MESSAGE TO A FUTURE BRIDE

Mateo’s POV ~

“I'm alive Silvio, and im coming for you,” I said under my breath, I winced in pain as I crumpled the picture of Silvio and Ariana landing in Italy, “everyone thinks you are dead Mateo, you need to stop with this obsession, Becky is awake and she’s waiting for you at home” Julius mentioned.

 “don't you love her anymore, that girl has been through hell and back for you with the feds” Julius added.

I looked at him, “he put a bullet through me!, im not going to let this OBSESSION go, im not going to stop until I have her back in my possession, she’s mine” I replied sternly, i coughed and held my side, I wheezed and breathed in,

 “you are weak Mateo, you need to rest,” Julius warned.

“I'll rest when either Silvio and I are dead!” I thundered, hitting my hand on the table, I groaned in pain. 

I gently laid back on my couch.

 “Julius, how long before everything is ready!” I yelled back at him, he looked at me for a long time before walking away.

“You work for me! Remember! I give the orders and you carry them out!” I yelled after him, I winced in pain again.

But I was thankful, and he knows that without his tactics to get me out that night, I would have bled to death, I owe him my life, but I have to ruin Silvio, I have to kill him.

I coughed and Serena rushed in with a glass of water, she put it in my hand and said, 

“You need to take it easy, you got shot, you need to rest and heal, Ariana isn't going anywhere,” She said, helping me put the glass in my mouth. 

I coughed and flung the glass out of her hand, her facial expression switched to instant anger.

“You have been this way since we got back, it's either this or you agree to die so we can all have some peace, it's just water and you are going to drink it! I don't care if you are a mighty fucking Don, you are going to drink from the damned glass!” she yelled, her tone firmly on point, she reminded me of her father, that old bastard and his devious ways.

“I don't care how injured I am, or that I saved you, if  you ever speak to me like that again I'll snap your neck!” I retorted I gestured for another glass, she stepped back and hesitated for a while, then she turned and walked out of the room and came back with a fresh glass.

“Thank you,” I said, taking the glass from her, she sat opposite me on the green couch that irritated me to look at.

“Since you saved me 5 days ago from Silvio I've been hiding, and you won't let me leave, so what's the plan Mateo?” she asked, straight to the point, I guess she learned a thing or two from her father.

“Silvio doesn't know you are alive, he thinks you drowned in the Thames, England can never be the safest place for you, we are the mafia, and our spies are everywhere” I started, 

“I have to tell you, Serena, he planned it all out with father, I can feel it, he knew exactly when Silvio would get the call” I paused, dropping the glass on the center table.

“Your father wanted you dead” I finished and turned to her.

I watched her grip the couch tightly as she shut her eyes tightly, she turned her head away for a moment and then looked back at me.

“I didn't expect anything less, Tomas is the only one he cares about, my sisters and I are just property” she replied.

“That doesn't answer the question Mateo, I can't be here forever, I need to let my mother know I'm alive, and Luna too, remember her, your other sister? thankfully you didn't fuck her,” she said, her words burned like acid, she inherited her mother’s viperous tongue.

“I've got a plan and I need you” I finally said, the words left a bitter taste in my mouth.

She grinned and waited for me to continue.

“I need you to tell Ariana that I am alive and she needs to know I'm coming for her,” I said, relaxing on the couch I sat with my hand holding my side.

“How am I going to do that?” she asked.

“Tonight, Silvio is throwing a formal engagement party to introduce Ariana as his fiance” I started, my head tilted to the left and I groaned in pain.

 “I'm not crashing that party, I'll be dead for sure this time” she replied.

“No you are not, I just need you to sneak in and find Ariana, tell her I'm coming for her” I explained,

 “how am I going to sneak in, there are guards everywhere!” she exclaimed.

“Don't worry about that, Julius is handling it as we speak, it's a quick mission, go in and give her my message and get out” I said, she deliberated on the matter for quite some time before agreeing to it.

“I'm coming too, I need to make sure none of you fuck this up”

About an hour later, we took the ferry under disguise until we got to Silvio’s home island. 

Everywhere was festive, food, fun and decorations filled the entire Argento estate.

Guests were walking in and the party was about to start.

“He has her locked up in the bedroom opposite his, and only he has the keys, you have to find a way to get it and give Ariana my message,” I said looking at Serena, who had changed into a blond wig and a staff uniform to blend in.

She nodded in understanding.

 “Get in and get out” I repeated, “Julius will lead you to the entrance door,  you already know the rendezvous point, so don't miss it,” I said, 

“We are going to wait for you an hour and that's it,” I said.

I watched her step out of the car and Julius led her to the back where another man led her inside the building.

Julius soon hurried back and we drove out of the residence before we could be spotted.

Anxiously I waited for her to arrive, she had one hour, I looked at the time, it's been three hours.

“We have to go, Mateo, we can't wait any longer,” Julius pleaded.

“Something is wrong she should be here by now, we need to go back,” I said, Julius turned to look at me.

“Are you crazy? We will be caught, you need to forget about all of this, let Silvio have her, I don't know what all the fuss is…..”

I grabbed his neck from behind and squeezed it tight, I watched him struggle and gasp for breath.

“You forget she’s carrying my heir, I won't discuss this topic again” I released him from my grasp and relaxed on the car seat my eyes fixed on his as they stared back at me in the mirror.

You are the boss, you want to go back Mateo fine, we go back” he finally surrendered.

He turned the car on and drove back to the residence.

We parked in the forest area and walked for a while before we saw a nice patch of greens to spy from.

There was no sign of Serena, “maybe she ran” Julius suggested, I shook my head “No she knows Silvio will find her”

Soon we heard a scuffle and then we saw someone run outside.

Serena!

“Catch her! Don't let her go! Catch her!” I heard someone shout, soon two guards chased after her and finally caught her.

She struggled but it was of no use.

“We gotta go, Mateo! Now, it's over!” Julius exclaimed, pulling me away from the trees.

As he pulled me my eyes caught something briefly, I saw Ariana come out of the mansion, she wore a flowing bright gown that glittered, it was breathtaking.

The object of my desire, right in front of me but out of reach.

I watched her run to Serena,

“Father let her go! That's Serena!”

I saw my father look towards our direction and we quickly ducked.

“You check the trees!” he ordered pointing towards us.

“Mateo! We have to go! Right now!”