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I was sure there were others around, but I just couldn’t see them. We were out in an old factory yard far outside the city, and not too far from my yacht.
There were snipers, I would guess, positioned strategically around the area. I wasn’t too concerned about them. I also hadn’t come alone.
I had Mya safely set up at the yacht with guards. She had been sleeping when I left, apparently just as exhausted as I was from the ordeal.
I had called Matteo, told him I wanted to consider his offer, and he had been elated to meet with me.
“So, you finally came to your senses,” Matteo said. He tried to feign nonchalance, but I could see by the way he flexed and unflexed his fingers, that he wanted to wrap his hands around my throat. This time, our father wouldn’t be there to save me when he tried to snuff the life out of me.
I wouldn’t give him the pleasure.
“I came to talk. Listen to your demands. And then make a reasonable and informed decision.”
“Reasonable?” he laughed dryly. “I can do reasonable, I guess. So, this is what I want. The whole operation and all the minutiae that goes along with it. You can keep your houses, your cars, but the entire business, all your suppliers, your contacts, they belong to me.”
He wanted everything. Why was I not surprised?
“You’ll be over your head by the end of the week. You can barely find your way out of a paper bag and yet you want to take everything away from me? That’s stupid, even for you, Matteo.”
I was bored already and just wanted to be done with him. I could be sleeping right now, curled around Mya, listening to herbreathe, running my hand down her generous hips, and then up her leg, pulling at the hem of her nightgown, listening to her sigh of pleasure when I finally found what I was looking for.
Instead, I had to deal with this creep. I’d made a mistake coming here.
“You know what, talk is overrated. I’m done with you and done with this.” I waved haphazardly at the scene around me and walked away.
As I did, two men carrying rifles blocked my path.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I mumbled under my breath.
“You think you can just walk away from me?” Matteo said, looking self-satisfied. “I’m not some powerless little worm who’s just going to bow down and do your bidding anymore. You think you’re better than me? You think you can put your hands on me and get away with it?”
The fury in his voice echoed in the silent yard, and spittle flew out his mouth.
His eyes were large now, huge with his rage.
“Careful, you’re going to give yourself a heart attack.” And for good measure, I said, “Just like your old man.”
He lunged for me then, and even though I had expected it, it still surprised me that he had bothered to try.
The force of his stocky body sent me flying backward, and I hit the ground hard. He was already swinging punches, landing them on my face and my body.
I flipped him off of me, gaining my footing, and before he could get up, I punched him in his face, sending his head flying back.
It wasn’t enough. I grabbed him by his shirt, keeping him upright, and punched him over and over again until he looked like a bobblehead, unable to control his movements.
He scrambled to get out of my grasp.
I let him go, out of breath. I was covered in dust and grime.
He staggered to his feet and said, “You’re going to give me back what’s mine.”
“You can’t fucking have it.”
“It’s my legacy!” he screamed, looking woozy. He hit his chest in emphasis, “Mine! Not yours! You don’t deserve it! You didn’t earn it! You’re fucking illegitimate. Dad’s little bastard with a dead mom.”
This time, I didn’t take the bait. He wanted a reason to shoot me dead right then and there, but I wasn’t going to give him one.
“You can’t have it. It’s mine. All of it. I built it. I made it what it is and you’re the last person that will reap the benefits. I kept my part of the bargain. I kept the family business alive. Me! Not you! I was more than generous. I took care of you and Nico?—”