Matteo

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 10.

Matteo heard exactly what the spoiled princess muttered under her breath and it only boiled back his anger. He thought she understood her mistake and wasn't going to stop her little act of rebel. But all she cared was to make her next escape plan more flawless.

Matteo couldn't hold back anymore. He grabbed both her shoulders and pushed her all the way back to the wall behind her. He was strong and powerful, and Aria couldn't figure out if he had picked her up all the way there or dragged her all the way to the wall. But either way she was now trapped, something she despised.

Aria's eyes went wide at Matteo's sudden change of demeanor and before she could resist him her back hit the wall with a soft thud sound. His grip on her shoulders were tight but not painful or maybe the rush of adrenaline wasn't letting her register it yet.

"Matteo." She yelled at him in surprise, but his intense gaze silenced her.

Panic was clearly visible in Aria's eyes and for some reason the predator side of him enjoyed it. Loved how scared she was of him but at the same time he hated himself. He wanted this marriage to go smoothly, so he can focus on his main goal. But seeing her running away from him and disobeying his warning and causing scene, just pissed him more.And on top of all that she was thinking of doing it again.

"Listen to me princess," Matteo said with his jaw clenched so tightly that his teeth were grinding with each other."You don't understand do you. What you were about to do was the dumbest trick in the history of dumb tricks."

Aria's eyebrow pinched together in confusion and Matteo continued. "You were planning to make your escape when you were with my mother, with my men's on the watch. The Cortinao's."Matteo growled the last part at her causing her to flinch in shock.

"You thought running away when you were out with my mother was a brilliant idea."Matteo fired a rhetorical question her way. He was pissed she involved his mother in her lame plan - one which wasn't even idiot-proofed.

He knew both Cortiano and Masello's men were surrounding the entire area. Keeping the women's under tight security and within thirty minutes of run she would have been caught. But what she didn't realise was his father, Robert would blame everything on his mother, Rose. He would tell her how incapable she is that she could keep an eye on her. Robert will torture Rose for a mistake that she didn't even do.

Matteo was too familiar with his father's rage and knew he won't be only verbally about it. He would definitely get physical with Rose and Matteo won't be able to stop him. Robert loved finding any excuse to hit Rose. And he did that when now one was around to save her. When Matteo wasn't around to protect his mother.

"Do you even realise how much trouble my mother would be in? The woman who considers you like her daughter."Matteo was practically yelling at her at this point as he squeezed her shoulder tighter now. He pressed himself close to her when she tired to wiggle from his hold.

"Matteo, you are hurting me." Aria tired to plead but he didn't care. Instead, he dug his finger more deeper around her shoulder causing her to shriek with pain.

"If you ever think of dragging my mother or sister in your stupid plan ever again princess. I swear I won't care if you are my wife or not. I will end you. DO.YOU. UNDERSTAND?" He growled at her like wounded lion and Aria just nodded her head up and down too scared to even utter a single word.

Matteo stared at her for a beat, his nostril flaring with each inhale and exhale he took. And then as if she disgusted him he released her carelessly pushing her with a bit of impact, making her rub against the wall roughly.

He hated how she was destroying all his plans of becoming the mob Boss. Challenging his control, his emotions - one he had under control for so many years. And the worst part was he hated hurting her. Hated causing her pain. It wasn't like him to hurt a women, he wasn't the animal his father was. But in the end it seemed like he was definitely his father's son.

Aria quickly rubbed her hand up and down over her shoulder trying to soothe the sore area where Matteo gapped her. She wanted to cry not because she was in pain, but because she was genuinely scared of him for the first time. She knew he was angry, but deep down she knew he would never hurt her or touch her. But how he pinned her against the wall. She lost all confidences. Now she was scared of his anger.

Aria's entire life she has seen how her parents have loved and cared for each-other. They never raised their voices in front of her when they argued which in fact was a very rare occasion. And seeing Matteo growl at her scarred her really bad. She saw it in his eyes. They were dark and merciless. For one second she thought he would slap her or punch her for disobeying him or back answering him. But he didn't.

Aria tired to wet her dry lips as much as she could as she kept moving to the side, away from Matteo while rubbing her shoulders. Biting back the sob that was rising at the back of her throat. She quickly blinked back the tears that was forming in her eyes as she tipped her chin down. She won't let this man see her cry. She would rather die than let Matteo see how scared she was.

Matteo stepped back and cursed under his breath. He tired to get his anger under control as he ran his fingers widely through his hair making them even more messy. A pounding headache started at the base of his head causing him to squint his eyes shut. He barely slept last night and now she was poking the beast in him. One he had only reserved for his soldiers.

Once Aria got her breathing under control she looked back at him. He was pacing in front of her in anger. Feeling Aria's eyes on him Matteo glanced up at her and his heart nearly dropped.

Her beautiful eyes were filled with so much hurt that Matteo wanted to engulf her in his arms and take away all the pain. But he knew she won't welcome his touch. After what he did today she would barely let him touch her.

Matteo closed his eyes trying to clear his head. But he knew her sad eyes were going to haunt him. It wasn't his plan to hurt anyone, especially his beautiful mermaid. But when he is around her, he loses all his control. She drives him crazy.

Her shuffling of feets caused him to blink open his eyes. She was trying to get as far as possible from him and he hated how scared she looked now. Swallowing down his frustration, he took a step closer to her, noticing how her eyes got wide with that. His nostrils flared at that as he halted in his step and cleared his throat. He was angry at himself now. He lost all his control.


"Get back in there and pretend like nothing happened." His tone was authoritative as he pointed at the door behind her. "I don't want my mother to think you ran away or in fact for anyone in there to know you were gone. Just make some excuse for the delay. I bet you must be good at it."He couldn't hold back from mocking her.

Aria didn't utter a single word as she bobbed her head up and down but didn't move a single muscle. She looked defeated and he hated it. He had done that to her.

"I am serious Aria," This was the first time he had used her name. He always called her princess but now it was Aria, with a hint of disappointment or something she couldn't figure it out. Or more like she didn't care.

Aria slightly jumped at his loud voice but quickly fixed her expression.

"If anyone ever finds out that the future Mrs.Cortiano tired to run away before her wedding. I swear to you it won't be good for you or for your father. And I would make sure of it."His tone was lethal as he looked directly at her.

At his warning he eyes went wild. He wouldn't hurt her father?? He couldn't?? How can he do that?? Her father was a powerful man?? Wasn't he?? Yes, she agrees he is old and has never started any fight but he always protected her and her mother. She was starting to doubting herself but then quickly cleared her mind. She didn't want to think about it right now. Right now she just wanted to go back in and pretend like this never happen.

Right now she didn't know what to believe and what not to.

Plus she didn't wanted to stay a second more in Matteo's presence.

*******************

Aria knew she had screwed up big time and now she had nothing to say or do except nod her head. She turned to open the back door that led to the store behind her. But Matteo's muscular hand pressed the door beside her, preventing Aria from opening it. "And remember princess, nothing is going to stop this marriage," He spoke those words close to her ear "NOTHING."

Aria's jaw tightens at his declaration, but she restrained from fighting back. It was in her nature, but she knew this time she was wrong.

Matteo removed his hand from the door, uncaging Aria from his hold as he stepped back. "Now go get our wedding dress sorted Princess." He ordered his wife.

Aria's shoulder shrugged in defeat knowing she had no other choice but to listen to him.

"And one more thing princess," Matteo called after her. But Aria didn't turn to look at him, keeping her hand on the door handle.


"Look at me princess." He mocked her, and it took everything in her from rolling her eyes at him and getting right at his face. But she didn't, knowing too well he was trying to get a rise out of her. But she had year and years of practise, of been the good girl.


So she slowly turned around facing him. There was a smirk look on his face and she wanted to snatch it right off him.

"Got something for you." He said as he unbuttoned his suit jacket and slipped out something. It looked like a piece of paper but the moment he handed it to her she knew exactly what it was.

"I personally wanted to hand my wife our wedding card." His tone was nothing more than pure evil. He was enjoying it, and she hated it with every passing second.

She looked down at the card and then up at him. Not daring to touch the card. Matteo raised his eyebrows silently telling her to take it, or she won't like the consequences. And she hesitantly took it.

Seeing the wedding card, made her realise that it was happening. Her wedding to this evil monster was inevitable.

"The extra cards are already delivered to your house, incase you, want to invite someone to our special day." He said with a side smile as he started to take few steps back without turning around.

Aria grabbed the card and then looked at him one last time before turning around and walking inside. She swear she heard a triumphant giggle from behind her but she was not going to turn around and give him the satisfaction that she was defeated.

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"Hell would freeze before I walk down the altar to you."

Aria Masello.