Ties of Blood (Book One)

Chapter 14 ~ Matteo

Matteo Moretti

I look at the clock for the 10th time this evening my impatience growing thinner with each passing second.

Gianna said she would be home at 9:30PM, it was 9:43PM.

Thirteen fucking minutes and I was freaking out. I tried to convince myself I didn't care but it was becoming exceedingly difficult after every minute. 

Thoughts of Gianna in a car accident, being kidnapped, in any form of pain made an odd and definitely not welcomed feeling swirl in my stomach. 

I ran a furious hand through my hair, frustrated that I couldn't do anything to bring her home again. I paced the halls aimlessly.

Aimlessly

I never did anything aimlessly, aimlessly meant, no purpose, no purpose meant no fucking outcome.

I was just about to go out and look for her myself when the doorbell rang. Relief washed my face as Alonso opened the door and I stood behind him.

But that relief quickly switched to rage and envy when I saw fucking Noah, standing right beside guiding her inside the house.

What the fuck?

Noah's eyes snapped up to meet mine, and he took a step back from me like I'd threatened him.

"Good evening, Mr Moretti." I sensed a slight shake in his voice and a tremble in his mouth. 

I wasn't even looking at him, my eyes were fixated on Gianna. Her eyes didn't hold that same glint they always had. 

"Evening." I say back, hardly acknowledging his existence. 

"I was just walking Gia home-", he explains like I'd even asked in the first place.

"I see that. You may leave now." I say, slowly.

Noah glanced at Gianna like she was going to help him but instead she stared at the floor deep in thought.

"You know, Gia's allowed to have other friends too!" he says taking a small step closer to me, he was barely made an inch taller than Gianna. My eyes darkened down at him.

Taking note of our height differences he took a small step backwards still trying to look intimidating, I was almost embarrassed for him.

"I am well aware, however your friendly services end here, capisce?"(Understand?)

His nostrils flared with irritation, I gave negative shits, "I'll see you later, Gia."

Like hell you will.

He turned back around and looked at me, his eye twitching slightly then he took a deep breath and made the wise decision to leave.

"I'm sorry, Im late." she kept her eyes locked on the marble floors.

My eyes softened and all the rage Noah had stirred in me melted at the sight of her.

She took my silence as another chance to speak, I watched a tear drop from her eye and onto her and as she wiped it away her hands shaking slightly, "He didn't make it."

The fucking bastard.

I hated Giannas dad not just because our families had mutual hatred already, despite the truce bullshit. I hated him in general. Him being the cause of Gianna's tears timed it, tenfold.

Seeing her cry hurt more than I'd like. I didn't know what to do, I wasn't the best a comforting people, but that was more in Alessandro's department than it is in mine but I took a step closer to her and wrapped my arms around her in a stiff hug.

Her clothes were soaked, so obviously she got my shirt wet but that was the least of my worries.

She hesitated slightly before giving into her tears and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer. She sobbed into my chest, her shoulders shaking. I hated that she was upset and I hated that I hated it too.

I tried to lead her to her room, I needed her away from me as quick and as far as possible but she said something barely above a whisper that made me stop in my tracks. "Can I stay with you? Just for tonight? I don't wanna be alone right now."

Fuck.

It was starting to become progressively obvious to me that Gianna had some kind of power over me. Power I swore I'd give to no one.

Being this close to her was already a risk by itself. But being near her all night?

Despite the thoughts going through my mind and every fiber of my being wanting to say no, I say with a slight groan of frustration at myself. "Let's go."

I brought her to my room and she looked around her eyes were still glossy but she wasn't crying anymore. She took in interior, the lack of color, and neatness.

She stepped away from me for a moment taking her warmth with her.

I understood that Gianna wasn't in the state of mind to be talking so I didn't force her and kept quiet.

Her ocean eyes scanned back to mine and trailed down at my shirt, where a huge wet spot was due to her tears.

"I'm sorry, you're shirt, it's wet." She points at my shirt with an apologetic expression. 

When she spoke I snapped out of my daze and resumed to the present time. Red coated her face and she looked around my room awkwardly.

"It's okay, I have others." My voice is drowned out by the sound of the blood roaring in my ears.

She nods and takes a deep breath wiping her tears, "I'm gonna get changed." she mutters softly.

She's goes into the bathroom with some of her clothes that were  folded in a neat pile and locked the door behind her.

Gianna was gone for 5 fucking minutes and I felt like punching myself in the face for, worrying if she was okay or not .

Ever since Gianna walked into my life, my emotions had been all over the place. This was the first time in a long fucking time that I wasn't in control of my feelings. 

The sound of the bathroom door opening, my head snapped up and my heart rate picked up. She was in the most average pair of pjs ever but she may aswell have fucking wore lingerie.

My cock jumped with interest over a pair of shorts and a tank top.

Shit.

She slid into bed beside me, the bed wasn't small however it felt like she was practically pushed up against me. Fuck, she could be in the other side of the room and still be too fucking close.

Before, she was stuck in my head, and I could barely catch a wink of sleep so now that she was here, in my bed I was definitely not sleeping tonight.

Fifteen minutes passed and Gianna seemed to have fallen asleep, her soft breaths filled the room. Her chest rose and fell in a rhythmic pattern that have been beautiful had she not have been the incarnate of my enemy.

I stiffened when she draped a hand over my chest, lifted her leg and wrapped it around my torso and pressed herself to me like I was some kind of human plushie.

Her scent filled my nose, she had this sweet of strawberries that followed her wherever she went.

I placed my hand on the hot skin of her waist, ready to push her away and back to her side of the bed but my arms wouldn't, I blamed it on the fact that she was already sad and I didn't want to worsen it.

Fuck it. I couldn't move, and even if I could I wouldn't.

~~~ 

Hi! Matteo is so skimping for Gianna and I am here for it! 🎉🥳🥳 I hate that he's in denial tho! I wonder what Gianna will do when she finds out how she slept hugging Matteo.😂😂😂