MATTEO (book 2)

60. MATTEO

Oleg is following me.

I can see his big, shiny, bald head from a mile away.

I call Romeo from my watch, my airpods stuck in my ear.

"Yes?"

"He's still following me."

"Lure him to the warehouse."

"He's stupid but not that stupid." I spot my sister and Asahi arguing. "I got this. See you later." I hang up, making my way to them.

Ilaria is quiet when she sees me. "What do you want, Matty?"

I look at Asahi. "You see big baldy behind me. Don't make it obvious you know he's there. Oleg." I smile.

"I'm off duty." He instinctively grabs for Ilaria, placing her behind him. "I don't have anything on me. Not even my gun."

I take mine out of my holster, handing it to him. "Call your backup, now. He's a fugitive."

He takes a breath before looking at Ilaria. "I'll call you later." He says to her, then clears his throat. "Oleg Bratnov." He shouts, raising the gun.

I grab Ilaria and pull her into one of the cafes. I turn around the 'open' sign so it read 'closed,' and watched as Oleg raised his hands in surrender.

I get one of the guns off my juniors that was in the cafe and put it in my holster, then watch as Asahi pins Oleg to the ground and kneels on his back, calling somebody.

It was the FBI that showed up.

I leave the window and sit with my sister. She stares blankly at her cappuccino and sniffed. "Am I unlovable?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Is he making you feel that way?"

"Everyone makes me feel that way." She wipes her cheeks. "I am never going to find somebody to marry. Every man I date wants me for the title, or because I'm hot. They don't think I have a personality."

"Did Asahi-"

"No. Asahi is perfect but he doesn't want to marry me." She chokes on her words. "He doesn't even want kids."

I grab her hand across the table. "You have standards for yourself and while you might like that he meets some of them, there's going to be a man out there that meets all of them."

The cafe owner walks over. "Ah, come on, let's cook." She picks Ilaria up. "No crying for boys."

Ilaria smiles at me, smiles at the owner and walks to the kitchen.

I will kill anyone that hurts her.

I have before.

I'd do it again.

Even if it is Asahi.

Asahi bangs on the cafe door and I open it up. "Sorted?"

"He has the best lawyer in the state. The lawyer has connections to those higher up in the justice system." He walks out, making me walk with him.

"And Neves will have an even better lawyer."

"Who?"

"My lawyer."

"While your lawyer is good." He hands me a business card. I sigh when I see the name on this card. This man is the only man us Italians have ever lost a case too, and that's because he is dirty.

"My lawyer and all the evidence gathered should be enough."

"If you want to win. You have to kill him." He points to the card. "Or Neves and her kids have to take the stand, and you."