Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Two
Matteo woke up to the sound of soft voices. He blinked up at the white ceiling, trying to identify who was speaking. He groaned as he sat up and glanced at the clock. He and Geneveieve managed to stay up together most of the night, only falling asleep in each other’s arms around 4. It was now close to 9. He threw his legs over the side of the bed and scrubbed his hands over his face. He stood up, found a pair of boxer-briefs to put on, grabbed his gun from the nightstand drawer, and padded through the bedroom in search of the voices.
The house he’d brought them to was on the beach. Large windows opened up to the short rocky ledge that led to the pristine waters of the Mediterranean. Thin curtains billowed inward from the ocean breeze to try to snag his feet as he walked. He yawned big as the voices started to become clear. He noticed from across the main living room that the back door was propped open. He spotted Genevieve then, sitting on a chair with a steaming mug of coffee. She was pissed. Her foot bobbed in annoyance while her eyes narrowed as she lifted the cup of coffee to her lips.
Matteo took a few more steps and then sighed when he realized who else was there. He set his handgun down on a bookshelf before he walked out to the back porch. Alessio glanced up from the chair across from Gen, looking nearly as annoyed as she did. His arms were crossed over his chest and his brows were drawn down. Matteo placed his hands on Gen’s shoulders from behind, and bent to kiss her on the cheek.
“Good morning, Beautiful.”
“I wish,” she hissed, her eyes still focused on his cousin.
Matteo sighed. “What the fuck are you doing here, Les? It’s our honeymoon.”
“We only get four days,” Gen added with venom.
Alessio rolled his eyes. “And you’ve only just woken up from a nice night of fucking. Yes, yes, I’ve heard it all already from this one,” Alessio said with a flick of his wrist toward Gen.
Gen’s fist slammed down on the table. “My name is Genevieve, you prick.”
“Gen…” Matteo conjoled, pulling out the chair beside her.
Her blue eyes cut to him and they flashed with warning. “No, Matteo, his men let him inside. He just strolled into our home like it was nothing and asked for a fucking cup of coffee.”
“Which I still haven’t gotten, by the way,” Alessio added.
“You son of a bitch.”
“Genevieve,” Matteo said calmly, trying to keep Alessio from ruining their few days together. “Can I get you another cup of coffee?” he asked.
She glared down at her half-empty cup. She raised her chin up to the air, took a deep breath and nodded.
“Okay, I’ll get you one. You stay out here and enjoy the quiet. Alessio, come with me,” he ordered.
Matteo walked into the kitchen and started fiddling with the coffee machine that resembled a 3D printer. He scratched his head for a moment before Alessio got impatient and pushed him out of the way to do it himself.
“Why the unannounced visit, Alessio?” Matteo asked.
“I told you the lawyers would be ready to meet this morning. I came to collect you to take you to them.”
“I never agreed to meet with them today.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Want to explain the gigantic pole you’ve had shoved up your ass these last few months?” Matteo questioned with aggravation lacing every word.
Alessio sighed, hit a button and the machine started whirring and puffing out steam. He regarded Matteo with frustrated annoyance. “The men in this family are angering me.”
“Is that so?”
“Women,” Alessio scoffed. “Michele wants an apology because you tricked him with one. Conor is basically useless because of one. And you…”
“Careful,” Matteo growled.
Alessio rolled his eyes. “You cannot see more than five inches in front of your face because of one. I don’t have a pole up my ass, as you say. I’m not the one who is acting differently around here. I’m just the only one who still has his head on his shoulders.” He scoffed. “I am the only one keeping these three families alive.”
“You Palladinos are so fucking arragant.”
Alessio rolled his eyes so hard Matteo thought they might get stuck. “You Accardis are foolish.”
“And the Galantes are Magalomaniacal,” Matteo supplied with a smile.
Alessio’s forehead creased, a small smirk pulled at his lips and he shook his head. “My english is not that good, Cugino.”
The coffee machine beeped and Alessio poured them three cups. Matteo mixed Gen’s the way she liked it, earning a few grunts of disapproval from Alessio. He picked hers up along with his own and walked beside Alessio as they returned to the porch.
“Look,” Matteo said, stopping his cousin before they walked outside. “I appreciate you looking out for us. I never thought I’d be this man either.” He took a step closer. “But if you enter this fucking house without my knowledge again… I’ll shoot you between your eyes.”
“And I’ll shoot you in each of your balls!” Gen called from the porch.
Matteo smiled and gave a nod to which Alessio shook his head.
“Se mai dovessi sposarmi, uccidimi,” Alessio said under his breath.
“What does he want?” Gen asked as she took the coffee from Matteo’s hand.
Matteo sat down and Gen brought her chair closer so she could lean against him. He kissed her forehead and she let out a breath of contentment.
“Matteo and I are going to meet with my lawyers this morning,” Alessio answered for him.
“Oh, are we? Did we decide that?” Matteo asked with a chuckle.
“It’s not a decision. You have four days before you wish to return to America, yes? Action must be taken.”
“We’re waiting for Matteo’s lawyer to arrive,” Gen informed him while casting a glance toward the beach.
“You’re what?” Alessio asked.
“I want Roman here. He’ll arrive in about an hour, don’t worry,” Matteo told him while he wrapped an arm around Gen’s back.
“My men are perfectly capable of…”
“As you said, it’s an important matter. I want my guy here too. When I get back to the states he’ll be the one representing me. Not your men.”
“When was this decided?” Alessio asked.
Gen hummed. “Hm, let’s see, after we took that long, hot shower I believe. Or was it before that when we…”
Matteo covered Gen’s mouth with his hand. He could feel her smile behind his palm. “Careful, Weakness,” he whispered in her ear, making her nip at his hand.
Alessio’s eyes slid between them and narrowed. “The lawyers are ready to…”
Gen’s muffled voice came from behind Matteo’s hand. She shoved it away. “Matteo's got it handled. We’ll wait for Roman. He has already reached out to the DA. He’s in talks with three federal judges to see who we can sway to our cause. He’s already typed up a plea deal in which everyone but Matteo walks. He’s spoken with Bennett’s supervisors and arranged a virtual meeting for the day before Matteo would leave. He’s also sent us a lovely bouquet of lilies and a his and her robe set as a wedding gift,” Gen listed proudly. Matteo kissed the side of her forehead, earning a surprised smile.
“Sounds like you have it all handled, Donna,” Alessio said, trying his hardest to not act impressed.
“Don’t worry, we might still need your lawyers if they don’t approve the plea and instead go for extradition through Italy’s government,” Gen said with a pitying shrug.
Alessio’s annoyed glare fastened on Matteo. “I don’t like her.”
Matteo barked out a laugh. “I think it’s safe to say the feeling is mutual, Les.”
Gen sighed and turned to Matteo. “I want him to leave.”
“I still have some of my coffee to finish,” Alessio pondered, glancing down at his cup.
She leaned over and ran her fingers up Matteo’s back before she whispered in his ear, “It’s been five hours since I’ve had my husband inside me, Matteo. I’m going down to the water. You can stay here and talk lawyers with your cousin or… you can join your wife in the water.” Gen pushed back from her chair. “Goodbye, Alessio. I don’t look forward to seeing you in the near future.”
“I’ll leave when my coffee is done,” Alessio said, obstinate.
Gen giggled and gave Matteo a dangerous look. “You’ll leave in about thirty seconds.”
Gen walked toward the stairs leading to the beach and began pulling Matteo’s hoodie over her head. Matteo watched the skin of her thighs come into view, then the bottom of her bikini, the soft curve of her hip, the bare skin of her back. What he didn’t see was a swim top.
“Get the fuck out, Les,” Matteo growled, shoving back from the table to punish his wife for walking out of their home topless.