Gone

Pictures of Cedric Grover are spread on a desk in front of Matteo. His new assistant Nova is holding a file that has the details of the man whom Matteo wanted to be gone.

"Boss, he works for us. His bar is used as one of our hubs to finalize our weapons deals. He is loyal to us but is a known womanizer. He is known for his skills to seduce a woman, no matter if she is interested in him or not. Now his eyes are set on Hera Wilson, his neighbor and a waitress in his bar" Noah read the details of Cedric.

Matteo is looking at Cedric's picture with a thoughtful expression. It has been three months since the day Sussane stabbed him and Hera unintentionally gave him a new life. He was discharged from the hospital a week ago. Reed and Mia insisted that he needs rest, as his surgery is major. Mia has a way with her words, which compelled him to stay in NY for longer than he wanted to. Even though he would never speak it out loud, he is feeling much better now than he felt a month ago. At least, health-wise. 

But emotionally, he is angrier and his thirst for revenge only grew bigger. He knows where Sussane is and what she is doing now. If she is thinking that she could escape from him after what she did, she will be disappointed. He moved his pawns and set the drama in motion. Now her suffering will begin.

But he can not ignore Hera. The girl who helped him. He doesn't like to be indebted to anyone. So he decided to help her even though she doesn't want his money. He will straighten up things for her and then he can leave her to her fate. That's why he paid her house mortgage. He has now opened a trust fund in her name for ten million dollars, and he will lie to her that it is a gift from her diseased mother. Then she will be happy and he can forget about her.

But he didn't like the look on Cedric's face that morning. He realized that he is going to be a problem for Hera. Sussane killed every ounce of kindness along with his emotions and conscience. But he just couldn't ignore Cedric, who might be Hera's potential rapist.

"I want him gone Nova," he instructed with finality. But Nova hesitated a little.

"Boss, I don't think Frederick will like this. Cedric is his nephew" he shared.

Nova is acquainted with Matteo for years now. But never has he seen the other man like this. The man who is sitting on the other side of the desk is angry and it is scaring Nova. Matteo is a killer machine even before he changed. He used to scare him even then. But now, this new side of Matteo is making him feel terrified. He is getting a feeling that he is standing in the presence of Reed Carter and Nero Vitiello at once.

Matteo gave a calculating look at Nova.

Killing Cedric is child's play. He is not scared of pissing Fredrick either. But his mind went back to Reed's cryptic comment.

'California needs a new boss ' 

'Something is brewing here. Moreover, I need Fredrick now. Delaying Cedric's death will benefit me ' he decided.

"Alright. Then make arrangements. I will stay with Hera Wilson. Arrange a meeting with Frederic" he instructed.

Leaving Hera alone is not good for her. So he decided to become her guardian until he could devise a plan to kill Cedric.

Nova is confused. He is not understanding what is running in Matteo's mind. If he was his usual self, he would have asked him what is going on. But now, he couldn't dare to open his mouth and question Matteo, the new CEO of the Carter and Gonsalves construction company.

"Yes, Boss" he simply decided not to anger Matteo.

On the other hand, Hera is still reeling in shock hours after she found out that someone paid the mortgage for the house. She racked her mind to think about one person who is kind enough to do that for her. But no matter how hard and how long she tried to picture one such person, she came back empty.

"All of this is too good to believe. I was trying everything I could to save this house but failed. Now, I learned that someone did it without my notice" she thought out loud with wonder.

Just then, a loud knock sounded on the door. She is so lost in her head, that she opened the door without seeing who it is.

"Hello Hera" Cedric drawled.

His voice made her nostalgic and pulled her out of her head. She blocked his path and did not allow him to walk inside the house. She is smart enough to know that it is not wise to let him inside at this hour.

"What do you want?" she snapped with irritation.

Cedric masked his anger.

"I came up to check upon you. With everything that happened this morning, I was worried about you" he lied and placed his hand on her shoulder. She glared at his hand, which made him withdraw it promptly.

"I am fine" she muttered and tried to close the door in his face. But he didn't let her.

"Hera, don't be like this. You might not believe me, but I only have your good intentions at heart" he tried to walk past her inside the house. But she did not let him.

"I don't need a person who doesn't have the minimum common sense to not disturb a girl in the night as my wellwisher. Now leave" she said firmly.

Cedric is now frustrated. He wanted to push her inside and have his way with her for the night.

"When she is telling you to leave, you should," a voice said from behind him, which made the fine hair on his body stand. His heart began to pound with fear, just by listening to that voice.