LONELY HEARTS (COMPLETE)

Chapter 19: The Reckoning

"Noooo, my co workers are going to kill me if I'm late to my own farewell dinner!", Gemma complains. She had been so caught up in the moment that she forgot what time it was. She frantically puts her heels on while balancing herself on the bench by the front door. Matteo just looks on, amused by flustered she was. Gemma successfully puts on her last shoe and straightens up to give Matteo a glare, her hands flopping down her sides. He freezes, worried like he had just offended her until she suddenly grabs her clutch off the bench and throws it at him.

"You ass", she chuckles. Matteo swiftly moves over to Gemma and wraps his arms around her waist. She smelled like citrus and vanilla, he breathes it in suddenly not wanting to let go.

"Matteo, come on, I have to go! I'm late!"

He just laughs and grabs on tighter until Gemma finally pushes out from him. Matteo gives her a funny little pout.

"As much as I want to stay here with you, I have to gooooo", she says as she grabs her things. She leans in to give Matteo a quick kiss, but he suddenly grabs her by the face and deepens it. He passionately crashes his mouth onto hers, all that could be heard was their heavy breathing.

"Have a good time", Matteo says as he opens the door. Two associates make room for Gemma to walk past them. She gives him a small wave as he closes the door. He stands there for a second, staring at the door. Suddenly, the light in his eyes are replaced by a familiar darkness. The only kind of darkness that comes when he's in business mode. He fishes for his phone from his coat pocket to make a phone call.

"Bring the car up".

Lorenzo pulls up to the high rise as another associate opens the door for Matteo. Nicolo jumps into the front seat while Matteo is just a little ways behind. Just before he reaches the steps, Filipo stops him.

"Boss, before too get into the car, there's something I need to talk to you about... in private."

"Can this wait?", Matteo answers, confused. They were on a strict timeline and he was anxious to begin the night.

"It really can't... it's about when you asked to get more info on Russo after the Sage incident. My guys never got the message that we got everything we needed, so they kept digging and they found something important. They just gave me this right before we left the apartment", Filipo explains. He pulls out a piece of paper from his jacket pocket and discreetly hands it to Matteo.

He carefully opens it, wondering what all this could be about. His eyes widen as he reads it and a lump forms in his throat. He stares blankly at the paper for what seems like an eternity until he abruptly crumples it up and hands it back to Filipo.

"Nothing changes", Matteo firmly states as he shoves the paper in his pocket.

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It's 8PM sharp and Matteo arrives to the restaurant right on time. Lorenzo stops the town car in front as Nicolo and two other associates step out first. Matteo sits in the backseat for a moment, staring into the window of the restaurant. He nods at Lorenzo until Filipo opens the door for him. He steps out of the car and Lorenzo drives away, leaving the men in front of the restaurants to deal with unfinished business.

Two door men open both doors to let the group of men enter the building. The restaurant is historically beautiful with its stone facade and vines meandering around the lattice in front. The entry greets the men with a stone fountain and the maitre d. He quickly greets the gentlemen and leads them to their usual table. Matteo is up front as they swiftly pass through the restaurant, all eyes are on them. He can hear the familiar whispers in the background, but it's quickly drowned out by his own thoughts.