Matteo.
I swirled the wine in my glass, watching the crimson liquid catch the moonlight.
“Let’s skip the pleasantries, Lorenzo. You’ve been off the grid for years. Why surface now?”
Lorenzo’s smirk didn’t falter. He leaned against the balcony railing, his gaze sweeping across the ocean as though he had all the time in the world. “I could ask you the same thing, Matteo. Crashing my little soiree uninvited… what could be so important?”
I would punch the smug smile off his face if it wouldn’t put Valentina in a bad position.
So I clenched my jaw, keeping my voice level. “You were close to my mother. I want to know why.”
Valentina stiffened beside me, her fingers brushing against mine. I couldn’t tell if it was a gesture of support or an unconscious reaction to the tension radiating from me. Either way, it grounded me, kept my focus sharp.
Lorenzo chuckled, a low, smooth sound that grated on my nerves. “Ah, yes. Claudia. She was… unforgettable.” He took a slow sip of his wine, savouring the memory… or the reaction he knew he’d provoke. “But you already know that, don’t you?”
Hearing him say my mother’s name in such an… intimate way. That was the only way I could describe it. Like a caress. It made me tighten my grip on the glass.
“I know she trusted you enough to share things she kept hidden from everyone else.”
Something even Richard had picked up on.
He raised an eyebrow, his expression one of mild amusement. “Trust? That’s a generous word for what we had. Your mother and I… we understood each other. That’s all.”
“Understood each other how?” Valentina’s voice cut through the tension, sharp and clear. Her posture was deceptively calm, but I could see the fire in her eyes.
Lorenzo turned to her, his smirk softening into something almost genuine. “You’re an interesting one, Miss Russo. Fierce, curious. I can see why Matteo keeps you so close.” He took another sip of wine, his gaze flicking back to me. “But some truths, my dear, are best left buried.”
“Not this one,” I said, my voice like steel. “You knew her. You knew what she was involved in. I need to know how you fit into all of it.”
He studied me for a long moment, the smirk finally fading. “Claudia and I… let’s just say we shared a mutual interest in the finer things in life. Power, influence, secrets. She was brilliant, cunning. But she had a weakness… one that eventually cost her everything.”
“What weakness?” My voice was barely above a whisper.
His gaze darkened, the amusement draining from his expression. “You… or, more importantly, her children.”
The word hit me like a punch to the gut. Valentina’s hand found mine, her grip steady, anchoring me as the weight of his statement settled in.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I demanded, stepping closer.
Lorenzo didn’t flinch. If anything, he seemed to relish my reaction. “She wanted to protect you, Matteo. From the life she built, from the enemies she made. But in doing so, she underestimated just how far those enemies would go to destroy her.”
I took a step back, the world tilting slightly as his words sank in. My mother had always been a mystery, a shadow in the corners of my memory. Hearing this now, from a man who had been part of her world, was like staring into a mirror and seeing a stranger’s face.
“And now?” Valentina’s voice was steady, her gaze locked on Lorenzo. “Why show yourself now? Why talk to us at all?”
Lorenzo drained the last of his wine, setting the glass down with a soft clink. “Because, my dear, the game is changing. And if you want to survive it, you’ll need me.”
I shook my head, my instincts screaming not to trust him. “Why should we believe you?”
He smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “Because I know where Luca is. And I know what he’s planning.”
The air seemed to freeze, the weight of his words pressing down on all of us. Valentina’s grip on my hand tightened, her nails digging into my skin.
“Start talking,” I growled, stepping closer. “Now.”
Lorenzo chuckled again, low and dangerous. “Patience, Matteo. All in good time. But first…” He gestured to the villa behind us, where shadows moved just beyond the balcony doors. “It seems we have company.”
I heard the footsteps before I saw them. Slow, deliberate, and growing louder. Valentina shifted beside me, her body tensing as I instinctively placed myself in front of her.
The balcony doors swung open, revealing two men in sharp suits. Their faces were stoic, their hands resting just too casually at their sides… close to concealed weapons. They were followed by a woman, tall and striking, with dark eyes that locked onto Lorenzo with a mixture of irritation and amusement.
“Lorenzo,” she said, her voice smooth as silk. “You’ve been busy.”
He straightened, a grin spreading across his face. “Ah, Alessia. Always a pleasure.”
She didn’t return his smile. Her gaze flicked to me, then to Valentina. “And who are these?”
“Guests,” Lorenzo said casually. “Uninvited, but intriguing nonetheless.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You brought strangers here? Do you have any idea how reckless that is?”
“Relax,” Lorenzo replied, waving her off. “They’re here for answers, not trouble. Isn’t that right, Matteo?”
I didn’t respond, my eyes locked on Alessia. There was something about her… something calculating, dangerous. She wasn’t just another lackey. She was someone with power, someone used to being in control.
“We don’t have time for this,” she said, turning back to Lorenzo. “They’re moving up the timeline. If you’re not ready…”
Lorenzo’s grin faded, replaced by a seriousness I hadn’t seen before. “How much time?”
“Hours,” she said, her tone clipped. “Maybe less. You need to decide… are you in, or are you out?”
He hesitated, his gaze flicking to me. “Looks like you showed up just in time, Matteo. How do you feel about a little adventure?”
I stepped forward, my fists clenched. “Stop dodging and tell me what’s going on.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. Luca’s making his move… tonight. He’s consolidating power, tying up loose ends. If you want to stop him, this is your chance.”
“And why would you want to stop him?” Valentina asked, her voice sharp.
Lorenzo’s smile returned, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Let’s just say our goals align… for now.”
I didn’t trust him. Not for a second. But if he was right… if Luca was really planning something tonight… I couldn’t afford to walk away.
Perhaps this would be my chance to get rid of my pesky half brother for good without anything leading back to me.
“Where?” I demanded.
Lorenzo’s grin widened. “Now that’s the spirit. Come on. I’ll show you.”
Before I could respond, Alessia stepped between us. “If they’re coming, they’re your responsibility,” she said to Lorenzo. “If they compromise us, it’s on you.”
“Noted,” he replied, already moving toward the doors. “Shall we?”
Valentina hesitated, her hand tightening around mine. “Matteo…”
“I know,” I said quietly. “I don’t trust him either. But this might be our only shot.”
She nodded, her jaw set. “Then let’s make it count.”
We followed Lorenzo and Alessia back into the villa, weaving through the crowd until we reached a private elevator. Lorenzo pressed a button, and the doors slid open, revealing a sleek, steel interior.
As the elevator descended, the tension in the air grew thicker. Lorenzo leaned against the wall, his expression unreadable, while Alessia stood rigid, her eyes fixed straight ahead.
When the doors opened, we stepped into a dimly lit corridor lined with monitors and equipment. It was a command centre, buzzing with activity as men and women moved about, speaking in hushed tones.
“This,” Lorenzo said, gesturing around, “is where the real party happens.”
I barely heard him, my attention drawn to one of the monitors. It showed a map, with several red dots clustered around a single location.
“That’s where he’ll be,” Alessia said, noticing my gaze. “Luca’s stronghold. He’ll have his inner circle with him, along with enough firepower to level a city block.”
“Perfect,” I muttered, already calculating our odds.
Lorenzo clapped me on the shoulder. “Cheer up, Matteo. It’s not every day you get to take on the devil himself.”
I shrugged him off, my eyes meeting Valentina’s. “Are you ready for this?”
She nodded, her expression fierce. “Always.”
“Good,” I said, turning back to Lorenzo. “Then let’s finish this.”