86. The Alliance

MATTEO's POV

My pen scratched across the paper, the sound echoing through the silence. I was aware of Charles's eyes on me, but I refused to acknowledge him.

Not yet.

I could feel it pulsing through my veins, a reminder of the secrets we kept, the lies we told. Finally, Charles spoke, his voice like a rusty gate. "Matteo, we need to talk."

I set my pen down, my eyes still fixed on the papers in front of me. "What is it?" I asked, my voice controlled, but my mind was racing wondering what he wanted.

His cigar flared to life, the sweet scent of tobacco filling the air. He drew in a slow, deliberate drag, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I lost my sister when I was nine," he said, his voice flat, devoid of emotion. "She was six. We were playing near the old warehouse by the docks. She fell from the roof. I couldn't catch her."

He exhaled a stream of smoke, his gaze still fixed on me. "I remember the sound of her body hitting the ground. Like a bag of rocks. I didn't cry. I didn't feel anything. I just stood there, watching her bleed out."

He took another drag, his expression unchanging. "My parents were devastated. They blamed me, of course. Said I was responsible for her death. Maybe they were right. Maybe I was."

He shrugged, a slight movement of his shoulders. "I learned to numb myself after that. To shut off my feelings. It was the only way to survive."

The silence that followed was oppressive, heavy with the weight of Charles's words. But neither of us showed any emotion or reaction.

We just sat there, locked in a silent understanding, bound by our secrets and our lies.

My voice was equally flat, equally devoid of emotion. "Sorry you had to go through that." I paused, my eyes never leaving Charles's face.

"But I'm sure you didn't come here to reminisce about your past. What do you want?"

Charles chuckled and said, "Typical Matteo"

His gaze never wavered, his eyes boring into mine. "I saw Gia as my own sister. I wanted to keep her safe and protect her. She reminded me of... what I lost."

He took a slow drag on his cigar, the ember glowing bright red. "I know you think I'm just a hitman, a tool for your family's dirty work. But I have my own code, my own honor. And I couldn't just stand by and watch Gia get hurt."

He blew out a stream of smoke, his voice cold and detached. "So I took her side when you started going mad again,"

Charles's eyes narrowed slightly as he lit another cigar, the flame dancing in the dim light of the office. "Do you trust Carter, Matteo?" he asked, his voice low and even.

He took a slow drag, his eyes fixed on mine, searching for any sign of weakness or deceit. "Really trust him, I mean. With your life, with your family's lives?"

The question hung in the air like a challenge, and I could feel Charles's gaze piercing through me, testing my loyalty. And I knew that any hesitation, any doubt, would be seen as a weakness.

I laughed, a cold, calculated sound. I didn't trust anyone, not even myself. But I knew Charles needed to hear it, needed to know that I wasn't foolish enough to believe in loyalty or honor.

I rose from my seat, my movements deliberate and slow. I leaned against my desk, crossing one leg over the other, my eyes never leaving Charles's face.

"I don't trust anyone," I said, my voice low and even. "Not Carter, not you, not even myself. Trust is a weakness, a liability. And I won't be swayed by empty promises or false loyalties."

I gazed at Charles, my eyes hard and wicked. I knew he understood and knew that he operated on the same principles. In our world, trust was a luxury we couldn't afford. And I wouldn't make the mistake of thinking otherwise.

Charles's expression twisted in a scoff. "Aria, then?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief. "Do you trust her?"

I remained silent, my gaze fixed on Charles's face. I wouldn't answer. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing my thoughts. Aria was different. She was a variable I couldn't quite control, a wild card that threw off my calculations.

Charles's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in frustration. He knew I wouldn't answer, knew I wouldn't give him the upper hand. But he also knew that my silence spoke volumes. And in that moment, I saw a flicker of understanding in his eyes, a glimmer of recognition that Aria was the one person who could potentially bring me down.

I walked towards Charles, my footsteps echoing in the silence. His eyes followed me, his gaze steady. I reached out and took the pack of cigars from his pocket, my movements deliberate. The soft creak of the leather wrapper seemed loud in the stillness.

I lit the cigar, the flame casting a brief glow on our faces. The smoke curled up, a gentle haze that surrounded us. We stood there, two men locked in a silent understanding, the only sound of the soft crackle of the cigar.

Charles's voice was low, and even the cigar bobbed up and down as he spoke. "Do you love her, Matteo?" he asked, his eyes glinting with a knowing light.

I took a slow drag on my own cigar, the smoke curling around us like a veil of secrecy. I didn't answer, I didn't need to. Charles knew me too well, knew that my silence was all the confirmation he needed.

But I couldn't help the flicker of emotion that crossed my face, a fleeting glimpse of the truth that I kept hidden behind my mask of indifference. Charles saw it, his eyes narrowing as he took another drag on his cigar.

Charles's gaze never wavered, his eyes boring into mine. "Having a weakness, Matteo, can mean trouble," he said, his voice low and even. "Trouble that can get you killed."

He took a slow drag on his cigar, the ember glowing bright red in the dim light of the office. "You know that as well as I do. We can't afford to have weaknesses, not in our line of work."

I remained silent, my eyes fixed on Charles's face. I knew what he was saying, knew that he was right. But I also knew that I couldn't help how I felt. Aria was a weakness, a vulnerability that I couldn't shake.

And Charles knew it.

I extended my hand, my eyes locked on Charles's. "We think alike, Charles," I said, my voice firm. "We both know how to get things done. Maybe it's time we worked together, instead of against each other."

Charles's gaze narrowed, his eyes flicking to my hand and then back to my face. For a moment, I thought he'd refuse, that he'd see this as a trick or a weakness. But then, a small smile played on his lips, and he reached out, his hand closing around mine in a firm handshake.

"Let's do it," he said, his voice low and even.

"Let's show them what we're capable of."

The handshake was a seal, a promise of a temporary truce between two men who didn't trust each other but knew that together, they could achieve more. And in that moment, I knew that this alliance would change everything.

I released Charles's hand, my eyes still locked on his. "Aria doesn't trust Carter and Alonzo," I said, my voice low and even. "She thinks they're hiding something, and she's not sure what."

Charles's expression turned thoughtful, his eyes narrowing as he processed this information. "That's interesting," he said, his voice measured. "Gia has always had a disliking to Alonzo, I think it's high time you look into it. See what we can find out," he finished.

I nodded, a small smile playing on my lips. "I already have someone on it," I said, my eyes glinting with a hint of amusement.

"Who's that?"

"Ben". I replied.