MATTEO’s POV
I held her closer, my arms wrapping around her like a shield. “You’re safe now, Aria,” I whispered. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
She nodded, her tears spilling onto my chest. I stroked her hair, my fingers gentle, as she continued to recount the dream. When she finally finished, she looked up at me, her eyes red-rimmed but determined.
Aria’s eyes locked onto mine, her gaze intense. “Matteo, what if there’s something going on between them?”
I frowned, my mind racing. “What do you mean? I trust them enough to know they won’t harm us”
Aria shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t think so. In my dream, they were… different. Their eyes, their smiles… it was like they were hiding something. And the way they were working together, like they had some sort of plan…”
I felt a shiver run down my spine. “They know better than to cross me”
She nodded, her eyes wide with fear. “I don’t know what they’re up to, but you need to watch your back.”
My protective instincts kicked in, and I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her, her head on my chest, her breath fanning across my skin. Then, I stroked her hair, my fingers gentle.
“You’re safe now, Aria. I’ve got you.”
She nodded softly, her tense muscles releasing their stiffness as she surrendered to my embrace. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she let them fall shut, succumbing to the exhaustion that had been written across her face. I gazed down at her, mesmerized by the gentle rhythm of her breathing, her chest rising and falling in a slow, peaceful cadence. As her body relaxed further, her weight settled more heavily against mine, and I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close as she slipped into a deep sleep.
I laid there next to her for a long time, watching over her, my heart filled with love and my mind racing with thoughts of Carter and Alonzo.
As I lay there, watching Aria sleep, my mind wandered back to a conversation I had with Gia a few days ago before she left for the states. She had pulled me aside, her eyes serious.
“Matteo, I really do not trust Alonzo,” she had said. “There’s just something off about him,”
Her words echoed in my mind, and I realized that Gia had been trying to warn me. But she never did say anything about Carter, just her dislike for Alonzo who has had my back all these years. I felt a surge of gratitude towards her, and it was time to try and see things from her point of view.
I made a mental note to talk to Gia again, to ask her what she saw in them that i failed to see and what had made her suspicious. And I vowed to keep a closer eye on Carter and Alonzo to see if I could uncover any evidence of their deceit. Aria’s safety depended on it.
The next day, as I sat in my study, Carter walked in.
“Good morning, Boss,” Carter said, his smile cheerful as he approached my desk. “I brought the latest report on the Smiths.”
But I just nodded curtly, my eyes narrowing as I took the file from him. “Thanks.”
He seemed taken aback by my odd demeanor, his smile faltering for a moment.
“Everything okay, man? You seem a little… off.”
I leaned back in my chair, my eyes never leaving his face. “I’m just tired, that’s all.”
But the truth was, I was far from fine. Aria’s dream and Gia’s warning had left me on edge, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about Carter and Alonzo. I decided to play it cool to see if I could get Carter to slip up and reveal something.
“So, what’s the latest on the Smiths?” I asked, my voice neutral. “Any progress?”
“Actually, yes. They agreed to collab”
“That’s good”
“But I need you to sign some documents for me”
I nodded, my expression neutral. “I’ll have a look at the documents.”
I took the file from him, my eyes scanning the pages without really reading them. My mind was racing with suspicions, but I didn’t want to tip Carter off. I needed to lay low to see if I could uncover more information without arousing his suspicion.
“Looks good,” I said finally, my voice casual.
Carter’s smile returned, and he handed me a pen. “Thanks, boss. I knew I could count on you.”
The Smiths, a prominent group, were eager to collaborate with Carter’s new venture, but he required financial assistance to make it happen. He turned to me for help, and I agreed to loan him the necessary funds to support his business endeavors.
As Carter turned to leave, I called out to him. “Carter?”
He turned back, his eyes questioning. “Yes, boss?”
“And who gave Aria the letter?” I asked, my tone casual.
Carter’s expression faltered for a moment, and he hesitated before responding. “Could be Evelyn. We haven’t heard from her since she left.”
I nodded, my eyes never leaving his face. “Find her.”
“On it boss”. He replied.