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CHAPTER EIGHT
Last Updated:
2025-04-03 21:06:47
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The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER NINE
Matteo's povI couldn't believe she tried to escape, couldn't believe she even hurt herself in the process. She felt so light in my arms. and I couldn't help but notice how fragile she seemed. Her cheeks looked hollow, and her skin was pale. "When Gretta told me you were skipping meals, I didn't think you'd actually loose this much weight in a short period of time."She looked away from me, her brows furrowed in the defiance. "Where did you go to?" As I walked into the house, Gretta's eyes widened as she noticed who was in my arms. "Sir, I swear…I…I don't…""You're dismissed for the night, Gretta." I said, my tone sharp. "I'm sorry sir." She said quietly, before scurrying off. I knew it wasn't her fault that Gabriella hurt herself, but it was her silence that caused her to make this decision. I wasn't even supposed to be back this early. But then she had called last night complaining about Gabriella's refusal to eat and how worried she was. Looking down at the fragile woman in my
Last Updated : 2025-04-17The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER TEN
Gabriella's pov Matteo kept to his promises about me being able to leave the house, and I was ecstatic about it. Even though I couldn't see the places I visited, I could feel them like he said I would. The scents, music, people, the heat, I could feel it all, and it felt entirely different . It was like I was in my own world, a world that I created, deciding which colours I wanted my sky, and the appearance of people around me. I let down the car window, and let the warmth of the sun kiss my face. It didn't feel like screened rays from the sunroom of the house, or the filtered breeze from the open windows, but real warmth. The kind that made you soul lift your soul just a little.I didn't say anything as he car pulled up to a quiet street. I didn't need to. One of the guards opened the door, and I stepped outside, cane in hand, shoes crunching over the pavements. Matteo had insisted I get a cane to assist me in walking, without totally relying on anyone. I took in a deep breath, in
Last Updated : 2025-04-22The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER ELEVEN
Matteo's pov "What do you really do?" Gabriella asked. We were sitted in the garden, just enjoying the evening. I never would have thought that in all my years, I would sit down in a garden and relax, especially with someone like Gabriella. "I've told you not to ask me about this." I said, keeping my tone even."But I am asking, because I want to know." she insisted, lifting her chin stubbornly. "You want me to trust you, but how can I when I don't even know who you are?""You do know who I am. I'm Matteo." I replied, my tone light. "I have told you some things about myself." "Specific things that can't even hint at the kind of man you really are. I can't trust you, if you don't even trust me enough to be honest with me.""Gabriella," I said, and reached for her hand, but she must have sensed that because she flinched away immediately."I don't trust you." she repeated quietly. I set my cup down careful, ignoring the sting that came with her words, and actions."Gabriella, I've n
Last Updated : 2025-04-28The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER ONE
It was winter break. I could still remember the first drop of snow had settled down on my window pane as I sat and watched. Snow didn't fall much here in Miami, and when it did, it was never for long. Christmas was more beautiful in New York, more lively. I should have stayed back with Jasmine instead of coming here. But what choice did I have, especially after my mother had cried her eyes out over the phone the night before I got here. She was always so good with emotional blackmail."Oh come on, you can't tell me that you're upset about being in your big ass mansion, with a whole bunch of food,and a complete family to spend your Christmas with?" Jasmine said over the phone, I had face timed her the moment I unpacked all my stuff."Don't get me wrong, I'm not being ungrateful, I'm just saying I would rather spend Christmas with you. I hate the fact you're all alone in the apartment on Christmas day." Jasmine was supposed to head home to meet her family in Scotland, but then there wa
Last Updated : 2025-03-05The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER TWO
How the hell did a gun get to my room?!I pushed my hair back, my eyes never leaving my mother as she cocked the gun. My own mother, who liked to sit in the garden on sunny days, who loved to wear sunflower straw hats, was handling a pistol like it was nothing. "What is that doing in my room? How did that get there? How are you doing this?!" "Don't be silly Gabriella, everywhere in this house is armed incase of something like this." She pulled out another gun, and handed it to me. "You know who your father is. Everyone wants him dead everyday, and if you weren't away so much, you wouldn't be so startled."I scoffed, stunned at the woman standing in front of me. Her mannerism and sweetness had suddenly vanished, replaced with a cold calculative persona. I didn't even notice when she moved closer to me and placed another gun in my hand.I flinched at the feeling of the cold metal on my skin. "I don't…"I got cut off by the sound of more gunshots and loud thuds. I tried to push my mind
Last Updated : 2025-03-05The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER THREE
A man dressed in all black, with a thick long coat, and a black mask, walked into the living room. "This was almost too easy." He continued, standing in front of my father. "I mean I guess I can call it easy when I've been planning it for 12 years." "You fucking bastard! How dare you come to my home, guns blazing?!" My father rasped, trying to hold on a face of bravery, but his face was so pale, he looked like he'd fall unconscious any second. "Always such an aggressive animal." The man replied. "You'd think that a man like you would be lonely and miserable, maybe that way I'd understand why it was so easy to be the unforgiving cold devil that you are."My father grinned. "So that's what this is? Now this is exactly why I never leave any survivors. Bastards like you always have a way of coming back to bite me in the ass."The man didn't hesitate to punch my father in the face, sending him falling to the ground in fits of bloddy coughs. He stretched out his hands to one of the men w
Last Updated : 2025-03-05The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER FOUR
I was burning. My entire body felt like it was on fire. I couldn't stop the screams. They were my screams, but I couldn't stop them. "Your entire legacy is gone!" The masked man screamed before pulling the trigger, killing both my parents. "No!" I jolted awake, my body screaming in so much pain. My stomach throbbed with a dull ache, like a burn that was eating me up from the inside. My body was too weak to move, and I glanced around the room, but something was off. Why was everywhere so dark? Trying to steady my breathing, I touched my face to be sure I was awake. I was sure I was, and I was sure my eyes were open, so why couldn't I see anything? "Hello?!" I called out, reaching forward to try to grab anything, but all I could feel were the sheets beneath me. "Is someone here?!"I heard the sound of a door opening, and a woman's soothing voice cut through the air. "You're okay." She said, her hand grasping mine.I turned my head towards the voice, desperate to see who was speaki
Last Updated : 2025-03-05The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER FIVE
He came again. More times than I could count, and everytime he did, he always brought some kind of token. Flowers, junk food the hospital would never allow. It was almost like he was baiting me, trying to get me to lower my guard, trying to get me to trust him. But I couldn't, not him, not anyone, not ever.He never stayed too long either, thirty minutes at most. It was enough for me to get info that he let me gain. His name was Matteo Morandi, didn't sound like a name I've heard before, but I was never good with remembering. He owned properties, car stores, and my father had been an acquaintance with his father. He had lent him some money once when his business was going under. Since Matteo's father died, he placed it upon himself to pay my father back. He was a mysterious man, who kept things about himself vague."Why did you save me?" I asked. I didn't know how long it has been since I was here, and I didn't care either. I felt hollow, empty…"You keep asking me a question that I
Last Updated : 2025-03-20
Latest chapter
The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER ELEVEN
Matteo's pov "What do you really do?" Gabriella asked. We were sitted in the garden, just enjoying the evening. I never would have thought that in all my years, I would sit down in a garden and relax, especially with someone like Gabriella. "I've told you not to ask me about this." I said, keeping my tone even."But I am asking, because I want to know." she insisted, lifting her chin stubbornly. "You want me to trust you, but how can I when I don't even know who you are?""You do know who I am. I'm Matteo." I replied, my tone light. "I have told you some things about myself." "Specific things that can't even hint at the kind of man you really are. I can't trust you, if you don't even trust me enough to be honest with me.""Gabriella," I said, and reached for her hand, but she must have sensed that because she flinched away immediately."I don't trust you." she repeated quietly. I set my cup down careful, ignoring the sting that came with her words, and actions."Gabriella, I've n
The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER TEN
Gabriella's pov Matteo kept to his promises about me being able to leave the house, and I was ecstatic about it. Even though I couldn't see the places I visited, I could feel them like he said I would. The scents, music, people, the heat, I could feel it all, and it felt entirely different . It was like I was in my own world, a world that I created, deciding which colours I wanted my sky, and the appearance of people around me. I let down the car window, and let the warmth of the sun kiss my face. It didn't feel like screened rays from the sunroom of the house, or the filtered breeze from the open windows, but real warmth. The kind that made you soul lift your soul just a little.I didn't say anything as he car pulled up to a quiet street. I didn't need to. One of the guards opened the door, and I stepped outside, cane in hand, shoes crunching over the pavements. Matteo had insisted I get a cane to assist me in walking, without totally relying on anyone. I took in a deep breath, in
The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER NINE
Matteo's povI couldn't believe she tried to escape, couldn't believe she even hurt herself in the process. She felt so light in my arms. and I couldn't help but notice how fragile she seemed. Her cheeks looked hollow, and her skin was pale. "When Gretta told me you were skipping meals, I didn't think you'd actually loose this much weight in a short period of time."She looked away from me, her brows furrowed in the defiance. "Where did you go to?" As I walked into the house, Gretta's eyes widened as she noticed who was in my arms. "Sir, I swear…I…I don't…""You're dismissed for the night, Gretta." I said, my tone sharp. "I'm sorry sir." She said quietly, before scurrying off. I knew it wasn't her fault that Gabriella hurt herself, but it was her silence that caused her to make this decision. I wasn't even supposed to be back this early. But then she had called last night complaining about Gabriella's refusal to eat and how worried she was. Looking down at the fragile woman in my
The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER EIGHT
Gabriella's povI was safe. I was safe. I was safe. It was what I tried to tell myself even though I was so unhappy. It's been fourteen days since I've arrived in Los Angeles, and it felt like eternity since I felt I had any form of control over my life. It felt just like the hospital, but worse. Since I wasn't familiar with my surroundings, I couldn't move around as I pleased. I had a monotonous routine : wake up, eat, get ushered to the garden by the maid, Gretta, eat again, then sleep. I felt locked up.Matteo on the other hand was like a ghost. It was almost like I had made him up these past few months, and now my reality was struggling to keep up with my fantasy.I hardly slept, because my nightmares kept me up. The darkness was oppressive, like a physical weight that pressed down on me at all times. But what difference did it make? Day or Night, it was all the same to me. This left me filled with so much panic and anxiety, that I began to create scenarios in my head. I thought
The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER SEVEN
Matteo's povWhat the fuck was I doing? Saving the daughter of Gabriel Russo, faking her death, and then taking her with me to my home in Los Angeles. All of these are like ingredients to a disaster that was going to blow up in my face in the future. I looked over at her, and saw she was already sound asleep. Her brows were furrowed together as if she was having a bad nightmare. I'm not surprised, because things like what happened to her, stays in your mind forever. There was no fixing it. My eyes trailed to the burn scars on her neck, and I felt the ripple of rage run through me. The time spent with Gabriella, made me realize she wasn't a bad person, she was the direct opposite of Gabriel, but yet she still had to suffer for his sins. "Great." I muttered as I looked away. "You had one mission, Matteo, but instead you had to save the girl."I leaned back in my seat, and sighed. I was already too deep in this to turn back now. Gabriella stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She looked
The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER SIX
"What the fuck are you doing, Carlos?!" Matteo's voice boomed. He let go of my hair, causing me to fall to the ground. "She attacked me, and then tried to run!"I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering, panicking, trying to push away the horrors."I told you not to hurt her!" Matteo yelled, his tone icy. "Why the fuck would you grab her like some doll?!""My head feels like shit, and I'm the one bleeding!" He protested.He hurried to my side, and I immediately flinched at his touch. "It's okay." He soothed, his voice a total contrast of what it was a second ago. "I'm not going to hurt you, Gabriella."I whimpered, tightening my arm around myself. I curled up into a ball, my hands clutching at my head, as if I could physically hold back the painful memories that were flooding my mind.Suddenly a warm weight settled around my shoulders. Matteo's suit jacket, I realized, as the scent of the cologne enveloped me. His hands closed around my wrists, gentle but firm, and he pulled me into
The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER FIVE
He came again. More times than I could count, and everytime he did, he always brought some kind of token. Flowers, junk food the hospital would never allow. It was almost like he was baiting me, trying to get me to lower my guard, trying to get me to trust him. But I couldn't, not him, not anyone, not ever.He never stayed too long either, thirty minutes at most. It was enough for me to get info that he let me gain. His name was Matteo Morandi, didn't sound like a name I've heard before, but I was never good with remembering. He owned properties, car stores, and my father had been an acquaintance with his father. He had lent him some money once when his business was going under. Since Matteo's father died, he placed it upon himself to pay my father back. He was a mysterious man, who kept things about himself vague."Why did you save me?" I asked. I didn't know how long it has been since I was here, and I didn't care either. I felt hollow, empty…"You keep asking me a question that I
The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER FOUR
I was burning. My entire body felt like it was on fire. I couldn't stop the screams. They were my screams, but I couldn't stop them. "Your entire legacy is gone!" The masked man screamed before pulling the trigger, killing both my parents. "No!" I jolted awake, my body screaming in so much pain. My stomach throbbed with a dull ache, like a burn that was eating me up from the inside. My body was too weak to move, and I glanced around the room, but something was off. Why was everywhere so dark? Trying to steady my breathing, I touched my face to be sure I was awake. I was sure I was, and I was sure my eyes were open, so why couldn't I see anything? "Hello?!" I called out, reaching forward to try to grab anything, but all I could feel were the sheets beneath me. "Is someone here?!"I heard the sound of a door opening, and a woman's soothing voice cut through the air. "You're okay." She said, her hand grasping mine.I turned my head towards the voice, desperate to see who was speaki
The Shadows We Keep CHAPTER THREE
A man dressed in all black, with a thick long coat, and a black mask, walked into the living room. "This was almost too easy." He continued, standing in front of my father. "I mean I guess I can call it easy when I've been planning it for 12 years." "You fucking bastard! How dare you come to my home, guns blazing?!" My father rasped, trying to hold on a face of bravery, but his face was so pale, he looked like he'd fall unconscious any second. "Always such an aggressive animal." The man replied. "You'd think that a man like you would be lonely and miserable, maybe that way I'd understand why it was so easy to be the unforgiving cold devil that you are."My father grinned. "So that's what this is? Now this is exactly why I never leave any survivors. Bastards like you always have a way of coming back to bite me in the ass."The man didn't hesitate to punch my father in the face, sending him falling to the ground in fits of bloddy coughs. He stretched out his hands to one of the men w
