MATTEO’s POV
I nodded to Ben, and my eyes locked on Evelyn’s departing figure. “Take Aria away, Ben. I need to handle this alone.”
Ben’s expression was understanding, but also wary. “You sure, man? You don’t want me to stick around?”
I shook my head, my jaw clenched in frustration. “Just take Aria and go.” I said sternly.
Ben nodded, his eyes flicking to Aria, who looked confused and concerned. “Aria, let’s go,”
I watched as Ben gently guided Aria out of the room, feeling a mix of guilt and relief. I knew I had to face Evelyn alone to find out what she wanted and what information she thought she had. I grabbed my gun and pointed it at Evelyn’s retreating figure.
“Don’t you dare take another step”. She stopped and turned to me.
Her eyes widened, a flash of surprise crossing her face, but she didn’t flinch. Instead, a sly smile spread across her lips, and she raised her hands in a mocking gesture of surrender.
“Ah, Matteo, always so quick to resort to violence. You know I’m not afraid of you,” she purred, her eyes gleaming with a challenge.
I kept my gun trained on her, my finger resting on the trigger. “What do you want, Evelyn?”
Evelyn’s smile grew wider, her eyes glinting with a knowing light. “Oh, Matteo. You have no idea what I know. But let’s just say… anthonio will destroy you and your precious relationship with Aria… all of it will come crashing down.”
My grip on the gun tightened, and my anger and frustration simmered just below the surface. “You’re bluffing,” I spat, trying to keep my cool.
Evelyn’s laughter was low and husky, sending a shiver down my spine. “You think I’d risk my life to bluff, Matteo?”
I put the gun away and walked to her. I loomed over her, my larger frame casting a shadow on her petite form. My face inches from hers, I growled, “You think you have the upper hand, Evelyn? You think you can come in here and get away without paying for what you did. ”
My proximity seemed to stir a hint of unease, her eyes darting briefly to the side before snapping back to mine. Yet, her voice remained steady, laced with a subtle defiance. “You can’t do shit, matteo. You’ve become weak. She’s made you weak. ”
Evelyn’s eyes flashed with a momentary flicker of fear, but she quickly regained her composure, her smile never wavering. She tilted her head back, her gaze locked on mine, her eyes sparkling with a defiant glint.
“You think intimidation will work on me, Matteo?” she whispered, her voice husky and confident. “You think you’ll scare me into submission?”
I leaned in closer, my face inches from hers, my voice low and menacing. “I’m not trying to intimidate you, Evelyn. I’m trying to make you understand you made a terrible choice by coming back here,”
Evelyn’s eyes never left mine, her gaze burning with a fierce determination. “I’m not afraid of you, Matteo. I have the upper hand, and you know it.”
I let out a cold, heartless laugh, my eyes never leaving Evelyn’s face. “You think you have the upper hand? You’re delusional, Evelyn. You’re nothing but a whore”
I gestured to Charles, who had been watching the exchange with a neutral expression. “Take her away, Charles. To the shed in the woods. We’ll deal with her… later.”
Charles nodded, his eyes flicking to Evelyn before returning to me. “Yes, boss.”
Evelyn’s eyes widened in alarm as Charles stepped forward, his massive frame towering over her. She tried to step back, but Charles quickly grasped her arm, his grip firm but not harsh. “Let’s go, Evelyn,” he said, his voice firm but detached.
As Charles led her away, Evelyn’s gaze met mine, a mix of fear and anger burning in her eyes. I watched her go, my expression unchanged, my mind already thinking of the next move in this deadly game.
Then, she began screaming, and her screams were abruptly muffled as Charles swiftly clamped his hand over her mouth, his grip firm but careful not to hurt her. She struggled and kicked, her eyes flashing with anger and fear, but Charles held her fast, his expression unyielding.
“Enough, Evelyn,” he warned, his voice low and even. “You’re only making this worse for yourself.”
I watched, my eyes narrowed, as Charles efficiently subdued her, his training and experience evident in the way he handled her. I knew he would keep her quiet and contained until I was ready to deal with her.
As they disappeared into the darkness, the sound of Evelyn’s muffled struggles faded into the night, leaving me to ponder my next move in this dangerous game.
I turned to Ben, my expression grim. “I’m going to find out what she wanted to let on. And then I’ll take care of her.”
Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Take care of her? What does that mean?”
I sighed, rubbing my temples. “It means I’ll make sure she doesn’t cause any more trouble. She’s been a thorn in my side for far too long, Ben.”
Ben’s gaze was intense. “You’re not going to kill her, are you?”
I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. “I’ll do what needs to be done, Ben.”
I walked away from him to Aria’s room. I walked into the room, my eyes locking onto Aria’s beautiful face. She was sitting on the bed, her eyes fixed on me with a mix of concern and love. As soon as she saw me, she jumped up and rushed into my arms, wrapping hers around me tightly.
I enveloped her in a warm embrace, feeling a sense of comfort and peace wash over me. “Hey, beautiful,” I whispered into her hair. “I’m sorry about that. I’ll take care of it, I promise.”
Aria pulled back, her eyes searching mine. “What’s going on? Who’s Anthonio?”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “He’s just a rival,”
Aria’s eyes narrowed. “It seemed deeper than that,”
I hesitated, not wanting to worry her. “Just trust me, Aria. I’ll handle it. You don’t need to worry about it.”
She looked at me for a full minute, then smiled, and I knew there and then that I was lucky to have her in my life.