217Matteo’s POVAlaric’s mansion was quieter than I expecred. It wasn’t crawling with guards and there wasn’t any sound of gunshots. That was basically what I expexted. That the house would be crawling with guards who were holding big guns and would scare me away once they see me.I was thoroughly disappointed with the peaceful and quiet environment that I was staring at. I walked to the front door and was about to knock when Emilia opened it, and the sight of her stopped me cold. She looked… different. Tired, worn, like someone who’d fought a battle they hadn’t been prepared for. But then there was something else. A subtle glow I couldn’t understand.“Matteo,” she said, her voice soft but warm.“Hey,” I said, stepping in and pulling her into a hug. I held her for longer than I meant to, not letting her pull away until I was sure she was really there, in one piece.“You okay?” I asked, stepping back to look at her.She gave me a small smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m better
218Gianna’s POVI had just settled onto the couch with a steaming mug of tea when I heard a knock at the door. My heart did a little flip. I could already tell who it was without checking. Not many people knew my residence, and the people who did wouldn’t just come here unannounced. Only he would.Matteo wasn’t supposed to visit tonight, but then again, Matteo rarely followed plans. I set the mug down and went to open the door.There he was, leaning casually against the doorframe, his dark hair slightly tousled, a sheepish grin on his face.“Surprise,” he said, holding up a bag of takeout like a peace offering.“Matteo,” I said with a smile, stepping aside to let him in. “You know you don’t have to bribe me to let you in, right?”“Bribe?” he repeated, walking past me. “This is just me being thoughtful.”“Uh-huh,” I said, closing the door behind him.He kicked off his shoes and made his way to the couch like he owned the place. I followed, plopping down next to him. He opened the bag
219Matteo’s POVI leaned back in my chair, swirling the coffee in my mug as Emilia paced the living room in front of me. She wasn’t good at sitting still, especially when she was in one of her overthinking moods. Today, she was obsessing over some party Alaric was hosting, which I honestly couldn’t care less about.If it were up to me, she wouldn’t be with him in the first place, talk less of attending a stupid party he was hosting.“So, what’s the big deal if you don’t wear the exact right dress?” I asked, smirking as she shot me a glare. Since I didn’t have to.go.to work today, what better wah to spend my day tham to spend it infuriating my big sister?“It’s not about the dress, Matteo,” she said, throwing her hands up. “It’s about the impression.”“Right, because mafiosos are known for their deep appreciation of fashion,” I teased, taking a sip of my coffee.She groaned and finally dropped onto the couch across from me, glaring at me like I was the root of all her problems.“Why a
220Matteo’s POVI leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Emilia stir something on the stove. The rich aroma of whatever she was making filled the air, but I barely noticed. My mind was elsewhere, buzzing with anticipation. I couldn’t help the grin that kept creeping onto my face.“You’re awfully chipper today,” Emilia said, glancing over her shoulder at me. “What’s up with you?”“Nothing,” I said, trying to sound casual.She rolled her eyes. “Don’t ‘nothing’ me, Matteo. You’re practically vibrating with excitement. Spill.”I pushed off the counter and grabbed a bottle of water, taking a slow sip just to mess with her. Her glare deepened, and I laughed, holding up a hand in surrender.“Alright, alright. It’s about Gianna,” I said, watching her expression carefully.Emilia turned off the stove and faced me, crossing her arms. “Okay, what about her?”“We finalized the plans for you two to meet,” I said, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice.Her brows lifted slightly, and
221Gianna’s POVThe day had arrived, and I couldn’t decide if I was more nervous or excited. Matteo had been buzzing for days and practically glowing with anticipation about me meeting his sister. I wanted to match his energy, but there was a small part of me that worried about Emilia’s approval. I’d heard enough about her to know she was fiercely protective of Matteo, and while I admired that, it also felt like I was walking into an interrogation.I smoothed my blouse for the fifth time as I glanced around the room. Alaric’s mansion had an elegance to it that still managed to make me feel a little out of place. The lavish décor and high ceilings were impressive, but still I couldn’t help but feel out of place here. I occasionally caught the glimpse of some men walking around with huge guns.Matteo told me that Alaric had insisted that the meeting would take place here, where things could be more relaxed and private. Of course, relaxed wasn’t exactly how I felt, especially with Emili
222Gianna’s POV“So,” she continued as if she hadn’t just told me that I wasn’t good enough for her brother. Her tone was casual but her eyes anything but. “What made you fall for Matteo?”It was a simple enough question, but there was an edge to it I couldn’t ignore. I set my mug down carefully, meeting her gaze.“Well, he’s kind, thoughtful, and funny,” I said. “He has this way of making you feel like you’re the only person in the room, you know? Like you matter.”Emilia’s lips twitched, but it wasn’t a smile. “Matteo does have a way of making people feel special,” she said, her tone almost too neutral.I couldn’t tell if it was a compliment or a warning. “He’s also incredibly driven,” I added, trying to steer the conversation toward safer ground. “I admire that about him.”She tilted her head slightly, as if weighing my words. “Driven can sometimes mean impulsive,” she said. “Matteo’s always had big ideas, but he doesn’t always think them through. He needs someone who can keep him
223Matteo’s POVI paced in the kitchen, the remnants of dinner still sitting in the sink. My jaw tightened as I replayed Emilia’s words over and over in my head. Dinner had been civil—on the surface. But I’d caught the looks and the subtle jabs disguised as polite conversation.She didn’t outright say she disapproved of Gianna, but she didn’t have to. Emilia has always been good at making her opinions known without being direct. And tonight, she’d practically screamed it.Gianna was still in the living room, probably trying to brush off the tension and awkwardness from the day, but I couldn’t let this go. Not anymore.I stormed into the dining room, where Emilia was casually clearing plates, like she hadn’t just undermined my relationship all day.“We need to talk,” I said flatly, narrowing my eyes at her.“Can’t this wait? I’m busy,” she murmured in reply, not even turning around to look at me. But I knew what she was trying to do. She was trying to get out of the conversation and t
224Gianna’s POVI slammed the door behind me and leaned against it, taking in deep, shaky breaths. My chest felt tight, like I couldn’t get enough air. The comversation at Alaric’s house pressed down on me, and tears blurred my vision as I finally let go of the composure I’d been clinging to all night.Emilia’s words and her thinly veiled disapproval played on a loop in my mind. The skepticism in her tone, the way she questioned everything without outright saying it. I’d felt every ounce of judgment in her eyes, and no matter how polite I tried to be, I could feel myself shrinking under her scrutiny.It wasn’t just what she said; it was how she said it. The casual way she implied that I wasn’t right for Matteo, that I didn’t belong in his life. As if loving him wasn’t enough.I tossed my bag onto the couch and sank down next to it, pressing the heels of my hands into my eyes. I’d known this relationship wasn’t going to be easy. Matteo was in deep in a world I’d never been part of—a w
224Gianna’s POVI slammed the door behind me and leaned against it, taking in deep, shaky breaths. My chest felt tight, like I couldn’t get enough air. The comversation at Alaric’s house pressed down on me, and tears blurred my vision as I finally let go of the composure I’d been clinging to all night.Emilia’s words and her thinly veiled disapproval played on a loop in my mind. The skepticism in her tone, the way she questioned everything without outright saying it. I’d felt every ounce of judgment in her eyes, and no matter how polite I tried to be, I could feel myself shrinking under her scrutiny.It wasn’t just what she said; it was how she said it. The casual way she implied that I wasn’t right for Matteo, that I didn’t belong in his life. As if loving him wasn’t enough.I tossed my bag onto the couch and sank down next to it, pressing the heels of my hands into my eyes. I’d known this relationship wasn’t going to be easy. Matteo was in deep in a world I’d never been part of—a w
223Matteo’s POVI paced in the kitchen, the remnants of dinner still sitting in the sink. My jaw tightened as I replayed Emilia’s words over and over in my head. Dinner had been civil—on the surface. But I’d caught the looks and the subtle jabs disguised as polite conversation.She didn’t outright say she disapproved of Gianna, but she didn’t have to. Emilia has always been good at making her opinions known without being direct. And tonight, she’d practically screamed it.Gianna was still in the living room, probably trying to brush off the tension and awkwardness from the day, but I couldn’t let this go. Not anymore.I stormed into the dining room, where Emilia was casually clearing plates, like she hadn’t just undermined my relationship all day.“We need to talk,” I said flatly, narrowing my eyes at her.“Can’t this wait? I’m busy,” she murmured in reply, not even turning around to look at me. But I knew what she was trying to do. She was trying to get out of the conversation and t
222Gianna’s POV“So,” she continued as if she hadn’t just told me that I wasn’t good enough for her brother. Her tone was casual but her eyes anything but. “What made you fall for Matteo?”It was a simple enough question, but there was an edge to it I couldn’t ignore. I set my mug down carefully, meeting her gaze.“Well, he’s kind, thoughtful, and funny,” I said. “He has this way of making you feel like you’re the only person in the room, you know? Like you matter.”Emilia’s lips twitched, but it wasn’t a smile. “Matteo does have a way of making people feel special,” she said, her tone almost too neutral.I couldn’t tell if it was a compliment or a warning. “He’s also incredibly driven,” I added, trying to steer the conversation toward safer ground. “I admire that about him.”She tilted her head slightly, as if weighing my words. “Driven can sometimes mean impulsive,” she said. “Matteo’s always had big ideas, but he doesn’t always think them through. He needs someone who can keep him
221Gianna’s POVThe day had arrived, and I couldn’t decide if I was more nervous or excited. Matteo had been buzzing for days and practically glowing with anticipation about me meeting his sister. I wanted to match his energy, but there was a small part of me that worried about Emilia’s approval. I’d heard enough about her to know she was fiercely protective of Matteo, and while I admired that, it also felt like I was walking into an interrogation.I smoothed my blouse for the fifth time as I glanced around the room. Alaric’s mansion had an elegance to it that still managed to make me feel a little out of place. The lavish décor and high ceilings were impressive, but still I couldn’t help but feel out of place here. I occasionally caught the glimpse of some men walking around with huge guns.Matteo told me that Alaric had insisted that the meeting would take place here, where things could be more relaxed and private. Of course, relaxed wasn’t exactly how I felt, especially with Emili
220Matteo’s POVI leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Emilia stir something on the stove. The rich aroma of whatever she was making filled the air, but I barely noticed. My mind was elsewhere, buzzing with anticipation. I couldn’t help the grin that kept creeping onto my face.“You’re awfully chipper today,” Emilia said, glancing over her shoulder at me. “What’s up with you?”“Nothing,” I said, trying to sound casual.She rolled her eyes. “Don’t ‘nothing’ me, Matteo. You’re practically vibrating with excitement. Spill.”I pushed off the counter and grabbed a bottle of water, taking a slow sip just to mess with her. Her glare deepened, and I laughed, holding up a hand in surrender.“Alright, alright. It’s about Gianna,” I said, watching her expression carefully.Emilia turned off the stove and faced me, crossing her arms. “Okay, what about her?”“We finalized the plans for you two to meet,” I said, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice.Her brows lifted slightly, and
219Matteo’s POVI leaned back in my chair, swirling the coffee in my mug as Emilia paced the living room in front of me. She wasn’t good at sitting still, especially when she was in one of her overthinking moods. Today, she was obsessing over some party Alaric was hosting, which I honestly couldn’t care less about.If it were up to me, she wouldn’t be with him in the first place, talk less of attending a stupid party he was hosting.“So, what’s the big deal if you don’t wear the exact right dress?” I asked, smirking as she shot me a glare. Since I didn’t have to.go.to work today, what better wah to spend my day tham to spend it infuriating my big sister?“It’s not about the dress, Matteo,” she said, throwing her hands up. “It’s about the impression.”“Right, because mafiosos are known for their deep appreciation of fashion,” I teased, taking a sip of my coffee.She groaned and finally dropped onto the couch across from me, glaring at me like I was the root of all her problems.“Why a
218Gianna’s POVI had just settled onto the couch with a steaming mug of tea when I heard a knock at the door. My heart did a little flip. I could already tell who it was without checking. Not many people knew my residence, and the people who did wouldn’t just come here unannounced. Only he would.Matteo wasn’t supposed to visit tonight, but then again, Matteo rarely followed plans. I set the mug down and went to open the door.There he was, leaning casually against the doorframe, his dark hair slightly tousled, a sheepish grin on his face.“Surprise,” he said, holding up a bag of takeout like a peace offering.“Matteo,” I said with a smile, stepping aside to let him in. “You know you don’t have to bribe me to let you in, right?”“Bribe?” he repeated, walking past me. “This is just me being thoughtful.”“Uh-huh,” I said, closing the door behind him.He kicked off his shoes and made his way to the couch like he owned the place. I followed, plopping down next to him. He opened the bag
217Matteo’s POVAlaric’s mansion was quieter than I expecred. It wasn’t crawling with guards and there wasn’t any sound of gunshots. That was basically what I expexted. That the house would be crawling with guards who were holding big guns and would scare me away once they see me.I was thoroughly disappointed with the peaceful and quiet environment that I was staring at. I walked to the front door and was about to knock when Emilia opened it, and the sight of her stopped me cold. She looked… different. Tired, worn, like someone who’d fought a battle they hadn’t been prepared for. But then there was something else. A subtle glow I couldn’t understand.“Matteo,” she said, her voice soft but warm.“Hey,” I said, stepping in and pulling her into a hug. I held her for longer than I meant to, not letting her pull away until I was sure she was really there, in one piece.“You okay?” I asked, stepping back to look at her.She gave me a small smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m better
216Matteo’s POVThe phone rang once, twice, then a third time. I paced the length of my living room, gripping my phone very tightly. Every second that she didn’t pick up stretched unbearably long. My frustration boiled just beneath the surface. I’d been trying to reach Emilia for days—no, weeks—and it felt like I was shouting into the void.“Come on, pick up,” I muttered under my breath.And then, finally, the click of the call connecting.“Hello?” Her voice was soft and hesitant as if she wasn’t sure if she should answer.“Emilia!” I nearly yelled into the phone, relief washing over me. “Finally. Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been? I thought something happened to you!”There was a pause, and my heart was beating wildly in my chest. I could hear her breathing on the other end, and I could hear the faintest tremor in the sound.“Matteo…” she started, her voice breaking slightly. “I—there’s so much to explain.”I stopped pacing and sat down heavily on the couch. “You better sta