MATTEO (book 2)

4. MATTEO

This girl has a whole building dedicated to trafficking victims. When I walked in, there were volunteers here, some with medical backgrounds helping victims who couldn't afford the costs of a hospital admission.

She told me she wasn't actually an agent but the police told her to act as one to 'intimidate' me more. Bullshit they usually do.

Xena leads me down the basement stairs and into an office where there were multiple women, and only a few men were typing at computers, yelling out information.

"This is the wireless room, where we find all of the cases." She says to me, then keeps walking down the hall and into an office. "I'll explain what we do in a minute, one of our girls has just went missing." She motions for me to take a seat, but then she walks away.

I sit at the desk, looking through her diary. She has things scheduled in, a lot of training with Keilani.

Ten minutes later, Keilani joins me, and five minutes after her, Hamada is here.

"How long have you known this girl?" I ask Keilani.

"About four years."

"Do you and Ciro help fund them?"

"Yes, but also her father owns a business, very rich man, they're not on speaking terms but he funds most of it."

"Why aren't they on speaking terms?"

The door opens and Xena walks in, "not really your business, Reign." She sits at the top of the desk.

Hamada clears his throat. "Matty, there's a big ring in the states at the moment, my team are taking it on and we needed the help of Xena and her team." He explains, "which is why I am here. Your papa still weary about the feds, don't worry, we've signed off on the deal, i'm here until this ring is caught."

"You guys are fully aware that I am a criminal, yes?" I look at Xena.

She nods her head. "It's people like you that partake in these trafficking activities, and having someone on the inside makes it much easier and safer for my girls."

"Did you do your research on me, Xena?"

"I found out what I could. You're hidden very well despite the crimes you've comitted, Matteo. Your brother, Romeo, he's the one everyone labels the devil. Your sister, Ilaria, she's labelled the sweet psycho... you?" She breathes out, "nothing."

The best part of being the brains.

Romeo may have an eidetic memory, he may be manipulative and cunning, he is clever. But, ever since I was a kid, I had a charm about being the scheming one.

I was the peacemaker growing up. People would fight and I would be the one to break it up, in that time I learnt peoples weaknesses, and that made me aware of how to break them and use them to my advantage.

I'm more quiet that my siblings. I like observing more than talking. Ilaria would chat someone's ear off, while I would sit back and examine their behaviour.

I'm the mastermind behind all of the plans that go through our men. They need to find something, they come to me.

I just have this special, hidden talent.

I know part of it comes from my mamma, how i'd watch her react to certain things and how she would cope with it. I just take it a step further and incorporate it in my work life.

Intrigante.

That's what they call me.

Romeo is the Devil. Ilaria is the Sweet Pyscho and I'm Intrigante.