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Chapter Three

Julia

T he sight of Matteo instantly makes me feel safe.

“You’re here,” I gasp out, feeling my body move closer to him. Matteo offers me a small smile before he glares back up at Connor.

“She was just having fun with me and my friends,” Connor says. “Who are you?”

“I’m Matteo Conti and you’ll leave Julia alone.”

Oh no.

Connor’s eyes widen before a dark look crosses his features. “You said your name was Rachel.”

“I…” I have no words.

“And you’re Matteo Conti? As in Dante Moretti’s man?”

Matteo stands up taller. “Yes. So, you’ll leave this woman alone and stop bothering her.”

“She’s under the protection of Dante, I take it.”

“It doesn’t matter who protects her,” Matteo says. “What matters is that you stop harassing her.”

“I’m Connor Barry. You must know who I am if I know who you are.”

“The Irish mob,” Matteo grunts. “Not impressed. You guys can’t seem to accomplish anything. Now, leave Julia alone and go back to your friends.”

Connor walks down the steps until he’s face to face with Matteo. “Or what? What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to punch you right in the face.”

“Oooh. So scary.” Connor wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me in closer to him. “Since you didn’t say you have a claim to Rachel – or I guess Julia – than I’m just going to take her back to my booth.”

“Let her go.”

“Then punch me.”

I wrench away from Connor and stand in front of Matteo. “It’s ok. Let’s just get out of here. I want to go back home.”

“We’re not done here,” Connor says. The more he and Matteo standoff, the more attention they draw.

The more attention they bring to me. This is Dante’s club.

If he knows I’m here, it could hurt Viktor.

I’m not even sure if I can trust Matteo.

The moment I leave, he might tell Dante I was here and that could get me in trouble with Viktor.

It could show Dante that Viktor isn’t as strong as he appears.

Connor grabs my arm again and hauls me towards him. That’s enough to make Matteo move. He punches Connor straight in the nose like he promised, sending Connor stumbling to the stairs.

“This club is owned by Dante Moretti,” Matteo says. “You don’t hold any power here. Go.”

Connor glares at both me and Matteo before he pushes past us, clutching his bleeding nose, and tending to his burned ego.

“Are you ok?” Matteo murmurs. His hands reach out like he wants to touch my arms but then he thinks better of it and drops his hands to his sides.

“I’m ok. But I really should go. If Dante finds out I’m here…”

“I won’t tell him.”

I look at Matteo more closely. “Why not? You’re his second in command. I’m your enemy’s sister.”

“Let’s go somewhere more quiet. With less eyes on us. Then you can go. I’ll take you back home.”

“That’s all right. I can get myself home.”

“I’ll take you home.” There’s no debate in Matteo’s voice.

He takes me down a hallway into a private office. “This is Dante’s but he’s not here for the night.”

“And he won’t be showing up?”

“No. You’re safe. Don’t worry.”

“I should worry. You’re the enemy. I shouldn’t feel this safe around you. We only spoke the one time.”

He motions to the chair and I sit with a heavy sigh. “Why did you come?” He doesn’t ask in a mean tone. Just pure curiosity.

“I… I’m not sure.” Though I know exactly why I came. To see Matteo. But that is not something I can utter out loud.

“Did you know this was Dante’s club?”

“Yes,” I admit.

“And you still came here?”

I stare down at my lap as I answer him. “I guess I just… wanted to feel a thrill. Excitement. You know?”

“I get that. But coming to Dante’s club is risky. You must have had a good reason.”

“Maybe I…” I should not say this. I should not say this. “Maybe I wanted to see you again.” There. It’s out there and it was stupid of me to say.

Matteo is quiet for a long time that I finally force myself to look up at him. He’s gazing down at me with confusion in his eyes. Confusion and… something else. “You came to see me? Why?”

“I didn’t know you’d be here. I thought that if you weren’t, I’d just go back home.”

“Julia.” I love the way he says my name: so soft and sweet. “Why did you come to see me?”

“I have no idea. I just… I liked our talk and I guess I hoped we could… talk more.” There. It’s all out there and there’s no taking it back now.

“You want to talk with me? Why?”

“We had a nice conversation. You took me by surprise. I was taught that all of Dante’s men are evil and horrible but… you don’t seem that way. It just really stuck with me and I wanted to see you again because of it. Did you… did you want to see me again?”

He blows out a breath. “I… I have to admit that I was taken by surprise from our talk as well. I thought you’d run screaming from me but you didn’t. I’m not mad that you’re here.”

We both stare at each other for a long moment, neither one moving or speaking. What is happening between us? There’s an electricity that I can’t fully explain.

“But you should go,” he says, breaking the spell. “You could have been hurt because of that jackass. If your brother found out you came to one of Dante’s clubs and was hurt, he’d make things even worse for us. He’d think Dante was behind this.”

“You’re right.” I stand up, shaking my head. “I never should have been so foolish. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“No, you weren’t. You have to take your safety seriously, Julia. Connor could have hurt you. I’ve seen him around the club before. He likes to cause mischief but Dante lets it slide since Connor has never hurt anybody. But you could have been hurt.”

“I know and if I’m hurt then Viktor will come for you even more.”

“It’s not about me or Dante. You could have been hurt.”

I blink. What exactly is he saying?

“Julia, we can’t really see each other again. You know that, right?”

“Of course. It could put you in danger with my brother.”

“Yes, it could. But I also don’t want any of Dante’s other men to get their hands on you. I don’t want anyone else thinking you’re free game for them to hurt.”

“Why do you care?” I ask. “If I get hurt, that is?”

He stares down at the desk. I would give anything to know what’s on his mind right now. “You just seem so… innocent. I don’t want you to get hurt. That’s all. Coming here was a risk. I’ll take you home though. I want to make sure you get back in one piece.”

“But what if someone saw us? My brother would think you were trying to kidnap me.”

“Then I’ll just have to make sure no one sees us. Come on.” He motions me out of the office. “Let’s go.”

He takes me out a back door to a parking lot where his car is. I hesitate at the door.

“I promise I won’t hurt you, Julia.”

I believe him. Maybe it’s na?ve but I feel it in my gut that Matteo won’t hurt me and if getting in his car gives me more of a chance to talk with him, even just for this one night, I’ll take it.

I’m suddenly aware of how short my dress is once we’re both seated in the car and driving away from the club.

The dress keeps riding up my thighs but every time I sneak a peek at Matteo, he has his eyes firmly planted on the road.

Good. I’m not sure how I would feel if he was sneaking looks back at me.

“Since we’ll never get to talk again,” I say, “is it ok if I ask you a question?”

“I guess.”

“Do you think there will ever be peace between my brother and your boss?”

He sighs deeply. “I know Dante wants it. He’s starting a family. But don’t tell your brother that. Dante will hate it if word gets out that his wife is pregnant.”

“You’re asking me to lie to my brother.”

“I know. And I never should have told you that. But there’s something about you that’s just… easy to talk to.”

“I feel the same way.” I pause. “And I won’t tell my brother. He’d wondered how I learned this information and I’d have to tell him I snuck out and went to one of Dante’s nightclubs. He’d lock me up and never let me out if he knew. So Dante’s secret is safe. And so is yours.”

He frowns. “What’s my secret?”

“You and me. Talking.”

Finally, he glances at me and his expression makes me feel breathless. Soft and open yet a hint of danger. My stomach flutters. Matteo is so handsome, it’s hard to even look at him.

“Since we’re asking each other questions,” he says, “do you think your brother will ever stop?”

“No. I want to hope so but I know my brother. He’s so stubborn. He’ll never stop.”

“Then let me ask you a different question. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?”

“No one’s ever asked me that before.”

“It’s a serious question and needs a serious answer.”

I think on it for a moment and everything inside of me wants to tell Matteo the truth. It’s na?ve of me but I feel like I can trust him. “Here.”

“Here?”

“In this car. With you.” I can’t look at him but I can feel him looking at me.

“I… wasn’t expecting that.”

“I like talking with you. I don’t want it to end. I’ll ask you the same question. If you could be anywhere in the world, where would it be?”

He pulls the car to the side of the road. Just up the street is my house. We’re here already and it pangs my heart to know that this is the last time I’ll ever talk to Matteo again.

“With my mom,” he admits.

“Your mom?” I ask with a smile.

“She’s… gone now. If I could be anywhere in the world, it would be with her. Just for one more day.”

“That’s beautiful. I never really knew my parents. A little but not much. They died when I was five. They were killed.”

“I’m sorry, Julia. I had heard of the story but…”

“I take it your mom is…”

“Dead?” He clears his throat. “Yes. And I miss her every fucking day. Look at me. Getting sappy over my mom.”

“It’s ok. I sometimes cry when I think of my parents. I think of how I’ll never have my dad walk me down the aisle or have my mom hold me when I’m sad. When I got my first period, Viktor had no idea what to do. He pretty much threw a box of pads at me and called it a day.”

Matteo chuckles. “We men are hopeless.”

“You really are.”