the kiss, leaving me panting while she tried to catch her own breath. I stared into her eyes which were filled with longing.
I wasn’t able to control the mixed feelings messing with my head so I stalked out of her room and headed for Angelo’s. He was more level-headed than I was and he was good at making rational opinions.
“Angelo,” I called after pushing his door open.
Water rushing from the shower sounded from the bathroom, then the door swung open and he came out with a towel wrapped on his waist.
“You should be at work, what are you doing here?” He asked and headed for his vanity table.
“Antonio is dead. He was killed by his wife and I don’t know what to do about it.” I admitted and he sank onto the stool beside the table, motioning that I sat on his sofa.
“Father made you Capo for a reason, don’t fail him by saying that you don’t know what to do.”
“I don’t care about that man, Angelo. I’m here because deep down, Giselle doesn’t deserve to be killed. Antonio was a sadist and he treated her like trash. Aurora said that she was trying to defend herself when he wanted to kill her.”
“If you deeply believe that Giselle doesn’t deserve death, then free her.” He replied blatantly.
“But the rest of the underbosses and captains will see my decision as a weak one.”
He scoffed at my statement and cleared his throat. “You are the Capo and your word is law, whatever you decide stands, including releasing Giselle. Whoever rebels against your decision dies.”