LONELY HEARTS (COMPLETE)

Chapter 18: The Day Of

*This may be not as action-filled as the other chapters, but I really wanted to capture the love that's growing between Gemma and Matteo. I wanted to add a little bit of normalcy to their relationship between all the stuff that's going around them. :) Hope this chapter helps you all get a better idea of what they see in each other.

Sunday was here and Matteo had been preoccupied by his thoughts the entire morning. He turns to look at Gemma as she peacefully rests on his arm. She looked so at peace and he was a frantic mess. He carefully slipped out from under her and headed for the closet. Matteo quietly picks out a slim black suit as if he were the Grim Reaper. He opens his drawer and picks out a silk black tie, carefully sliding it around his neck and tightening the knot. He stares into the mirror ready for the reckoning.

He enters The Room to be greeted by Nicolo, Filipo, and a couple other capos and associates. They stand at the sight of him, awaiting for the don to start their day.

"Okay, let's talk business", he motions for everyone to be seated. Nicole, begin".

"Plan is simple", Nicolo speaks to the room. "Russo will most likely be at Abbiocco's first since he's put out the hit. We obviously know he won't get his hands dirty, he'll probably have his number one guy, Gino on it. Don Ciccone will be seated facing the door. Filipo will carry out th-"

"I'm going to carry out the hit", Matteo interrupts.

Everyone in the room looks at each other, not knowing what to say or do.

"This is personal".

With that, everyone understood and just this once would they let Matteo take care of his own affairs.

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Gemma had just stirred awake, hearing the sound of faint talking in the distance. She turned to, hoping to see Matteo, but he wasn't there. She stifled a yawn and got out of bed to start her day. Gemma opens the door and tiptoes across the hallway, her satin black nightgown lightly breezing behind her. She stops right before she reaches The Room. Two associates are standing in front of the door, causally talking amongst themselves. She already knew Matteo was in there, but she dared not to interrupt him or eavesdrop. She knew how this worked.

"Morning, gentlemen", she said as she breezes past.

"Good morning, Miss Hunter", one says as the other gives a slight nod.

She continues on until she reaches the kitchen, her arms crossing in front of her as she shifts her weight to one side. Gemma looks the the kitchen, pristine in condition. She realizes no one ever cooks here. She opens the fridge doors to reveal nothing but old Chinese food and beer.

"Typical bachelor", she chuckles to herself. She shuts the door and quickly runs back to the associates from before.

"Can someone take me to the grocery store?", she asks with a smile. Both men look at each other for a moment. One fishes his phone out of his pocket and makes a quick call.

"Miss Hunter needs to go to the grocery store... yes sir... okay... got it". It's clear he's on the phone with his boss.

"Please get ready Miss Hunter, Ant and Tony will be here in ten minutes". Gemma runs into the bedroom and quickly gets dressed. She throws on a pair of yoga pants, a tank top, and a baseball cap. She's just about to walk through the hallway into the living room when suddenly Matteo comes out of his meeting and closes the door behind him.

"Gemma? Where are you going?", he says as he looks her up and down. "And what are you wearing"?

"You literally have nothing in your fridge, Ant and Tony are raking me to the store so I can make bru- what's wrong with my clothes!?", she retorts at his question. Matteo gives her a small laugh and pecks her lightly on the cheek.