Ties of Blood (Book One)

Chapter 12 ~ Matteo

Matteo Morreti

She was sleeping.

In the dim light of the car, Gianna looked so peaceful, her face softened by sleep in a way that made me forget, if only for a second, the chaos that constantly swirled around us.

Her fist was pressed into the skin on her cheek, her skin was so soft and clear, it looked like cream poured over silk. Her head remained leaning against the window. A part of me, a weak part, wanted to take her in my arms and shield her from everything—protect her from the messes she didn't deserve to be caught in.

But I didn't act on that. Not completely, anyway.

When the car pulled up to the house, I couldn't just leave her there like that, so before I could think it through, I slipped one arm under her legs and the other under her head.

She barely stirred as I carried her inside, the soft weight of her body unfamiliar in my arms. Her breath was even, the exhaustion clear on her face. I carried her up to her room, the first time I'd been in there since she moved in.

Her room surprised me. It wasn't some sterile, untouched place like mine. It had warmth, personality. Her clothes were hung neatly, pictures on the walls that told stories I had never bothered to ask about.

One picture, in particular, caught my eye. It was her, her father, actually looking happy for a change and a woman who looked just like her. Gianna was in the middle, laughing. She looked... happy. Truly happy in a way I'd never seen her.

I quickly became aware that I was snooping and shook the thought away. I laid her down on the bed, carefully removing her Saint Laurent heels and settling her beneath the blanket.

My fingers lingered longer than I'd like on her arm, feeling the warmth of her skin, the softness that made something uncomfortable stir inside me. I pulled away quickly, closing the door behind me.

I had other things to deal with.

Candace, for one, had crossed the line. Spreading lies about me having sex with her? That was low, even for her. So, I made one simple call. Her father's business, Hollister Incorporated, had been on shaky ground for a while. The man had made bad decisions for years, and I was just giving fate a nudge in the right direction.

"Are you familiar with Hollister Incorporated?" I said over the phone.

"Yeah?" the voice on the other end replied.

"Destroy it." I ordered.

By the next morning, Candace was demanding to speak to me. Alonso informed me of her arrival at the gates. She thought she had the right to demand anything from me, which was hilarious in itself, but I decided to meet her anyway, if only to make sure the job had been done correctly.

I walked outside, meeting her at the gates. She looked like she hadn't slept at all, her face blotchy, eyes wild. It was obvious why.

"Yes?" I said calmly, my tone cold, detached.

Her rage was palpable. "Care to explain why we have no money now?" she screamed, her voice shrill with desperation.

I didn't bother to hide my amusement at her distress. "No, not really." I replied, shrugging.

Her face contorted with frustration. "What the hell did I do to you?"

"To me? Nothing." I said, my voice even. "But to my wife? Something you clearly regret."

Her face went pale, and she stammered, scrambling for an excuse. "It was a joke! I didn't— You know you didn't come to my house!"

"Oh, I know that." I said, my tone now sharp, "But as I said before, my wife doesn't. So, your stocks were paid a visit."

Her scream of frustration was satisfying, her tears streaming down her face as she tried to make sense of her sudden downfall. I watched for a moment, relishing in her misery, before turning on my heel and heading back inside.

By 8 AM, I was back at my desk. There was work to do, and I had never let anything keep me from it. But today, my focus was off. I hadn't slept well the night before, my mind too occupied with thoughts of Gianna.

The way her skin had felt against mine when I carried her inside, the way her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders—it had been haunting me in a way I didn't like. By the time I'd settled into my routine, I was already exhausted.

An hour into working, there was a knock at my door. I assumed it was Alonso. "Come in." I called, not looking up from the stack of papers in front of me.

But it wasn't Alonso. It was my father.

"My son, always working, hmm?" he said, attempting some half-hearted joke. He gave up on humor quickly when he saw my expression remained unchanged.

He walked over and sat in the chair across from my desk, his demeanor more serious than usual. "Good news and bad news." he said without preamble.

I didn't respond, just stared at him, waiting for him to get on with it. I wasn't in the mood to choose between the two.

He sighed and leaned forward. "Good news? We've confirmed there's a mole. Bad news? I still don't know who it is. From now on, keep our plans to yourself."

I clenched my jaw. A mole. Of course. There was always someone trying to undermine what my family built, always someone waiting in the shadows. "Do you have any leads?" I asked, my voice tight with frustration.

"None yet. But we're getting closer. Just watch your back." he warned.

I nodded, though I already knew that. Although, I had to watch my back even more before I fell into something I don't want any business with including a certain blonde.