MATTEO'S POV
It was that very morning Gianna had called me that she was going back to the States and she wasn't sure when she'd come back, she had gotten the lead role in a seried and she was a hundred percent sure that this was going to be her big break. I was still groggy from my sleep, very much hangover and my head had already began to throb, the harsh ray of sun slicing through the room and directly at my eyes wasn't helping matters at all.
"I'll drive you to the airport, where I'll pick you up in twenty minutes" the words left my mouth before I could realize it. How on earth was I going to make it to her in twenty minutes with a blinding headache but I pushed myself off the bed, I needed something from her.
"Aww pookie bear, you don't have to worry about that – "
"Just wait for me okay" I cut through her words and ended the call before she had a chance to protest. I shot up from the bed and instantly regretted.
"You know Matteo, you didn't really have to go through this trouble" Gianna said as she stepped into the sleek interior of my convertible and immediately her scent filled the car, itching my nose in a weird way.
"I wanted to go through the trouble Gianna, you're a terrible person but I actually like you – in a big sister kind of way, don't get any ideas"
Her laughter rang in the air, softening the stillness in a gentle kind of way and her offered her a brief glance while she stared ahead on the road. She had her hair tied up in a sleek ponytail, her skin looked smooth, make up free and her usual red stained lip seemed a bit odd bare and devoid of any colors whatsoever but regardless of her cold and icy heart that only softened at the mention of Dante, she was a gorgeous woman and in a different life – just maybe.
"You know anytime you're the city, just give me a call okay" she said by the time we reached the airport and we had rolled her luggage to check in. She had a longing look in her eyes as she touched my face to bid me goodbye but just as she turned to leave, I held her back, my fingernails slightly grazing her soft flesh.
"You owe me something" I said quietly, there was a lump in my throat that I was scared to swallow.
She stared at me, a sly smirk now forming on her lips "I knew you weren't being kind for nothing, I knew you wanted something. I was just wondering how long it was going to take for you to speak"
I shrugged "Tell me, I need to know the truth"
Her silence stretched longer than I imagined it to, she was dawdling to increase my anxiety but I was willing to play this game however long she wanted to me to – then finally she spoke.
"He's your brother Matteo, he never wanted you to know but I think you have a right to know – and your father – his father – he left you something but you know Dante – "
"Thank you – " I breathed in relief, even though the anger was already building in my lower belly and I balled my fist. I forced a smile.
"Have a safe flight" I said and turned away – I knew where I needed to head next.
***
My whole body vibrated when I stormed out of Dante's house. I have been angry for so many reasons, anger so deep it was long enough to kill a man but this time it was different, it wasn't just anger it was betrayal and it cut me deep. It was one thing to keep the secret for me, one thing too to keep my share of inheritance from me. It became obvious now why he never wanted me around, it was easier to fund my lifestyle around the world, pump my accounts till they were too full, only because he didn't want to see me around, because I reminded him how much of a selfish bastard he was.
Suddenly, I heard my phone ring – it was Helena and I was hesitant to pick but just before it stopped ringing, I pushed the green button and held it to my ears.
"What do you want?" I sounded, the anger still creeping to the edge of my voice and I couldn't control. Helena was the last person I wanted to unleash my anger, and not because I felt a bit floozy any time I heard her voice or I smelled her around me but she has been through so much this past month, I knew she needed a break.
"Let's go shopping, it's nearly winter" she sang in my ears.
"I'm not in the mood Helena and besides aren't you with my lying backstabbing brother" I leered and she managed a slight chuckle.
"I had to ditch him at some point, couldn't handle the foul mood which you caused by the way – look just me at 24th street, I'm waiting for you and if you don't get here fast enough and someone snatched my purse while I wait for you – it's all going to be your fault"
That will do it and before I knew it, I was back in the car heading to 24th street.
Immediately I saw her, she put her hands around me and kissed my cheek. I could smell her flowery scent, mixing with the anger that brewed in me and creating something that bordered on lust and desire. I wanted to grab her and kiss her and it was more than a struggle to restrain myself.
"Coffee first?" she peered and I nodded, allowing her drag me all the way to a nearby coffee shop and she ordered our drinks.
"Are you okay?" she asked me, sipping from her cup.
"No I'm not fucking okay. Dante stole from me, he kept everything away. He is such a greedy bastard, he's a liar and he's foul and you should never have married him because now I'm going full on war"
She touched my hands in that moment, her eyes were glassy "You know I hated my brother for a good part of our lives, he was such a bully and would never let me leave the house when I wanted so believe me when I tell you, having a brother isn't that all great"
"That's the thing, Dante never treated me like his brother, he made sure I knew it, that we were cousins and nothing me, we were family quite alright but he made sure he maintained that bridge. He deprived me of having a memory of my father" the anger was beginning to surface again and I bit it down with a sip from my burning coffee.
"Dante's my husband and I love him and I'd hate to pick sides in this. You're a bastard that tried to sabotage my marriage but you're family still and if you ever need me, I'll be right her Matteo" she kept her hands on mine, a soft caress that caused a tingle in my stomach and a fluttering in my heart.
"Really?" I echoed only because I wanted to hear the sound of her voice in my ears, it brought a soothing that I was only just noticing and in that moment I knew – I knew what I wanted.
I stood up immediately.
"Where are you going?" she stopped me.
"I have to see my brother"
Dante could have all the inheritance he wanted, but what was mine was rightfully mine and he could have it and in exchange I wanted Helena – he just couldn't have both.