Matteo
“You have some explanations to do.”
I had never expected to be back at the Nevarro Estate for any reason for a very long time.
Or until I received news that Pedro Nevarro was dead.
The sun was barely visible when I left the safe house, casting long shadows across the gravel driveway as I pulled up in front of the massive mansion. The place I grew up in, the place where my father dug his claws into Valentina…
Even remembering those moments and words was enough to make me see red.
“Isabella was still the better choice.”
I stepped out of the car, the weight of what was to come heavy on my shoulders.
My father’s presence, his whore of a wife’s aggravating smile, along with the rest of the family, awaited me. Since I was never one to back down from a challenge, it took me a while to notice that after everything that had happened, it felt like I was stepping into the Lion’s den.
Marrying Valentina instead of Isabella was never in their plans. Isabella was my betrothed – the one father took his time to find for me. But when she disappeared, I was supposed to tell the family.
Not make decisions on my own.
The heavy front doors opened the moment I was close to it, and one of the family guards, Antonio, gave me a sharp nod.
Now, that was a face I hadn’t seen in a while.
“They’re waiting in the study.” He said, stepping aside.
“Thanks.” I muttered, walking through the familiar hallways. The scent of expensive leather and oak still clung to the air, the way it had weeks back when I brought Valentina here.
When I entered the study, the conversation stopped immediately. All eyes on me – my father in that chair of his, green eyes bright as he studied me, my uncles and cousins spread out around him like soldiers awaiting orders. My half brother, Luca, sat near the end, his lips curled in what could only be a smug smile.
“Matteo,” my father started, breaking the silence. “There’s no sign of the angel you married.” He spat the word “angel” like it was a disease.
I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding. “She has some things to take care of.”
“Things,” He repeated, eyes narrowed. “Like painting in a worn out store in the middle of nowhere?”
How did he…
I didn’t even want to know.
My jaw tightened. I should’ve seen this coming, but hearing it out loud annoyed more than I’d anticipated. “That’s not anyone’s business. It’s between my wife and I.”
“Claiming her after what you did?” My uncle, Marcello, chimed in. His Hazel eyes held it’s own when I met his gaze. “She’s not supposed to be married to you.”
“I’m aware of that,” I said, my voice clipped. “But things changed. Valentina became the only way to punish the Russo family after the eldest ran away.”
Cold.
No emotions shown.
“The wrong option,” My father slammed his fist on the table close to me, causing the glasses to clink. “Without proper consultation from anyone in the family. Marrying Valentina was never going to be an option for you.”
“Isabella disappeared under my watch, yes. I should’ve known from the onset,” I admitted, meeting my father’s gaze. “But marrying Valentina is a decision I made on my own as the Don of the Nevarro group. I don’t need anyone’s approval.”
“Don of the Nevarro group?” Luca’s voice cut in, dripping with mockery. “Pedro Nevarro is the Don of the Nevarro group. You’re just the acting Don because he’s taking a break. You’re supposed to ask before you make major decisions.”
Luca knew what he was doing. The bastard.
I clenched my fists under the table. Luca had always been a snake, cunning like his whore of a mother. Despite the chess games, and our pretense of being cool in public, this was an opportunity for him to twist the knife.
“You were supposed to marry for the family’s benefit,” my father continued, ignoring Luca’s jabs. “Not for your own selfish reasons.”
“It wasn’t selfish,” I said through gritted teeth. “I married Valentina because it was the best option at the time. Isabella left, and I couldn’t wait forever.”
And my father shouldn’t even start about family’s benefits. We both knew the real reason Isabella was betrothed to me.
“You should have waited,” my uncle Marcello said, his voice heavy with disdain. “Or you should have found her.”
“Isabella’s disappearance wasn’t something I could control,” I shot back. “And if anyone has any leads on where she is, I’d love to hear them.”
I did my best not to stare at Luca after I said that, while glancing around the room, daring someone to challenge me.
No one did.
“She’s still your betrothed. Your responsibility. No matter what you could have done with her sister.”
She wasn’t. Not anymore.
I didn’t bother to respond.
My father’s eyes narrowed as he continued. “You might have married her, but there was no ceremony. Nothing to commemorate the ceremony, which means the marriage is null once I say it is.”
Oh shit.
“I’ll deal with everything,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I’ll send invitation cards once we think of a date.”
“Don’t bother,” my father said coldly. “Because if you do, there will be more consequences than you can handle.”
I fixed my blue eyes – my mother’s eyes – on his. “I’m ready for whatever comes.”
“Are you?” Luca’s voice once again slithered through the room. “Because from where I’m sitting, you look like you know you’re losing control.”
I turned to face him fully, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. If this wasn’t supposed to be a “no fighting” intervention, I would have slammed into him.
“What exactly are you implying, Luca?”
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “I’m not implying anything, brother dearest. I’m simply stating the obvious. If you can’t follow the rules, isn’t it time to change some and allow someone else to become the don.”
“That’s enough,” my father snarled at Luca, his anger already at the surface. He looked back at me, his expression one of disappointment. “You’ve made your bed, Matteo. Change it.”
No matter how much damage control dad tried to do now, Luca’s words were already festering in the minds of those around.
Those who would love to be the Don themselves.
I stood up, the weight of their judgment pressing down on me. “I’ll fix this,” I said, my voice hard. “I’ll prove to all of you that I made the right choice.”
“You’d better.”
I left before anyone else could say something that would make me lose control even more.
I wasn’t surprised when footsteps followed me. Neither was I surprised that it was Luca.
“One more thing, Matteo,” he said, his tone deceptively light. “Don’t become angry when I push myself forward to become the Don. I am known for following simple rules.”
I froze, the implications of his words hitting me like a punch to the gut.
Everyone knew why he had suggested it when I was in the study, but saying it to my face without a second thought…..
He wanted my position, my power. He had always wanted it.
He was willing to do whatever it took to get it.
I turned back to him, my gaze steely. “You’ll regret this, Luca.”
He simply smiled, a slow, mocking curve of his lips. “We’ll see.”