MATTEO’s POV
Placing a cigar between his lips, I watched how Charlie smoked and how Gia stared at him as he smoked. We were all at my office at Marino’s. I let Gia help me find Anthonio. I understood the risk of involving her, but I needed all the help I could get. I didn’t reveal to her who I was or what I did, aside from being the wealthiest CEO in Italy. I kept all of that information to myself.
My only instruction to her was to assist me in locating a man named Anthonio. Carter was out on his search, and Alonzo was seated on the couch in my office, waiting for Charles to speak. Gia cleared her throat, glanced from Alonzo to Charlie, and then to me.
“Matteo…”. She started, and I knew it was going to be a witty statement. “What do you plan on getting for her on Valentine’s Day?”. She asked, and I sighed. The tension in the room dissolved into thin air as she said those words.
“Gia…this isn’t the time”. Charles whispered.
“I mean, they’re married. They’ve consummated their marriage”. She paused and smiled. “We all hear what happens every night. Don’t we?”.
“Stop…”. I said, but she saw that as a sign to keep going.
“Oh, and remember that day, Charles, when they-”
“Enough!!”. I exclaimed, rising from my spot
Gia turned to Alonzo and said, “Get him some water to drink”. Alonzo looked from Gia to me. I nodded, and he quickly walked away. Once Alonzo was out of the room. She sighed and chuckled.
“He’s such a good boy, but I don’t trust him”.
“And you trust me. Why?”. Charles asked.
“I trust you enough to know you won’t stab me in the back”
“So I get just enough?”. Charles asked, and Gia nodded.
She walked to me and pushed me to sit. “I studied the places he has been. He’s just a normal guy with a great physique and…”. She paused and looked at the entrance, making sure Alonzo wasn’t eavesdropping.
“Why do you keep doing that?”. Charles asked.
“I don’t trust him”. She said and then looked at him. “But like I said, I trust you”. She whispered, holding his gaze. I saw Charles gulp and chuckle.
“I’m not someone you should trust. I’m not the good guy”. He said, and I could tell from his expression that he didn’t want her to know anything about him.
“I don’t care. I just know you won’t hurt me”. She said, and I saw Charles gulp again. His eyes never left her, but she tore her gaze away from him and turned to me. “Who’s this, Anthonio, and what did he do to you?”
“You don’t need to know that”.
“Of course I do need to know that. I need to know what I’m fighting for”. She said, and just then, Alonzo appeared by the door panting. He rushed to me with the bottle of water.
“Did you run all the way here?”. Gia asked
“Si”. He said to her, but Gia wasn’t convinced that Alonzo could be on my side.
“Oh I see…”. Was all she said as she retreated to her seat on the couch. I looked around the room and chuckled dryly.
“We know what he looks like. We know he’s onto me. We need to find him before he gets to me”.
“And how do we do that?”. Charles asked as he smoked.
“A bait”. Alonzo said. My eyes moved to Gia, and I could see her eyebrows crease as she lowered her head.
“Bait?”. Charles asked.
“Si”. Alonzo answered, looking at me.
“And who would that be? The boss?”. Charles asked.
“No”. Alonzo replied. “Aria”.
I swallowed hard and leaned forward on my desk, finding support in the palms of my hands. I closed my eyes slowly and took a deep breath.
“She could be the bait”. I heard Alonzo speak, and something in me wanted to end him there and then, but I kept calm.
“Matteo…”. I heard Gia call out.
“Why would I give him my wife?”. I asked with my eyes still closed.
“That way – he could fall into your trap and-”
“And?! The fuck you mean! How do you expect me to use my wife, as bait!”. I yelled with my eyes wide open.
“You clearly have no feelings for her. You said it yourself. Now, use her to achieve your biggest goal! It’s that simple!”. Alonzo said.
My chest rose and fell steadily, my gaze fixed solely on Alonzo. In my mind’s eye, I could already envision three bullets piercing him, with me gripping the pistol tightly. I maintained control over my breathing, even as anger surged through my veins, tempting me to take extreme action-something I might later regret. I locked eyes with him as he scoffed, preparing to speak.
Turning my attention away, I focused on Gia, who watched me intently, anticipating my next move. Meanwhile, Charles struggled with his lighter, attempting to light up another cigar. Returning my gaze to Alonzo, I noticed a smile spread across his face.
“I know you do not love her. You won’t make that mistake again. Falling in love with a woman who feels nothing for you”. He said
“You don’t possibly think she loves you after everything you did to her. She would never”
I felt my body tremble as I recalled everything I did to her. I couldn’t believe I hurt her that way.
My Aria
“Locking her up without food! Hurting her ankle! Taking her away from the man she loved-“. I quickly grabbed the pen close to my fingers on my desk.
“Stop it”. I heard Gia say, but I was completely blinded by rage that I couldn’t see when she held him by his arm.
“Fucking let go!”. He yelled pulling his arm away from her hold.
“I see…”. I said, forcing a smile. “Your English has gotten far better than it used to. Elizabeth’s doing a great job”. I said in the calmest way I could possibly act. All attempts to change the topic look like a huge success.
Alonzo looked at me like I’d gone crazy but I kept my smile on, never faltering. Never backing down and then Carter rushed into my office. His long hair hung loose, with a huge chunk falling across his face. He was panting heavily, and I could sense that something bad had occurred.
“Aria…”. I ran to him and held him with my hands trembling slightly.
“She- she found the letter “. He said.