MATTEO’s POV
With trembling hands, I clutched the letter in my fist, my body shaking with anger and despair. I swept my arm across my desk, sending papers and pens flying through the air. Carter watched me, his face pale with concern, as I ripped and tore everything within reach. My heart was pounding, and my breath was coming in short gasps.
I flung the crumpled letter across the room, watching it skid across the floor. Then, in a fit of rage, I kicked my chair across the room, hearing it clatter against the wall. I felt the anger coursing through my veins, my muscles tense, and my breathing rapid.
“Matteo…”. He spoke slowly and calmly, trying to avoid setting me off any further. But it was like a spark had been lit inside of me, and I was ready to explode. My hands were shaking, and I could feel the sweat beading on my forehead. I was on the edge, teetering between reason and madness. All it would take was one more spark, and I would be consumed by my rage.
“You…know the line has been drawn, and we’ll get him. I promise you. We’ll get him and-”
I glared at him, my voice low and threatening. “Get out,” I hissed, my ears still ringing from the shattering of my control. I could feel my shirt sticking to my body, and I ripped it off in disgust. I saw the stain of my father’s blood on the fabric, and it broke my heart.
“Matteo…”.
“Get the fuck out!”. I grabbed a vase from the shelf and hurled it towards Carter, my rage overtaking me. But it missed him and shattered against the wall, inches from Aria’s head. She screamed and ran from the room, her eyes wide with fear. I felt a pang of guilt, but it was drowned out by the anger that was coursing through me. I had no idea she came in with him and it broke my heart even more to find her in that condition. My chest felt tight and my breathing was shallow, as if the air had been sucked out of the room. I looked at the door she had disappeared through, as if hoping she would come back. My lips parted in a silent gasp, my eyes wide and my heart racing. I felt abandoned and alone, like the world had suddenly become a much darker place.
“Just go, Carter,” I said, my voice low and firm. I didn’t want him to see me like this. I didn’t want to share this moment of vulnerability with anyone. He turned and left, leaving me alone with my emotions and the echo of my own voice. The silence was deafening, and I sank to the floor, feeling defeated and overwhelmed.
I brushed my hair out of my face, the memories of the last day playing out in my mind like a movie. I remembered the cold, empty warehouse and the person I had chained to a chair. I had done everything I could to make them talk, to make them tell me who was really behind my father’s death. But he had remained silent, his lips sealed shut.
His only words were a bloodcurdling scream, “He’s coming for you!” My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt a chill run down my spine. I was covered in bruises, but my pain was nothing compared to the fear that gripped me. I fell to my knees, shaking my head spinning as I tried to make sense of what was happening. I felt like I had lost everything in a matter of minutes. The silence was deafening, the air thick with tension and fear. And then, I heard it – the faintest sound of the door creaking open. I held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest. And then, the soft clink of a woman’s shoe hitting the wooden floor.
“Matteo…”I recognized her voice immediately, and I felt a wave of dread wash over me. It was the last person I wanted to see. I closed my eyes and tried to block out the sound of her footsteps, focusing instead on the birds chirping outside my window. The light of the sun was streaming through the glass, and I found myself mesmerized by the sight.
“Let me dress your wounds”. Her voice was like honey, low and sweet. Exactly the way I had once told her I liked it. But now, I found myself hating the sound of it.
“Am I a monster, Evelyn?”. I managed to croak out, still refusing to look at her. My eyes were fixed on the window, and my whole body tensed.
“I believe everyone is bound to make mistakes”. she said, her voice getting closer.
“I made no mistakes, Evelyn”. I whispered. “Then, why me?”. I asked, my voice firmer than I thought.
“You don’t know that. Let me help you, Matteo…”. she said softly, her tone gentle and sincere. I could tell she was careful not to push me, to give me the space I needed. I felt a flicker of something that might have been gratitude, but it was quickly overshadowed by my anger.
“Don’t take another step, Evelyn”. I said, staring into her green eyes. They were beautiful.
“How’s Marino?”. She asked out of the blue, and I held her gaze and said “Dead!”.
“We need you here to take revenge on your dad. Now let me help you clean your wounds before they get infected”. she hissed, her voice dripping with malice. I felt a chill run down my spine as I heard the venom in her words
“I want to set things straight”. I rose to my feet, feeling a surge of courage and strength. “Let go of me,” I said firmly, looking her straight in the eyes. Evelyn’s grip tightened, her nails digging into my arm. She stared at me, her gaze intense and unwavering. For a moment, we stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills.
“You need to clean up your wounds or you might get sick”. I looked down at her hand on my arm, then back up at her face. I pulled away from her grip, feeling the sting of her nails as they scraped against my skin. I limped out of the room, barefoot and unsteady. I paused outside Aria’s door, unsure of where to go next. As I began to walk away, Aria’s door swung open, and I saw her face. The fear and anger instantly evaporated, replaced by a wave of warmth and comfort. I felt like I could breathe again, like the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. She was the one person who made everything feel okay and safe.
“Matteo,” she whispered, and I immediately gathered her into my arms. My battered body ached as we pressed together, but I didn’t care. All I could think about was her, the feeling of her soft skin against mine, her delicate hands on my back. I breathed in the scent of her hair, sweet and intoxicating. In that moment, nothing else in the world mattered. She was my world.