Chapter 58: Machiavellian Means

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Breathe, Luca, Breathe

LUCA POV

Coming home, I was met with emotions from all my family, but the dominant one was relief. Things seemed to have their own order and I have to relearn everyone and everything. The more I thought about past accounts, the angrier I got. So, I decided to settle them.

I am legally guardian, I am meant to discipline. Starting with my number one problem-child...

*

"Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha,"¹ I chanted 108 times and ebbed my anger away line-by-line.

Now, I could deal with Matteo.

I stood outside his double doors and knocked. I heard shuffling and Matteo: ruffled hair, reaching my chin appeared. He lazily leaned against one side of the door and pulled, taut, the lean muscle on his raised bicep. O, Bambino Mio...

"Let's talk," I opened.

"Yeah, yeah, sure. Good morning, Luci," he yawned, rubbed his eyes and shuffled into his room.

I followed him in and looked around his room. It's decently cleaned. Only a mild scent of marijuana.

Vita said he'd taken himself off the INHFrFr list for the first time, last week. My mind flashed to that list...

I Need Help, Forreal Forreal List:

Mood:🫡

Giorgio- Interim intervention due to excessive work schedule.

Approx. 1 month.

Request: Weekly bedroom and ensuite bathroom cleaning services.

*

Mood: 👩‍🦽‍➡️

Danna- Extended intervention due to medical reasons.

For the foreseeable future.

Request: All services.

*

Mood: 🧎💔💬🫂 🙏🤟🦾

Matteo- Once-a-month deep cleaning services as is normal.

Indefinitely.

No Request. Thanks for the help given when desperately needed.

"So, what's up?", he questioned in a casual tone.

I know he's making progress, but everything in me says to whoop him.

"Stand up," I commanded.

He went rigid and stood stiffly.

"I tried to give you the proper tools to help you heal, they just didn't seem to work," I loosened my belt buckle.

His eyes widened, a small fraction, but then eased with a clear resolve.

"You did. Thank you," he straightened his spine and spoke earnestly.

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