Chapter 35

Angelo

The damage was done. Bridges burned. Trust betrayed. The only thing we could do now was try to move past this. I stepped into Vivianna’s room and frowned. She looks up through teary eyes. She wiped her tears and her lips quivered.

“Don’t cry, my love. It’s okay.” I soothed her as I sat next to her.

She leaned into me and sucked in a breath. I wiped her tears and whispered. “Everything will be fine, sweet girl.”

“M-Matteo is going to hate me.” She whispered.

“Tonight you, me and Matteo are going to have dinner together. We’ll sort this out like adults.”

“No fighting?” She asked hopefully.

“I didn’t say that.” Her cuteness amused me.

“Why can’t you two just talk it out without fighting?”

“If only it were that simple, love.”

She knitted her eyebrows in confusion, “I don’t understand. Why can’t…”

I pressed my finger to her lips and chuckled. “Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?”

“Vito has.” Now she’s playing dirty with me.

“Don’t say his name. I believe you have something to tell me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Darling, a little birdie told me that a certain someone touched my girl. A birdie said Vito kissed you.”

“I-I—”

“Nothing to say, little girl?” I raised my brow.

“I didn’t like it, and I also slapped him for it.” She defended.

“But, you kept it from me. I don’t know whether I need to go punch him, or punish you. What do you think?”

“Punish me.” She whispered.

I slid my hand underneath her chin, lifting it to meet my heated gaze. “Is that right? You would rather take a punishment over me punching Vito. You sweet on him?”

“No, I-I—” Vivianna stuttered as I swept my thumb across her bottom lip. “You’re the only one I want.”

I loved how responsive her body was to my touch. I pulled her onto my lap and whispered in her ear. “Tonight, after dinner, I’m going have to remind you who you belong to, and remind Vito that you will never be his. Do you understand me?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Go get dressed, we have dinner in about an hour.”

***

Matteo, Vivianna, and I sat at the table. Matteo was obviously still upset. Not that I blame him. I am fucking his sister. And, behind his back. Matteo took a sip of his wine and slammed the glass on the table. “We gonna talk, or are we going to sit here not addressing the problem?!”

“Matteo, I didn’t mean for any of—”

“Don’t feed me that bullshit, Vivianna!” Matteo pounded his fists down on the table, causing her to jump.

“Don’t fucking talk to her like that!” I warned.

“Please, don’t fight,” Vivianna whispered.

“Look, I know she’s your sister, but I love her. I’ve loved her for years.”

“You mean to tell me you looked at her while—”

“No!” I hissed, “Don’t make me out to be a fucking creep. It wasn’t like that, and you know it.”

“Matteo, you can’t keep doing this. I’m a woman now. I love—”

“Love?! You think you know what love is. It’s just a stupid crush you’ve had for years. Why do you think I said you were off-limits?”

“Matteo! That’s enough of that. You can be rude to me all you want, but not to her. She’s your sister. If it makes you feel any better, I’ll let you hit me once. Get it out of your system and put this behind us.”

“Oh! You’ll let me hit you?! That’s hilarious, boss.”

“You need to let this go. She’s an adult now. Let. Her. Go.”

Matteo shoves his chair back, causing it to screech against the floor. I do the same as he storms across the room to me. He pulls back to hit me, but Vivinanna steps between us. “No! I love him. Please!”

Grabbing Vivianna by the waist, I pull her behind me and shove him. “Step the fuck down.”

Vinnie and Vito rush in as Matteo and I clash. Throwing punches. Cursing. Shoving. I push. He pushes. Vivianna is crying in the background, but I’m done with Matteo. He needs to know I love her. I’d do anything for her. Even, if I had to fight for her.

A shot rings through the room, making Matteo and I freeze. Vinnie held a gun up in the air and says. “Enough! Matteo, she’s a grown woman now. Do as Angelo says, and let her make her own choices. And, for the love of God, stop fighting. Vivianna is crying now.”

I turn on my heels and take her in my arms. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. It’s okay. See, nobody is fighting.”

Her body trembles as I hold her close. I press my lips to her forehead and whisper. “Don’t’ cry, my love. It’s okay.”

Matteo hung his head and gave me a sad smile. I knew what that look was about. Ever since she had been taken by the Russians, it’s been hard. Countless nights of screaming in her sleep. The fear in her eyes whenever someone raises their voice or fights.

Matteo slowly walks towards us and leans in to whisper in my ear. “Is it still this bad?”

I nod, not being able to say anything.

I swallow thickly and let the guilt set in.

It was my fault she was taken.

It was me they were targeting.

Matteo leans in once again and says, “I’m not okay with this, but I see how much she loves you. She trusts you. Don’t throw that away. We’ll talk later. Just take care of my sister right now. She needs you.”

“Talk later,” I whispered.

Right now, I need to take care of my girl.