THE NEW BELLBOY IN TOWN

Mateo’s pov ~ 

I growled in frustration as I looked around in the crowd, just where was my wife?

When did Ariana become so unruly?

She never used to be this unpredictable.

I find her roaming around my thoughts endlessly, driving me crazy with each passing second she’s away.

Where is she? What the hell is she doing? Did she come across another ex?

My mind kept spinning on and on.

I stood amid very happy women, it seemed a miracle had located them, they all grinned from ear to ear as the store manager filled their bags with different baby products.

“She left? Really oh I wanted to thank her!” one woman started, stuffing the toy into her shopping bag.

“I can't believe people still do charity, no one ever thinks about struggling mothers and families, I'm so thankful for this” the other chartered.

“I heard she was even disappointed, according to her, it cost her too little” she mentioned, 

“500 thousand euros I think, that's little money to her” she added.

And I immediately knew my wife was the topic of conversation.

I walked up to them and shot them intimidating glares.

“Tell me more about this woman, did you see where she went next?” I inquired.

The women were wary of me, as expected.

“Who are you to her?”

“If you don't tell me where my wife went, I'll have you followed home, light up your house with you and your family still inside if you don't speak now!” I growled.

The women stepped back in fear before one of them shakily pointed toward the main mall.

“It looked like she was going to Fabrini’s” the other replied.

I nodded and started towards the main mall when I spotted a familiar face.

Luchi Mancini, my father’s right-hand man, his underboss, stood well-suited and spoke with someone wearing ordinary clothes.

His son Manuel Mancini, was his consigliere, a pain in the ass too.

if they were here it could mean only one thing.

Something is going on in Massimo’s island, for my father to send his ambassadors here that means there’s something serious happening on that island.

And now it has piqued my interest, Serena is just a side attraction, the main course was finding out what my father is plotting and blowing it up.

I was careful not to be spotted, so I shadowed my way into one of the stores.

I scanned the place for her, but she wasn't there, I was about to leave when I heard Maria Rinaldi’s voice.

“ What the hell are you doing here? Here to finish the job then” she inquired.

I heard my wife’s voice later.

“I can't believe you would let Luna do this. I can't believe you would go to  impress my father!” 

Maria was silenced, she had been made.

“I don't know what the hell you were doing before you strolled in here with your wants and needs. you are the reason my daughter is here, and I'm trying to do everything I can to get her out. let me guess you are here on your honeymoon” her tone was shackled with anger.

“We are here for the same reason Maria, to get your daughter out” I announced, before walking toward them.

I watched my wife’s eyes beam from excitation to instant anger 

Luna was very quiet, she just stood there watching the entire thing unfolding.

“Don Mateo” she exclaimed surprisingly, she never knew her adopted stepson would arrive.

“Look I found a way, you share yours and we share ours” Ariana offered.

I moved closer to my hard-headed wife.

“I saw the Jesus miracles you did for those women” I whispered to her, and she shrugged it off immediately.

Her rejection became my pain, a pain that I want more of.

Sweet bitter feeling, now I find myself wondering what she would do to me next.

She keeps me on my tippy toes guessing!

“I couldn't stay home doing nothing! So when your father asked Luna to volunteer at this convent on an island in the middle of nowhere, I knew it was up to me to save my daughter,” she hesitated before continuing.

I'm getting my daughter out!” she added sharply.

“I found a ride to the island, we need to be at the dock by 8 am” Ariana retorted.

“How?” I inquired, curious to know how this came about, she promised to fill me in on it.

I didn't trust Maria, something deeper is going on here.

“Did my father send Luchi with you?” I asked, looking intently at her.

She avoided my eyes before replying to me, “No! Just a few guards that's all” 

She had confirmed my suspicions.

“Tomorrow at 8 am” Ariana repeated, “I don't care if you make it or not Maria but I'm leaving for the island to get Serena out”

Maria nodded but she wasn't happy either, her face in a perpetual scowl as I walked past her.

Ignoring her glares and shooting me dagger eyes that seemed to resonate with the activities stirring up in my loins.

As I stepped out of the store, I followed her closely behind, this time cautious not to lose her in the crowd.

“Baby doll” I called out, she didn't respond, she kept walking until she reached the car.

I held her hands back before she could get in.

“Ariana, you have made me into a bellboy, running after you, you realize I run territories, I'm very feared” I declared proudly.

She was quiet, she looked at me as though I was one of her admirers with unquestionable intentions.

“Mateo, I'm not ready to stir Any issues, and the reason why I'm avoiding you is simple, I'm choosing to stay in my place, you have not told me what I need to hear to be okay Mateo” she started.

“What do you mean? What else can I do to prove to you that I'm all in with you?” I asked, taking her soft leathery palm in my gruff hands.

“What are you going to do about Becky?”

There it is, the root of the problem.

An issue I still can't reconcile myself with.

I was conflicted, on one hand, I still loved Becky, she was the woman I was going to spend my life with and now, Ariana was this bombshell that dropped into my life that I couldn't let go of.

Before I could conjure up words she cut me off, 

“Your silence only validates my thoughts, Mateo, this was a bad idea from the start. After we save Serena, I'm going back to Malta and I don't want to see you Mateo” she said, getting into the car.

“I'll sleep somewhere else tonight, I'll see you at the docks at 8 am tomorrow”

I watched her roll up the window and drive off into the distance.