DEIRDRE
The look in Matteo's eyes told me he meant business and was willing to do whatever it took to get what he wanted. But I wouldn't let him have the satisfaction without a fight. He would never take my child from me.If he killed me, maybe he would succeed. However, the thought of lying dead on the floor sent a shiver down my spine. No, I had to fight back. I couldn't let him win."I'm not pregnant, Matteo. Fuck off," I scowled and pushed him away as he tried to grab my hand."You were," Matteo corrected me. "I'll forgive you for keeping me out of her life, but I won't forgive you for taking her away without my knowledge and raising her like a bastard!""I don't know what you're talking about," I said, trying to sound as convincing as possible.Matteo laughed, cold and cruel, "Don't play dumb, Deirdre. I know everything. You can't hide the truth from me.""I don't have any child of yours with me," I protested."You've told me many lies, and I won't forgive you this time. I'm taking Kendall away from you, and there's nothing you can do about it. You should know I'm ready to fight you if you try anything!" Matteo snapped.He threw a handful of photos at me, and I snatched one from the floor. My fingers shook as I turned it over to see Kendall's smiling face. Kendall was the one person who brought joy to my life, and now Matteo was using her against me. Fear crept up my spine. How did he know about her? Had someone told him? I struggled to keep a straight face, not wanting to reveal anything.Matteo was a powerful man with many watchdogs. I wouldn't be surprised if he had someone watching me. He let out a hollow laugh as if he knew he had me right where he wanted me."See, I have the power to do what I want?" Matteo's words were hard, and I felt the wall I had built around me for four years crumble instantly.I stepped towards him, desperate to plead for Kendall's safety, but he held out a hand to stop me. "You are useless to me, and I have no need for you."His words made me tremble. I had known Matteo was unfeeling, but this was a new level of cruelty. I wondered if I had made a mistake by accepting his proposal. I had seen all the red flags, but I had ignored them in my desire to be with him.I had thought he was Prince Charming, but little did I know, he was the devil himself. If he hadn't come into my life, I would still be living my quiet life as a translator.I could have ignored him the first time he signalled for me to have dinner with him. We first met at an auction, where I was the translator for a wealthy nobleman. I had noticed Matteo, so handsome and quiet, at the corner, watching as everything unfolded. I had assumed he was one of the artists until he started speaking with my employer. His subtle gaze towards me made me think he was interested in me, but I never knew he wanted to use me.My employer had warned me to stay away from him, as he was one of the most dangerous men in Sicily, but I had brushed it off, thinking he was only a ruthless businessman. I had foolishly dived straight into his bed without thinking, let him fuck me over again, and when he proposed, I had thought it was love and had jumped at the offer.It wasn't until after the wedding that I saw all the red flags I had been blind to. They had been present from the beginning, but I had been too stupid to notice them.As Matteo stepped away from me to answer his phone, I took a deep breath and paced around the room. I stopped in front of him, ready to beg for Kendall's life, but when his beautiful grey eyes gazed at me, I forgot all I had wanted to say. I licked my bottom lip, feeling flushed.His eyes often did something weird to me, stirring up strange sensations inside me. It wasn't in an awful way; it was a look that screamed, "I want to fuck you, and I hope you are aware of that."I wondered how many women he had lured into his bed just by staring at them. Fucking and proposing to women was a game to Matteo and people like him. They never committed and never would.As soon as he finished talking, he tossed his phone aside and gazed at me, "What? Are you ready to bring her to me now, seeing as you have no powers against me?"I shook my head, trembling as sudden rage glided through my body.Clenching my fists, I breathed slowly, trying to control my anger."Give me a few days with her." I gritted my teeth, knowing nothing I said would make Matteo agree.He was fucking hard-headed."No darling," Matteo shook his head. "You had all the time with her; I believe it's my turn now.""She is not a commodity that can be whisked around whenever!" I yelled, rather upset."And?" Matteo raised his brows."She is a fucking child. She should not concern you because our contract has been dissolved. Kendall is mine!"As Matteo stood up, I became acutely aware of his towering height, which loomed above my 5ft6.He stepped towards me and loosened the tie around his neck. He yanked it off and undid the buttons on his pristine shirt."What are you doing?" I sucked in a deep breath as he slipped out of his shirt.And then he undid his belt.Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I glance at the door. I knew it was locked, and I doubted there was another means of escape as several alarms rang in my head.DEIRDREAs Matteo strode towards me, I dashed to what I guess was the bathroom.However, I was not fast enough. He gripped my hair, flung me across his shoulder, and tossed me on the bed.I fell with a plop, and I stood abruptly as well."Kendall is mine, and we had no official dissolving of our marriage. I can prove that your body is still mine by fucking you this instant.""N-No, please!" I stuttered, pushing at his chest as he came down on me.My eyes rounded as he parted my legs, but I kept shoving him.I didn't think my punch affected him because he gripped my chin and forced me to stare into his cold eyes."P-please, I beg of you."Whether he heard me or not, Matteo didn't show it.He bounded my hands with the tie he had released from his neck."Tell me, Tesoro, do you think you can run away from me?" His grey eyes turned darker, and swiftly, he clutched the thong I wore, ripping it off me.My legs snapped shut almost immediately, attempting to cover up the rest of my dignity as
DEIRDREThe following morning, I found myself inside Matteo's penthouse in Miraval. It took me thirty minutes from the Luxe Bistro and forty minutes from my modest apartment. I couldn't help but realize that Matteo had always been within my reach, but he had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.As I woke, I spotted Matteo's watchful dogs guarding the hotel. They were the first individuals I encountered, and they were not shy about telling me it was their boss's order. I left the hotel, and the worst part was that they followed me everywhere, making it difficult for me to breathe.Finally, I received a reminder call from Matteo, informing me that since I chose to remain stubborn and not call him last night about my decision, I should prepare myself for court. I knew he had the financial means and influence to sway the judge in his favour, which was why I didn't want to go to court but had agreed to his wish.As I entered the penthouse, I reminded myself it was all for Ke
DEIRDREI spent the entire day under Matteo's watchful gaze. I returned to the living room after checking in the room Mrs Smith prepared for me.Matteo never let me leave his side. When I mentioned wanting to pick up Kendall from daycare, he sent one of the watchdogs instead, making things even more difficult for me.Maybe I shouldn't have come to his penthouse in the first place. I shouldn't have agreed to his terms. Now, I was back to the suffocating lifestyle I had left behind. I never realized how stifling it was until now.I let out a sigh, fanning my face. Wiping away the sweat gathering on my forehead, I groaned and slumped into the seat. It wasn't the room's temperature making me feel hot. The air conditioning in the room actually made it colder than usual, but Matteo's eyes seemed to melt away all the coldness.They were intense, piercing, and smoldering, stripping me of what little dignity I had left. He made me feel exposed. It should have been uncomfortable, but instead,
DEIRDREAfter a long, soothing soak in the bathroom, I emerged. I had to admit, despite my initial reluctance, that Matteo's penthouse was on par, if not better, than a five-star hotel. The room prepared for me was far beyond my means, even if I emptied my savings to afford it. But I wasn't swayed by such extravagance. All I ever wanted was to provide Kendall with the best life.As I wrapped my hair in a large brown towel and secured another around my waist, I approached the wardrobe. However, upon opening it, I found nothing suitable to wear. My brows furrowed in confusion. The wardrobe was predominantly filled with lingerie. Hadn't Matteo mentioned that Mrs. Smith had gone shopping for me? Or had she not?I pondered if Matteo had done this on purpose, glaring at my now-soaked and ruined outfit on the floor. I couldn't wear it, but staying in the towel for too long wasn't an option either.The door swung open, and my attention snapped towards it. My eyes widened as Matteo entered, ac
MATTEOHaving climbed down from my car, I strode towards the entrance of the formidable building in front of me. Standing at the entrance, I touched the pendant on my chest. The door whined and swirled open, and as soon as I stepped in, it closed with a snap.A wince escaped me at the loudness of it. I should have been used to it, but then, it often startled me each time.I was at the La Fortuna Privé. It was a high-end casino with luxurious décor, glittering chandeliers, and an array of gaming tables. Located on the outskirts of Miraval, the La Fortuna Privé served as a front for money laundering and a source of revenue, which was mainly a hotspot of high-stakes gambling and discreet meetings for the Ferrovia Famiglia.The organization I belonged to."For fifteen years, you were here, Teo, yet you still flinched at the sound of the door?" Lucia said as she approached me with a raise of her slender brows.Lucia Rossi was a beautiful woman in her mid-twenties. She sported short brunett
MATTEO"Hey, Ice Queen!" Nicholas called."Shut up, or I'll make you, Ink!" Lucia retorted.Although I referred to Lucia as Lucy, most people in the famiglias knew her as the Ice Queen. It was due to her ruthlessness while carrying out her assignment that she was nicknamed that.As for Nicholas, he was called Ink because of the many tattoos he had on his body. While every one of us had a tattoo symbolizing our organization, Nicholas' tattoos covered 90% of his body. I wouldn't be surprised if he had one, even in the most private areas.I breathed out as Lucia stepped towards me, her lavender scent teasing my nostrils."Who's that, Bambina?" She questioned, leaning into me. "Giovanni said to remind you about the meeting."Of course, I hadn't forgotten about it. I had only just stepped out now and wanted some respite from everything that had been happening."Teo," Lucia called as I ignored her question. "You've been brooding, Sphinx, and this is the longest I've seen you lost in thought
DEIRDREIt was past eleven, and Matteo still wasn't home. I figured I shouldn't wait up for him, but I couldn't help myself."Mama," Kendall murmured.I looked down at her as she tugged at the hem of the robe I had on. It was Matteo's robe. I didn't have much choice in the matter as I found nothing suitable to wear."Why, baby?" I asked, bending down to her level. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"I ruffled her hair as she wrapped her tiny arms around me."I want Daddy to kiss me goodnight," she murmured, half-asleep.This wasn't the first time she'd asked about her father, but today, she'd been talking about Matteo nonstop, even though I hadn't mentioned anything about him being related to her. It puzzled me. Also, I kept wondering how Kendall, who couldn't stop speaking about Matteo, had called him a monster.Perhaps it was a misconception."I'll kiss you good night," I said, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead."No," Kendall shook her head emphatically. "You do that all the time. I wan
DEIRDREI paused by the doorway alongside Matteo, realizing we stood in front of what I assumed was his room.With my arms crossed, I spoke up. "I thought we were going to discuss this in the living room."Matteo turned to me, his gaze assessing me. He remarked, "I should be the one concerned, considering you're now wearing my things without permission. I can't predict what else you might do."The audacity!I clenched my teeth, unable to hold back. I shot him a glare. "You left me with no choice. And how dare you take my clothes? That was never part of the deal!""This is my home, my rules," Matteo stated firmly."This is a mistake," I muttered, shaking my head. He held the door open wider after entering.I was reluctant to step in with him, but it seemed as though if I didn't, he was going to make me.As I stepped into the room, Matteo shut the door behind us. I stood close to it, still holding onto myself as if it could shield me from whatever might transpire in this room.The space