Chapter 40

"What are you doing here?" I whispered harshly as I looked over my shoulder at the darkened library windows.

Fino emerged from the shadows. "Don't use that tone with me. You've been ignoring my phone calls."

I shifted closer to the shadows along the high veranda wall. "There is nothing to tell you. I searched the Cavalieri offices and found nothing suspicious."

It was mostly the truth.

Fino reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a crumpled soft pack of cigarettes. Placing the unfiltered end between his lips he lit it and took a long drag.

Then blew the smoke in my face.

I waved it away, coughing and choking.

He pointed with his cigarette hand. "Well then, you're just going to have to keep searching until you find something."

"I've been watched just about every moment of the day. Even if I wasnt, the whole villa is crawling with family members and employees."

He flicked a piece of ash off his shirt. "If you don't find me something incriminating on the Cavalieris, I will be forced to take other, unpleasant measures."

I glanced down at the dark screen of my phone. "Have you done something to my sister? Is that why she isn't returning my calls?"

He took another long drag as he shrugged one shoulder. "One of the beautiful things about betrayal. It is so easy to turn the tables. For instance, if your father were to hear all my recordings of you ratting him out. What do you think he would do to you?"

I staggered backward with faltering steps.

Antonia had been pretending to be me back in Sicily.

If Fino told my father…

Not only would my sister be in danger, but there would be no hope of finding out what happened to my mother.

My lower lip trembled. "You won't get away with this. I'll go straight to Judge Delluci. I'll tell him what you've done."

His arm struck out so fast, I had no time to defend myself. The jagged, unkept fingernails of his right hand dug into the skin around my throat as his fingers squeezed.

Gasping for air, I clawed at his wrist and forearm and tried to scream.

With two steps forward, he covered my nose and mouth with his free hand and pinned me against the stone wall of the enclosure, striking my head against the bricks. My vision blurred as he bared his yellow-stained teeth.

His breath was rancid with garlic and stale tobacco as he hissed, "Don't you dare threaten me, bitch."

The edges to my vision darkened as I tried to twist my head away from his hand while at the same time straining to stay on the tips of my toes to ease the pressure on my throat. My lungs strained and burned as the last vestiges of oxygen left my body.

Matteo.

I wanted Matteo.

Tears streaked along the sides of my face as the pain of regret seemed to weigh my body down further. A deep, crippling exhaustion enveloped me as I slowly lost consciousness.

My mother's face flashed before my eyes. I'm so sorry, Mama. I failed.

Then all I saw was Matteo. His crooked smile. His winks. His powerful hands.

I should have told him. I should have told him everything. I should have trusted him.

As my arms fell slack at my sides, my head lolled to the side.

A strange euphoria took over.

I was just so tired.

Fino released his grip on me.

I fell to the dirt. At first, too stunned and out of it to even think to breathe.

Then primal instinct took over.

My mouth opened and I sucked in a choking gasp of dust and air which only made me choke harder as I clutched at my sore neck.

Fino kicked me in the stomach. "Shut the fuck up. Do you want the whole household to hear you?"

My body curled into the fetal position as I clutched my middle. He hadn't kicked me hard, but it was enough of a blow to hurt as I was trying to expand my lungs with precious air.

He squatted down on his haunches. "Get me the information I want, or your father will find out you're nothing but a snitch and a rat. Then your sister will wind up fish food, just like your mother."

Fino took a final drag of his cigarette and blew the smoke in my face again, causing another choking fit.

With a flick of his index finger, he tossed the still lit cigarette onto the dirt where it rolled near some brush. "If I even suspect that you went running to the Cavalieris for help, I'll burn this place to the ground with all of them inside. Understood?"

He disappeared back into the shadows without waiting for my response.

Tightening my arm around my waist, I forced myself onto my knees, gathered the skirt of my dress, and crawled through the dirt to the lit cigarette butt, putting it out before the dry branches could catch fire.

I then rolled onto my back and took my first real breath as I stared up at the cold, unfeeling winter skies. The bright flashes of white starlight seeming to mock me.

"Ella? Ella are you out here?"

Oh no.

I tried to roll back onto my knees as Matteo's voice came closer.

"Ella are you—Jesus Christ."

His powerful arms lifted me off the ground.

My cheek rubbed against the softness of his shirt, the scent of his cologne comforting.

"Baby? Baby, what happened? Who did this to you?" His voice was a low growl. "I'll fucking kill them."

I reached up and clutched at his shirt. "No. No one, I rasped. I came out here for some air and… slipped."

Nausea rolled through my stomach as the lie soured in my mouth.

He carried me into the warmth of the villa. Bending his knees to lower me onto the nearby sofa, he said, "I'm going to get some help."

My fingers dug into his shirt in a tight grasp. "No! Please don't! It's too embarrassing. Please, Matteo. Please!"

After adjusting his grip, he straightened. "Shhh, it's okay, babygirl. I won't tell anyone."

He pressed his lips to my forehead then carried me out of the library and up the stairs to his bedroom.

His jaw tightened when in the light from the bedroom, he saw the dirt on me and my borrowed dress, and my scraped knees. "What the hell happened, Ella? The truth."

I eased back onto the edge of the mattress where he set me down. "It was stupid. I was crying and I went through the library out onto the veranda and must have slipped on a branch or rock or something on the ground. It knocked the wind out of me."

Kneeling before me, he reached up and cupped my cheek as he searched my face. "Did you hit your head?"

Yes.

"No. I don't think so." I reached up and felt the back of my skull. "There's no bump."

Not trusting my response, he moved his hand to massage the back of my neck and the base of my skull as he searched for any sign of injury. "Why do you smell like cigarette smoke? I know you don't smoke."

I swallowed painfully. My brain was so fuzzy it was difficult to think of so many lies in quick succession. "I think there was a security guard who was smoking nearby."

Puzzled, he asked, "Why didn't you call out for help?"

"I was too embarrassed. I'd already disgraced myself in front of your family. I didn't want to make the whole thing worse."

He sighed as he reached down to pull off my now ruined ballet flats. "You silly little girl. Do you have any idea how fucking worried I was? I've been tearing this place apart looking for you."

Seeing the genuine concern in his eyes, I had to swallow the bile that rose in the back of my throat.

I was a horrible person. I didn't deserve his concern. "Matteo, I need to tell you?—"

He looked up as he ran his hand over my legs. "Yes?"

Tell him.

Tell him!

Tell him everything.

Then Fino's final threat came back to mind.

I licked my lips. "I—I'm sorry I caused a scene at dinner."

His strong arms reached around me to unzip my dress. "You should be more sorry for running off into the darkness like that. You could have been seriously hurt."

I lowered my gaze. "I know. I'm sorry."

He pulled the dress off my shoulders. As I slipped my arms through the sleeves, he ran his calloused hands over my skin, still searching for injuries. "I'm fine. Really. I was just jarred from the fall, that's all. I'm more embarrassed than anything else."

He stood, towering over me as he lifted my chin with his right hand. "You probably got dizzy from not eating enough at dinner, like before at your father's. I've warned you to knock that shit off."

I blinked at his stern expression. "I know. I'm sorry. Old habits die hard."

He stroked my hair and sighed. "Stop saying you're sorry," he said gruffly.

"Sorry. I mean, okay, I'll stop."

The corner of his mouth lifted in that slightly crooked smile I had already come to love. "It's hard to stay angry at you when you look like a little dove who fell out of her nest."

He pulled the dress off my hips.

I crossed my arms over my breasts.

After going into the ensuite bathroom, he returned with a heavy black robe. "Take off your bra and panties."

I reached for the garment. "I can just put the robe on over them."

He held it out of my reach. "Do as youre told. I'm in no mood right now, Ella."

When my arms reached behind me to unclasp the bra, I winced.

He cursed low under his breath before brushing my hands away and unhooking it himself. "Are you sure you didn't fall on something and crack a rib?"

Did getting kicked count?

"Yes, I'm sure."

The robe was soft and warm, and he gingerly placed it over my shoulders and then gently picked up my wrists to thread my arms through the sleeves. Before allowing me to close it, his firm hands wrapped around my ribcage, just below my breasts.

I sucked in a breath and held it, not expecting the spark of awareness between my legs at his intimate touch.

His dark gaze clashed with mine. Then his fingertips reached out to touch my throat. "Christ, are these bruises from me? From earlier? Fuck, babygirl. I'm so sorry. I promise I'll be more gentle next time."

My hand flew to my neck. Only a monster would let a man who was being so kind think he had caused the bruises Fino gave to me. "It's fine. They don't hurt."

It was official. My sister had turned me into a monster.

With all of my lies and manipulations and bullshit, I was now no better than her.

The tense silence stretched between us.

Finally, he pulled back as he cleared his throat. "Stay here. I'm going to get the first aid kit for your knees."

"They're fine. I just need to wipe off the dirt."

"Ella. Stay."

"Yes, sir."

The moment he left, I buried my face in my hands. I should have told him. I would tell him. As soon as I talked to Antonia and warned her. Then I would tell him everything.

I lifted my head and looked around the room. I couldn't help but smile when I noticed my borrowed clothes, suitcase, purse, and cello neatly stacked in the corner.

Matteo returned carrying a tray with two silver cloches, a small bowl of water, and a first aid kit. Resting the tray on the bed near me, he wet a washcloth and cleaned my knees before carefully rubbing a salve on the slight scrapes. When I hissed from the sting, he pursed his lips and blew cool air on the wounds.

The spark in my belly ignited, as if he had been blowing on an ember to get it to flame.

After changing out of his clothes into just a pair of gray sweatpants, his naked chest showing off his unique tattoo, he leaned against the headboard and pulled me onto his lap.

For once, I didn't object and simply buried my head against his shoulder.

I needed this.

I needed the comforting strength of his arms.

I needed the reassuring beat of his heart.

At least for a moment, it made me think everything was going to be all right.

He leaned forward and pulled the tray closer before lifting the two cloches. Under one were two bright orange persimmons cut into quarters and drizzled with what smelled like a traditional vanilla and rum sauce. Under the other was a bowl of zabaione.

Matteo dipped a spoon into the warm and frothy zabaione and lifted it to my lips. "Open your mouth, my clumsy little bird."

Not able to resist the velvety dessert, I obeyed. The wine, sugar, and frothed egg yolks soothed my sore throat.

When he dipped the spoon in a second time and held it to my mouth, I said, "I can feed myself."

"Shut up and let me feed you."

I obeyed, letting him slip the spoon inside my mouth. I licked my lips, savoring the creamy sweetness.

His gaze focused on my mouth, a deep rumble vibrating inside his chest. Against the backs of my thighs, his cock hardened. I shifted. "Maybe I should?—"

His arm tightened around my waist. "Don't move," he growled.

The air in the room thickened.

Keeping his gaze locked on mine, he reached over and picked up a piece of persimmon and held it close to my mouth. "Bite."

When my teeth sank into the soft flesh, the boozy glaze dripped down through the opening of my robe, onto the inner curve of my breast.

As I moved to wipe it off, he wrapped his fingers around my wrist and pulled my arm away.

Still keeping his intense gaze on me, he lowered his head. The tip of his tongue swept over my skin to lap at the vanilla-sweetened drops.

"Oh, God," I breathed out in a rush as my heart raced.

He slipped his hand inside the robe and opened it wider, loosening the belt. He then lifted my thigh and bent my knee to swing me around on his lap so that I was straddling him.

Picking up another piece of persimmon, he held it to my lips. "Open your mouth, baby."

Mesmerized by his dark eyes, I bit into the bright, sweet flesh.

This time he squeezed the piece of fruit as I did so, deliberately sending a cascade of sticky rum droplets over my breasts and stomach.

As he leaned his head down to lick the curve of my left breast, I fell back onto my forearms, pressing his hard thighs against my back.

He groaned as he shifted so his mouth could reach my breasts and stomach, peppering them with open-mouthed kisses. "So fucking sweet."

His large hands slipped under my hips and lifted me.

"What? Oh! Oh!"

My lower body was tilted up toward his face as he anchored my bent knees over his shoulders. His thumbs went to either side of my pussy lips, opening me. The tip of his tongue flicked against my clit.

My fingers dug into the blankets as my back arched, pushing my hips against his jaw. A high-pitched moan escaped my lips; my body felt like it was floating in his grasp.

His hot breath brushed my inner thigh. "That's it, babygirl. Sing for me."

The tip of his tongue moved faster, swirling around and around, increasing the pressure with each full circle.

My own finger or a vibrator could never compare to the feel of his mouth on me.

Easily keeping my body aloft with his left hand, he shifted his right to between my thighs. His thumb pushed inside my wet entrance. After several thrusts, he pulled out to press the tip of it against my puckered hole.

Instinctively, I tightened it. He increased the pressure while varying the rhythm of his tongue.

There was this odd suspense as my body braced for the moment he'd force his thumb inside my ass. A shock of sensation raced up my spine when he scraped the sharp edges of his teeth against my clit. My brain splintered and I forgot to keep my asshole clenched.

He thrust his thumb inside.

The dark, elicit pleasure of it sent me over.

I came undone.

My hips bucked as my bare feet kicked at the headboard. This time the stars I saw were shimmering with white glitter and warmth.

His left hand flattened over my abdomen as he slowly lowered my hips back to his lap. My knees hugged his sides as he growled, "Fuck, I love how responsive you are."

He moved his hand to cup my hip as he lifted his cock and positioned it at my entrance.

I whimpered, knowing I was still sore from earlier.

"Shhh, little one. I promise I won't thrust. I just need to be inside you right now."

There was a momentary sensation of pressure, and then the thick head slipped inside me. He wrapped both hands around my hips and slid my body closer to him, forcing me to impale myself on his cock.

"Fuck, babygirl. You're so goddamn tight."

My inner muscles burned as they stretched to accommodate his girth. When my ass was against his hips, he was fully seated inside of me.

There was an odd sense of pride and accomplishment about being able to take his full, long length inside of my tight pussy.

True to his word, he remained still. Moving his hands over my stomach, hips, and breasts in slow, soothing circles.

My hips shifted as my body luxuriated in the feeling of fullness and completion.

My eyelids drooped.

His dark voice came to me as if through a long, dark tunnel. "That's it, colomba mia. You're safe now. Fall asleep with my cock inside of you. I'm here."

My cheek rested against the top of his leg as the sound of his voice and the feel of him lulled me.

The last thing I heard before falling into a deep sleep was him whispering, "I'll always be here for you, baby."

Please don't let me go.