Relationship Status: Mafia

Chapter 41

Alice POV

Flashes of white and yellow disoriented my vision as I slowly began to wake. I raised myself into a seated position dazed from the time I'd lost track of. Confused was my first reaction while glancing around the new room I was in. At least I wasn't back in the cement room. This room is an absolute upgrade by a mile.

All I knew was that I was safe, and with Matsuo, he had saved me and Zhen.

Slowly, I took my time to uncover and swing my legs over the side of the tall bed. When my feet hit the cool wooden floor, I shudder at the touch that ran up my body. I hug myself for heat, realizing I'm in clean clothes instead of tattered rags. I'm not even going to think about how I got into them. It would only cause a headache on top of the one I have now. It takes me a while to stand up on steady feet and step over to the glass sliding doors.

Tons of tall trees surround the property, and the sky is covered by murky rain clouds. It looked absolutely morbid outside as a thunderstorm loomed over the house. My body protested as inch toward the bedroom door to get a better look around the place. I couldn't stay in here a minute longer until I found out where I was exactly.

After exploring, I find the house is quite simple; two stories with two bedrooms are nothing extravagant. Compared to the penthouse, this is a more humble and meek residence.

I looked around before I made my way to the kitchen at the bottom of the stairs. My stomach cried out desperately for something to eat, but as I entered the kitchen, a familiar silhouette of a man stood in front of a window. He was drinking from a mug and leaning back against the kitchen island.

I catch Matsuo's attention when I accidentally thank God out loud. His eyes meet mine, forcing me out of my hiding spot behind the archway. He was in a pair of sweat and a t-shirt drinking, from what I could smell, a cup green tea. Matsuo gave me an exhausted grin or smile. Whatever it was, he quickly looked down at the floor.

I step out into the open, distracting myself with the sleeves of my sweatshirt. Without looking, I could sense Matsuo's eyes back on me.

"Why are you up?" He asked in which I looked up at him with a confused look. "I m-mean, why aren't you resting?"

Matsuo appeared to be flustered, and I never imagined I'd see a man like him act such a way. This only confused me further.

"I'm fine." I say as I sniff the air for coffee.

As suspected, a coffee maker is sitting next to the refrigerator and had some brewing. Slowly, I made my way to the coffee maker, but I was stopped by Matsuo. I look down at his hands, grasping my forearm.

"Sit." He said softly. "I was going to bring it to your room."

He gestures to the small, round dining table covered in sunlight from the surrounding windows. I do as he says and sit in one of the wooden chairs with my hands in my lap.

I watch as Matsuo prepares a fresh cup of coffee for me with two sugars without me having to say anything. He brought it over and took a seat across the table. I look down at the coffee and inhaled the potent hazelnut brew.

"I could've fixed it myself." I mutter as I grasped the warm mug.

"You need to rest." Matsuo said as he drank his tea. "When you're finished, go back to the room."

After I take a sip of my drink, I roll my eyes at him. It's been days since I've been outside, let alone awake, so Matsuo can drop the commanding tone of his. I don't even know what day it is, and my stomach is killing me.

Without acknowledging Matsuo, I stand up from my seat to fix me something to eat. Eggs and bacon sound nice, but it would be too much for my stomach to handle after going so long without food. So, a peanut butter sandwich will do after I find the fixings in a cabinet. I reach for the jar of peanut butter until another hand swipes it from the top shelf of the pantry. Matsuo stood right behind me as I looked at him in annoyance, I didn't like it when people made me feel helpless.

"Do you mind?" I reach for the jar, but Matsuo only holds it higher out of reach.

It hurt to try to grab the jar out of his hand as I stand in my tippy toes.

"Let me fix it for you."

"No." I said flatly. "I can do it myself."

It took every ounce of my being not to hit Matsuo, partially because my entire body is sore, and it probably wouldn't hurt him a single bit. Matsuo gazed down at me, visibly deciding if he should leave me be or to continue to be a pain in the ass.

"Fine." He set the jar down on the counter remaining next to me.

I gathered everything I needed for a peanut butter sandwich without interference from Matsuo. He did however hover over me every second that passed by. It was uncomfortable having him watch me as I ate, I thought when I was finished, he gives me some space. I'm sadly mistaken.

Matsuo followed me outside to the porch that oversees the back yard. As I step out, I take in the amazing view of the trees. The smell of pine filled the air carried by the cool 11thbreeze. Clouds still littered the sky, but it was nice to be enclosed by nature.

I sit on the cushioned bench taking in a much-needed deep breath of fresh air. My moment of peace is disturbed when Matsuo plops down beside me with a sigh.

"What are you doing?" I shoot him a sideways glance.

"Same as you," he stretched out his arms along the back of the bench, his hand nearly touching my shoulder. "I wanted to get some air."

More like to annoy me, of course I kept that to myself. As Matsuo sat beside me, I began to think of all the things he's put me through and the way he was treated, but he still came to rescue me.

"Why?"

Matsuo raised a brow. "Pardon?"

"Why, why did you save me?" A tear nearly broke free, but I manage by a hair to hold it back. "Why would you after saying all that was between us was an arrangement?"

Shock would be an understatement for the look on Matsuo's face. His eyes were tired, and his hair was a complete mess. Everything about him was different, it was like he shed the menacing layer of skin and I'm now looking at the real Matsuo. I've never seen him so disheveled.

I was amazed by the surprised reaction of pure shock my question ignited. Matsuo rubbed the back of his neck while avoiding my eyes.

"Seems like a lot of trouble to go through for nobody." I say into the air nonchalantly.

Matsuo settled beside me as he looked out to the trees. His hand suddenly gently grasped my shoulder, pulling me against him. I look up into Matsuo eyes breathless from the heat within them.

"You're not a nobody." He said firmly. "You're mine."

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