Matteo's Eyes

Chapter 10

I struggle against Marcello as best I can but I am so weak I can't escape the grasp of an old man. I try to yell or scream but nothing comes out, my throat is too dry.

I stop struggling and watch where we are going. We stand in the middle of the now-empty harbor and wait. I see someone walking towards us. I try to save them away and yell for them to go away but it's no use.

When I can finally see who it is I almost collapse. Shay. I shiver. Not from the cool breeze but from the thought that Shay will be trapped with me.

"Your not who I expected to see," Marcello says from behind me.

"Yeah well everyone else thought we should wait. I had to respond for Mr. Lombardi. He doesn't know I am here." Shay what are you doing. Leave!

"Well, your of no use then."

"I can tell you where you can find Mr. Lombardi unprotected. It will be an easy kill and you will take over the mafia. I just need Ivy." I hear Shay say confidently. His dark brown hair blows in the breeze. I can almost make out his grey eyes from the distance we are at. Shay's strong but not exactly buff body stands about 5 or 6 yards away.

"Tell me where," Marcello says.

"Give me Ivy first," Shay says as he takes a step forward.

Marcello knees me in the back. I bite my lip to keep from yelling out.

"Fine. I'll tell you," Shay pauses, "Every Friday night he goes to a bar with Mrs. Lombardi. At some point during the night, Mr. Lombardi will go off into a room without Mrs. Lombardi for a business meeting. If you walk into the room before the people he is meeting with go in you will have him alone."

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"I know because I was planning on killing him and taking his place. Now give me Ivy." Marcello shoved me forward. I stumble and fall but Shay catches me. I hear multiple gunshots ring out. I don't know who's been hit.

I stare up at Shay, "Shay," I croak out.

"It's okay Ivy. I got your message. I'm so sorry I didn't read it sooner." Shay tucks me close to his body. I wrap my arms around him and blackout.

***

I wake up still in Shay's arms but now we are hidden in an alley while gunshots are being fired nearby. My arms are wrapped around Shay's torso and my head is on his shoulder. I realize I am sitting in his lap with my legs around his waist.

"What's going on?" I whisper my throat still severely dry.

"After I caught you they tried to take us both. I was able to run us into an alley while everyone else covered us and shot at them. Now both sides have a lot of men here fighting." Shay says as he looks out of the alley watching to make sure no one comes down this way.

I sit up trying to move off of Shay.

"No. I am not letting you out of my grip. I didn't make your dad let me come down here to be with you for nothing." Shay says as he wraps one arm around my waist and the other one holds a gun.

"T-thank you." I manage to say before blacking out again.

***

Shays POV:

I sit in the alley with Ivy in my lap. She keeps going in and out of consciousness. Her entire face is bruised really badly and her lip is completely busted. I hold her close to me not wanting to lose her.No one comes near the alley and I don't dare leave.

I listen as the gunshots slow down. I don't move. I wait for the Lombardis to come.

"Shay? Come in. Shay?" I hear Matteo say through the earpiece.

"I'm here. I have Ivy we are in an alley. She keeps going in and out of consciousness."

I hear Matteo sigh a deep sigh of relief, "Thank you, Shay. We should have listened when you said something was wrong earlier. I just thought it was cause you were jealous."

"Well, that's not totally wrong," I murmur forgetting my mic is still on.

"YOU LIKE MY SISTER!" I cringe at how loud he is in my ear.

"Yes, I do. Or I did but now I have Emily remember." I wait for Matteo's response.

There is a long pause, "Well you know what? Your probably the only guy I trust with her anyways so. Just don't break her heart or I will personally kill. And we both know Emily won't last."

I know Matteo is not joking when he says that. Matteo has always been super protective of Ivy.

"It's hard to break someone's heart when they don't like you back." I ignore his comment about Emily because I know he's right.

Matteo laughs. There is a short pause before he continues, "Oh you're being serious?"

"Well, yeah."

"You really are blind. We are coming down to you guys now."

"Okay." Blind? What?

***

Ivory's POV:

This time I wake up in my own bed. I sigh and look around for water.

"What do need?"

I look over to see who just spoke, "Mom!" I try to say.

Mom rushes over and hugs me, "I'm so glad you're okay. Water?"

I nod my head yes. She leaves to go get water. Angelina walks in right when mom leaves.

"Hey, Ivory. I want to talk to you about something when you are feeling better." I don't know what she might want to talk about but whatever is she looks nervous about it.

"Okay," I whisper. She walks out.

I wait for Mom to come back with my water but instead it is Dad and Matteo. I smile at them. Matteo hands me water. I drink the entire glass in one sip.

"Hey Ivory," Matteo says as he gets on the bed and lays next to me.

"How are you feeling?" Dad asks me as he kisses me on my forehead.

"Not that good," I say honestly.

"Alright well, I will bring up more water and ice for your bruises. Matteo will stay here and make sure you are okay." Dad hugs me gently, "I'm so sorry Ivory. I should have killed him years ago."

"Did you kill him this time?" I ask because I never want to see his face again.

"Yes, I did." I sigh happily to know I will never have to see him again.

"What about Miss Dominic, my grandmother?"

"She unfortunately escaped but we will find her don't worry."

"How long was I there for?" I'm scared of the answer. I'm scared they are going to say.

"A month Ivory. We tried multiple times to save you but every time Marcello just tricked us."

"Oh ok." A whole month in there. Am I really still alive?

"So what are we watching?" Matteo asks me.

"The Notebook?"

"Sure, whatever you want."

As the movie plays I begin to fall asleep.

"Ivory?"

"Yes?"

"I need to meet whoever you date okay? If I don't approve you can't date them."

I smile to myself, "Okay, deal."

"Although I think I know who you're going to date next."

I am too tired to respond or even really comprehend what Matteo said. I lean my head on Matteo's shoulder and fall asleep.