HELENA’S POV
FEW YEARS LATER
It was more than two years later, and I was still married to Matteo D’angelo, in fact we had a little girl now Ava D’angelo and she was a splitting image of her father, they had the same piercing look, beautiful clear blue eyes but at least she had my hair.
It was almost peaceful these past years, although I spent half of it looking over my shoulder thinking someone was going to sneak up behind me and press a cold hard pistol to my back, of course that never happened, apart from the few hiccups with the cartel and the company which by the way Matteo shielded me from like I said it was almost peaceful but I could feel it in the air, like a smoke without fire, something was brewing and I could sense it. Matteo seemed more tense than usual, sometimes he went to bed still fully clothed, he mumbled in his sleep which wasn’t unusual but this time was different, he kept saying a name Venza.
The sky was a soft watercolor of blues and whites, with the occasional streak of gold where the sun peeked through. A gentle breeze carried the scent of wildflowers and freshly cut grass, making the day perfect for a picnic. The warmth of the sun kissed my skin, balanced by the coolness of the breeze, and the meadow around us seemed to hum with life. Birds chirped in the distance, their melodies mingling with the delighted giggles of Ava and Chin-Chin, Vivianna’s daughter as they played on the grass, their small figures darting around like butterflies.
I adjusted the edge of the checkered picnic mat beneath me, smoothing out a wrinkle as Vivianna leaned back, propped on her elbows. Her fiery hair glinted under the sunlight, her sunglasses perched lazily on her nose as she sipped from a tall glass of lemonade. She always carried this effortless aura, the kind that drew people in without trying.
“So,” Vivianna began, her voice teasing but tinged with concern. “What’s going on, Helena? I can sense it from you right now-you’re as rigid as a rock, and you’re usually the piping one in our conversations.”
Her words caught me off guard, and I blinked at her, debating how much to say. Vivianna had always been perceptive, seeing through the masks I wore even when I thought I was being subtle. I let out a sigh, looking down at the woven basket in front of me as if it held the answers.
“Nothing I know of,” I started hesitantly, my voice quieter than I intended. “It’s just Matteo. He’s been acting… strange.”
That got her attention. Vivianna pushed her sunglasses up, exposing her sharp green eyes, which immediately narrowed with interest. “Strange? What do you mean? Like… you think he’s cheating?”
I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “Honestly? I wish it were that. It’d be easier to deal with. At least I’d know how to confront it. But this feels different. Like… like he’s keeping something from me. Something bigger.”
Vivianna’s brow furrowed, her fingers tracing idle patterns on the picnic mat. “Bigger? Like what?”
I shrugged, feeling the weight of my own uncertainty. “I don’t know. He goes to bed with his shoes on sometimes, Vi. His shoes. Who does that?”
She tilted her head, considering this. “You sure it’s not just a ‘man thing’? Like, tired, passes out, forgets he’s wearing them?”
“No,” I said firmly. “It’s intentional. He’s always on edge, like he’s waiting for something. Or someone.”
Vivianna nodded slowly, her lips pursing as she thought. “You know, Paulo went through a phase like that once. It was right before he pulled the trigger on your ex-husband, Dante.”
I froze, her words settling heavily in the pit of my stomach. “What are you saying?”
She sighed, leaning forward. “Two possibilities: Either Matteo is planning to kill someone, or someone’s planning to kill him. And that’s if there isn’t a woman involved, which you’ve already ruled out.”
My mind spun, the idyllic scene around us suddenly feeling distant. I glanced over at Ava, her tiny figure chasing after Chin-Chin in the grass. Her childish giggles floated over to us, light and carefree, and for a moment, I was anchored by the sound.
This was everything I’d ever wanted. A family. Peace. A life free from the chaos of my past. But why did it feel like it was all on the verge of being snatched away?
Vivianna reached out, her hand brushing against mine. “Look, just give him time. He’ll let you in eventually. He’s probably just trying to figure it all out on his own. You know how men are with their problems-stubborn as hell.”
I nodded, forcing a small smile. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
But her words, though comforting, didn’t erase the nagging feeling in my chest. Something was wrong. I just didn’t know what.
That evening, after putting Ava to bed, I found myself waiting for Matteo with a bottle of wine. I had poured the first glass with the intention of sipping slowly, maybe reading a book until he returned. But as the hours ticked by and the city lights began to twinkle outside our penthouse window, one glass turned into two, then three.
The wine was a deep red, rich and bitter, much like the thoughts swirling in my mind. When the elevator finally pinged, signaling his arrival, I was already halfway through the second bottle.
I stood at the door, waiting as Matteo stepped out, his dark eyes widening slightly in surprise. He looked tired, his shirt rumpled and his tie hanging loosely around his neck.
“What are you doing?” he asked, his tone curious but tinged with concern. “Are you drunk?”
I burped softly, the sound making me wince. “Well, if you’d gotten home in time, I wouldn’t have gotten drunk. I thought you’d be back two glasses in, but here I am with a second bottle.”
Matteo smirked, stepping forward to kiss my cheek. “I missed you too, sweetheart.”
“Don’t ‘sweetheart’ me, Matteo,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Come on, you’re hiding something from me. I can feel it. What’s going on?”
His smirk faltered, replaced by a sigh as he picked up the wine bottle and took a long swig. “It’s… complicated, Helena. I don’t want to bother you with any of that stuff. It’s work. The cartel. Shipments are getting seized. Someone’s leaking information. It’s a whole mess you don’t need to be involved in.”
I crossed my arms, leaning against the kitchen counter. “Matteo, I know it’s not just that. If a shipment got seized, the worst my father ever did was drink until he was blind drunk, but he always kissed me goodnight. You? Right now, I’m pretty sure Ava is already forgetting what you look like.”
His expression softened at the mention of Ava, but the weariness in his eyes remained. He took another swig from the bottle, his gaze distant as he processed my words.
Finally, he looked at me, his voice low and heavy. “I think we’d have to leave Algreen Cove.”
The room seemed to still, his words echoing in the silence.