MATTEO (book 2)

48. MATTEO

I arranged a date to see Neves and her kids. Xena doesn't know I'm coming, I spoke to their father directly.

Neves lives in an small house beside the rescue house. She still has bodyguards full time. Her father made sure of it. I found out after 3 months that Oleg wasn't one of the men arrested, nor was his body found in the crossfire.

He managed to escape.

There was a dog by the door, a german shepherd. He was alert as soon as he seen me. "That's Bandit." Lucas says. "Sit, boy."

But he comes over and sniffs me anyways. He must have concluded I wasn't a threat and went back to his post.

"Neves got him just in case. He's very good." He explains, opening the door for me. "Neves."

"Living room." She shouts back.

I follow him in and smile when I see her recovery. She's gained a lot of weight, healthy. Her skins glowing and she looks full of life.

When she sees me, she smiles widely. "Matteo." She drops the soft stuffed animal, walking over to me and hugging me. "How are you?"

"I'm good." I rub her back. "God, you look so healthy."

"You'd be surprised what my mothers cooking can do." She walks to the couch. "Xavier, you remember this guy?"

The three year old looks at me. "No."

I laugh. "Hey, buddy." I take the bag off my back, pulling out the toy cars.

"Thank you." He smiles, sitting on the floor to start playing with them.

"Mattio is asleep." She looks at Xavier with a fond smile. "When did you come back?"

"About a week ago." I sit on the couch.

"Are you sober?"

"A whole year." I wink.

"Well done." She sits beside me. "I didn't get to thank you before you left."

"You thanked me enough-"

"I never considered how difficult it would have been to do all you did while drunk and high." She looks at me. "I'm very thankful for you, Matteo. I'm glad you're better."

"I'm glad you're better too." I smile. "How is everything with you?"

"Eh, therapy is okay. I still have terrors and panic attacks but..." She shrugs. "I'm much better."

"Who's-" I hear Xena. "Oh."

"Ah, Xena, keep Matteo company while I feed Mattio." She gets up, walking away before Xena gets the chance to refuse.

I keep my eyes on her as she sits down. "Stop looking at me." She mutters.

"Why?"

She looks at me. "Why are you here?"

"To see Neves and my two God Children." I smile, remembering dad walk up to me a month after being in rehab and saying Neves requested for me to be the god father of her children.

Of course.

She looks at Xavier. "You're the God father? She wouldn't tell me..."

"Even if we..." I stop myself. "Regardless of our situation, I'm still going to be in their lives."

"I'm not stopping you from doing that." She looks down.

"How did you meet Benjamin?" I ask.

"I took the feds offer for a promotion to the manager of a sex trafficking unit." She cracks her knuckles. "I now am the lead agent on the team for sex trafficking. One of the victims I saved said his abuser was a man high in power. The FBI let me know that Woods Investigators were the PI's we use." She clears her throat. "We met to discuss things, fell for each other."

She doesn't like him. Not one bit. I can tell by her actions and body language.

"God, you could at least to pretend to like the man." I laugh.

"I do like him."

"How long will you lie to yourself?"

She looks at me. "We have no business being around each other anymore." She stands up. "Neves, I have to go. I have a meeting." She glares at me before walking away.

Neves was down the stairs too quickly. "I was eavesdropping." She walks in. "She had a bad time after you left. Never seen her so heartbroken. Benji just has a huge dick." She sits down.

"Bad word mommy." Xavier mumbles.

"Sorry baby. Go play with avô." She ushers him out of the room. "Yeah, as I was saying. She's changed a bit... a lot... usually... Well." She clears her throat. "Xena has attachment issues. Ever since she was a kid. She was attached to you and you left her before she was given the opportunity to leave you, so she spiralled. She's changed a lot. She's out on this heartless facade and spends most of her free time with Benji but she came home drunk one night, cried about you and then just said she's dating Benji because he has a big dick. She can't stand the man. Other than his dick and well... his house. His mansion is so nice."

Wel, that's a lot to take in.

I'll have her back with me in no time.

"Is he a good person?"

"Oh, he treats her like a queen but she doesn't like that. She likes..." She looks at me. "Rugged."

"I'm rugged, am I?" I laugh.

"You're not exactly sunshine and rainbows." She smiles. "He's like... overly nice."

"How does someone be overly nice?"

"Just wait till you meet him." An alarm starts ringing on her phone. "Uh, therapist will be here in 20 minutes. I'll see you-"

"At the weekend. If you want, I can take the boys out and let you have some alone time." I stand up.

The look of relief that washed over her face. "I would appreciate it."

I hug her. "It was lovely seeing you, Neves."

She sees me out and I head into the big house. I see Pamala. She sees me and walks over right away. "Matteo, do you know where Trixie is?"

"Nope. Just got here."

"She disappeared." She mumbles, walking away. "Glad you're back." She shouts before running.

I don't stay here too long. I say hello to some of the girls but then head home to moms place. I've been staying there until my house is decorated properly.

Room by room, it's starting to look like my home.

I sit beside Emilio. "Guess what."

"What?"

"Im staying."

"You are?" Ilaria walks in.

"That was supposed to be a surprise." I shuffle up the couch, letting her sit beside me.

Alessio makes himself comfortable on my lap.

"Where's my other child?" Mom walks in.

Romeo walks in as if on cue. Mom ushers him to the side of the couch and snaps a couple of pictures before letting us all free. "My kids are all grown!" She smiles fondly. "I heard you're staying."

"Yeah. I'll... visit Italy every month for the business there but... I like it here."

She winks, messing up my hair. "We'll talk more later."

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