17. Matteo

17

MATTEO

I t's been three days since I left Luxtyn at the club after forcing her into marrying me, which means it's been exactly three days since I last spoke to her. I've been avoiding her, throwing myself into work, just so I have an excuse not to go back to the penthouse and be around her during the day. That sure as hell didn't keep me from sneaking into her room late at night just to watch her sleep, though. Like a fucking creep. The need to be close to her was strong. To see her even though she wouldn't see me. To make sure she was okay.

I'm fucking pathetic.

One kiss. It took one kiss to turn me into a starved man.

But that kiss. That kiss was not what I expected. The way Luxtyn so effortlessly melted into me as if we were becoming one. And her lips. So soft and plump, ready for the taking. I struggled to keep myself from begging for more access. It took everything in me to pull away from her.

As much as I've tried focusing on work, Luxtyn continues popping up in my mind. It's as if she's embedded herself deep inside me. What is it about this woman that has me so mesmerized? After everything she's been through, with her mom disappearing to finding out she's the daughter of a Mafia don. Then to be forced into marrying me. The strength she's shown. That sharp tongue of hers. The boldness of stabbing me in the back. It's impressive. Very fucking impressive.

I've holed myself up in my office at Fierce, not even working. Just sitting here staring off into space, not getting shit done. The ding of my phone grabs my attention.

Enzo: If you don't come back to this penthouse soon, I'm going to lose it.

Me: What, you can't handle my new wife?

Enzo: Oh, I didn't realize you wanted me to handle her. In that case. . .

Pressing the call button next to Enzo's name, I bring my phone up to my ear. He picks up after the first ring, but I speak before he can say anything. "You put your hands on my wife, and I'll fucking end you."

"Okay, first of all, I'm offended you've taken the side of a woman you haven't even known for a week over me. And secondly, I'm just messing with you, big brother."

"What do you want?" I snap.

"Uh, well, you called me. Or did you already forget that in your old age?"

I rest my elbows on my desk and let out an exasperated sigh while I splay my fingers across my forehead, rubbing my temples. "I'm only three years older than you, Enzo."

"Yeah, whatever. You need to come to the penthouse. Your wife is getting very antsy. She's bordering on stir-crazy at this point."

"It's been three days. "

"Yes, three days of just being around me. And while I know I'm great company, she wants to be proactive with finding her mom."

"Have you not relayed the information to her that I gave you about her mother's situation?"

I've paid off some gang members to start threatening low-level associates in the Silvestri family to see if they've heard anything through the grapevines about the disappearance of a woman. None of them have turned up anything, which is fucking frustrating.

Sending my men after high-level Silvestri men is not an option, though. Unless I want to increase the possibility of Giuseppe discovering I'm behind it. That would start a war, and that's not something I can do right now. My plan to take him down is more strategic than just killing him. I want to strip him of his power. Take away what he and his family have built until there's nothing left. Then after he's witnessed the downfall of his empire, that's when I'll kill him. Knowing he's leaving this world with his legacy in shambles will be the best form of revenge for killing my parents.

"Of course I told her. But keep in mind you haven't given me much to tell her. She's worried sick and she's bored. So all she does everyday is worry to the point where it's beginning to drive me crazy."

"Sounds like you're not doing a good enough job at entertaining her, then," I grumble as I pull a report of Fierce's numbers last night, something that the distraction at the forefront of my brain kept me from completing over an hour ago.

Enzo's voice gets low and cocky. "Oh, I can entertain her. You say the word, Teo, and I'll happily oblige."

"Enzo, how many jokes are you going to make about having sex with my wife? " I growl out.

"Enough to make you be a damn husband and get your ass back to the penthouse instead of hiding from your wife because you realized you're not as cold and heartless as you thought you were," he says before hanging up on me.

I hold out my phone and stare at it, shocked. Did he just fucking hang up on me? My phone dings, indicating a message came through.

Enzo: I hope my theatrics got across the gravity of the situation. And don't worry, I promise to keep my hands to myself.

Another message comes through before I can type out a response.

Enzo: Unless you don't get back to the penthouse immediately. Then these hands are going to be all sorts of loosey-fucking-goosey.

"This fucking idiot," I breathe out while shaking my head as I type out a quick response.

Me: I'll be there in an hour.

Enzo: It's about damn time.

Finding Luxtyn's mother has proven to be more difficult than I anticipated, but Giuseppe Silvestri is a cocky son of a bitch. Keeping his mouth shut about a kidnapping goes against his MO. It wouldn't be unheard of for lower-level associates to hear about the dealings of the higher-ups by chance of it all.

Leaning back in my chair, I let out a long sigh as I angle my head back to rest on the headrest. I still need to figure out what I'm going to tell Luxtyn, because I have nothing, and it doesn't make sense .

Giuseppe would be the only one interested in taking her mother. If he killed her, he would've sent proof of that to Mancini. He hasn't done that, so what is his plan?

The pressure starts to get to me as I rack my brain, trying to figure this out. Because If I don't soon, I fear Luxtyn will end up with the same unfortunate hand I was dealt.