Ties of Blood (Book One)

Chapter 51 ~ Gianna

Gianna Rostova

1 week later

The morning had started off as any other. The steady hum of the city outside my apartment window was the soundtrack to my waking moments, and the coffee brewing in the corner was a reminder that I was alive, and today, I was going to be okay.

I had spent the past week trying to steady my emotions, unsure of where I stood with Matteo after what happened last time. The night we had spent together was unforgettable, but it left a trail of confusion behind.

Once we were done, we awkwardly exchanged goodbyes and he left. I was completely unsure about everything now, what was I to him?

Did he think we were together again? Were we just fuck buddies?

He'd taken me in a way that made me feel wanted, cherished even, but the echoes of his past actions—the hurtful things he'd done, the lies he'd told—still haunted me. I had no idea where we were going, but I couldn't help but let the thought of him linger in the back of my mind.

So imagine my shock when right after my shift, I get a message from Matteo.

Matteo: Meet me outside, please.

I never truly blocked his number, I couldn't bring myself to. But it was only because I was scared if something bad would happen at home- his home and I need to be able to call for help.

It wasn't that I didn't want him—I did, more than I cared to admit. It was that I was scared. Scared of being hurt again, scared of letting him back into my life, only for him to disappoint me once more.

I was already walking outside, but then I saw a silhouette of a tall frame and broad shoulders. I was about to run back inside and hide in the hospital until he left but then he looked up at me.

Time seems to stand still for a moment, and I once again contemplated what would happen if I dropped all my things and ran away but that opportunity was long gone.

His brown eyes met mine and I felt the feeling that I had missed so much when I was with him. 

My heart pounded in my chest as Matteo's gaze locked onto mine, the weight of our unspoken past hanging heavily in the air between us. I had never expected this moment to come. There was an undeniable pull—something familiar, something I couldn't deny even if I tried. My breath caught in my throat as memories of our time together flooded back, each one leaving me more conflicted than the last.

Matteo seemed to have an unreadable expression, a mix of yearning and something else—something more complicated.

"Amore," he said softly, his voice carrying a quiet desperation that I hadn't heard before.

I didn't think he called me amore on purpose when we did what we did, I thought it was the sexual tension that made him say that, but he said it again so it must mean he meant it, right?

I could feel my resolve beginning to crack, the fear of being hurt again swirling in my mind. What did he want?

"Matteo..." I started, my voice shaky, betraying the calm facade I tried to maintain.

Suddenly, anxiety came in and I started to wonder if he regretted the night we shared and he came to tell me that he was taking it all back. He couldn't handle being with me because I couldn't decided if I wanted him or not. Because I truly couldn't. I can't handle my heart being broken again, I'm barely handling this one.

"Look, if you're having regrets-" I start, looking down at the ground, unable to meet his eyes anymore.

"No." He said sternly, I could hear him taking a step further towards me.

That's when the universe decided to rain. Just great.

Despite the small drizzle, Matteo paid it no mind, "I don't have a single regret, and I'd gladly do that all again." He whispered to me.

"I-I don't know what you want from me, Matteo." I say, softly, while discreetly trying to blink the rain out of my eyes.

"Easy. You." He says, his hands find my chin and he gently drags my face forcing my eyes to meet his.

He said this so simply, like it was all really that easy, like a happy life with him was really that easy and in my reach.

I couldn't escape his gaze, no matter how hard I tried. His fingers, warm and firm on my chin, pulled me closer to him, and I felt my heart race in a way I couldn't control. The rain seemed to fall harder around us, but it didn't matter.

"You," Matteo repeated, probably sensing my hesitation, his voice low and steady. "I want you. All of you, amore. I want your fears. I want your pain. I want your jealousy. Everything."

The words hit me like a wave, crashing over the walls I had so carefully built. My pulse quickened, my breath shallow, as his eyes searched mine for some kind of answer. But I had none. I wanted him, too. I wanted everything he was offering, but I was scared. So damn scared of getting hurt again.

"I don't know if I can do this again," I admitted, my voice trembling. "If I can trust you, even after all this."

Matteo's expression softened, his grip on my chin loosening slightly. "I'm not going anywhere, Gianna," he said quietly. "I'm here. I'm not going to walk away I don't care how hard or fast you try to run."

I searched his face, trying to see if there was any sign of dishonesty, any hint of the man who had hurt me in the worst way possible. But all I saw was sincerity. It terrified me, but in a way, it also comforted me. I didn't want to be scared anymore. I didn't want to keep pushing him away.

I felt myself leaning in slightly, not just towards him but leaning slightly closer to everything he was offering. Happiness, love, care.

The kiss in the rain was a moment charged with raw emotion and undeniable tension. Matteo's lips met mine with a desperation that mirrored the storm in the air around us, and the world seemed to blur. The rain soaked us both, but it didn't matter. The cool droplets mixed with the heat that surged through my body as he pulled me closer, his hands moving to cup my face, as if making sure I wouldn't slip away from him.

His kiss was soft but urgent, filled with a quiet promise that spoke volumes. It wasn't just physical—it was everything that had been left unsaid between us, the unresolved feelings, the years of hurt, the need for connection. His lips moved against mine, gentle but insistent, I'd missed him so much.

Matteo, despite the storm around us, seemed unaffected by the rain or anything else. All that mattered was the moment, the feeling of us together again. His arms wrapped around me, holding me tightly, as though he was afraid I might disappear in the downpour.

I pull away, and whisper some words that I know will change the course of my forever, but something I needed to say, "I trust you."

~~~

Hi! I'm so happy to be nearing the end of this book. I've been wanting to write this for a while and I am so grateful that we were near 5K reads! I can't believe it, I love you all so much and I hope you enjoy the little we have left.