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“Are you sure about that?” Riley pushes her glasses up her nose.
"That's what I heard his men say about me. That I would only be his mistress. That a Cattaneo would never marry an O’Haire.”
“I overheard Father say they’d offered you to him before, and he said no.” I nod. It burns, but it only goes to prove my point.
“So that’s pretty much it.”
“I don’t know. It’s weird. Would a man do all he has for a mistress? I think he started a war when he took you. Then he came for me becauseyouwanted me. He threatened me that if I so much as upset you there would be consequences.”
“I’ll talk to him about that.” I don’t want him scaring her.
“And right there. Would you ever have said that about our father or brother? I’ll talk to them about not doing something.” Riley snorts.
Yeah, I would never do that. It wouldn’t have mattered what I said to my father or brother. They don’t take advice from women in their world.
Matteo wasn’t wrong that I wasn’t physically scared of him. When I think back on things, I do get away with a lot.
“He’s mad I didn’t tell him about the baby.” My hand goes to my stomach. That’s all I could get from his reaction. I don’t know if he wants this baby or not. I hate how he can mask all of his emotions. His face went blank, so unreadable.
“It’s going to be okay.” Riley tries to reassure me.
I make her tell me about what she’s been up to. Whenever I think I can’t hate my brother more, he always proves me wrong. I was barely out the door and he was working on my sister marryingsomeone new. There is no end to the lengths my family will go to in order to gain power.
Both Riley and I jump when the door to the bedroom flies open. One man comes rolling in, and Matteo has another by the hair of his head. I recognize one of them right away. He is normally the man at the front door.
They both look like they’ve been in a fight. “Stay down or it will be worse,” Matteo tells the man sprawled out on the floor. His tone is so cold and deadly it sends a chill through me. He drags the other one toward me, pushing him to his knees.
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me,” the man sputters out without having to be told. “It was inappropriate. I beg for your forgiveness.”
“Do you accept his apology, little rabbit?” Matteo’s whole demeanor and tone changes when he speaks to me. I nod my head. I’m not naïve to violence; I know what happens. I’ve seen more than a few fights, but this feels different. I feel in control. Maybe a little powerful for once.
Matteo yanks him up by his hair, shoving him toward Sergio, who takes hold of him. He goes over and grabs the other guy off the floor, the one I recognize. Matteo does the same to him, bringing him to kneel before me.
“I’m sorry.” I think he’s shaking in fear. “It would be an honor if you married Matteo Cattaneo. I will serve you and your family.”
“And this one, amore mio?" he asks, calling me that name again. Matteo has said it a few times now. I don’t know what it means. “Shall you take mercy or vengeance?”
Riley stands beside me with her hand over her mouth, shocked. “I’ll let you decide.”
“So be it.” He drags him over, pushing him toward one of his men. “Now, I’d like to be alone with Mona.”
“Yeah, I’ll go back to, like, that room you set up for me,” Riley says. Matteo nods in agreement.
“I’ll come see you,” I tell her when she hugs me before leaving. Matteo closes the door behind her, the lock clicking loudly.
“None of my men should ever talk about you in a disrespectful way.” That can’t work. He has to see that. Does he not notice the way his men are with me?
“That’s the thing. They don’t respect me.”
“In that, I will take some fault.” Matteo comes to stand in front of me. “They don’t talk to you because they’re scared.” He brings his hand to my face, his finger gently stroking my jaw. It’s so soft compared to the man who was dragging men around like ragdolls a second ago. It makes emotions bubble up inside of me. This ray of hope is peeking through.
“Scared? Of me?”
“They should be. If I’m honest, you scare the hell out of me too.” He shakes his head as if confused. That statement applies to both of us. How could I, Mona O'Haire, ever scare Matteo Cattaneo? Matteo Cattaneo is a man whose mere name inspires fear. “You have no idea what you’ve done to me. Neither do they. But they know I’m protective and possessive of you. They fear my wrath.”
“Oh.” Whoa, I don’t know what to do with that.
“Oh.” He smirks.