Page 37 of Ruined By Protection (Feretti Syndicate #5)

Matteo

I hold Hazel to me, savoring the voluptuousness of her body on mine. Her breathing has evened out, soft and steady against my chest. I trace my fingers along her spine, memorizing every curve, every dip.

This moment feels stolen—fragile and precious. I want to freeze time, keep us locked in this bubble where nothing exists except her warmth against me.

My phone vibrates on the nightstand, shattering the tranquility. Carefully shifting Hazel to the side, I reach for it, checking the screen.

Noah.

"What?" I answer quietly, not wanting to wake Hazel.

"He's gone," Noah says without preamble. "Montgomery left New York."

I sit up, instantly alert. "What do you mean, gone? I thought we had eyes on him at the fucking hotel."

"That's just it," Noah's voice is tight with frustration. "The fucker knows how to hide himself. He was never at that hotel, not really."

I slide out of bed, moving to the window to keep from disturbing the goddess. "Explain."

"I put one of my men on it—had him get inside the room posing as room service.

" Noah's voice has that feral calm that means he's seriously pissed.

"The guest in the room Montgomery booked under his name?

A woman. When my guy said he had dinner for Elliott Montgomery, she told him there must be a mistake. "

"Fuck." I tear a hand through my hair. "He's playing games."

"He’s always managed to slip us," Noah admits. "I'll give him that. The cameras at the hotel show him entering but never leaving. He must have found a way out that we didn't catch."

"What about Hazel's family?" I glance at her, sleeping peacefully in the bed. The thought of Montgomery getting anywhere near her family makes my blood run cold.

"That's why I'm calling. You should check with your guy in Austin."

I nod, even though Noah can't see me. "I'll call him now. Keep me posted if anything changes."

Ending the call, I immediately dial another number. It rings three times before a voice with a heavy Mexican accent answers.

"Senor Caruso."

"Javier," I acknowledge. "How's the situation in Austin?"

Javier is one of the men I worked with some years ago on a job on the Texas border. He owes me after I took a bullet meant for him during a deal gone wrong. When I called in the favor to have him watch Hazel's parents' house, he didn't hesitate.

"All quiet, jefe ," he reports. "I have two men watching the house in shifts. The father, he stays inside most days. The mother leaves for work at seven-thirty, returns at six. The boy—he goes to school, to basketball practice."

"Any sign of Montgomery?"

"No, senor. No unusual cars, no strangers watching the house."

I exhale slowly. "Keep your eyes on them. If Montgomery shows up, call me immediately."

" Sí, entiendo ," Javier confirms. "We will protect them as if they were our own family."

I end the call and stand for a moment, staring into the darkness beyond the window. Montgomery is in the wind, which means he could be anywhere. The thought sends shards of ice through my veins.

Behind me, the sheets rustle. "Matteo?"

I turn to find Hazel propped up on one elbow, hair tousled from sleep and our earlier exertion. Even in the dim light I see concern clouding her eyes.

"What's wrong?" she asks, immediately sensing my tension.

I consider lying, protecting her from this new development, but I promised her honesty. She deserves to know what we're facing.

"That was Noah," I say, moving back to the bed. I sit on the edge, taking her hand in mine. "Elliott's left New York. He managed to slip past our surveillance."

Her fingers tighten around mine. "How?"

"He had someone staying in his hotel room. Made it look like he was holed up there while he moved about freely." I squeeze her hand gently. "We're checking all possible leads."

"My family?" Her voice trembles slightly.

"I just spoke with my contact in Austin. Everything's normal at your parents' house. I have men watching them around the clock."

Hazel nods, processing this information. I can see the wheels turning behind her eyes, calculating risks, imagining scenarios.

"I trust you," she says simply.

Those three words hit me harder than any bullet ever could. After everything she's been through, after every man who's betrayed her trust, she's choosing to place it in me. The weight of that responsibility settles on my shoulders and I welcome it.

I lean forward, pressing my forehead against hers. "I won't let you down, bella."

She closes the distance between our lips, meeting mine in a kiss that feels like a seal on a promise.

The urge to protect her burns through me, a fierce need I've never felt for anyone outside my family.

I rise and move back to the window. The estate grounds stretch out below, shadows dancing under security lights. Somewhere out there Montgomery is plotting his next move. The thought makes my jaw clench.

This is familiar territory—identifying threats, neutralizing them. I've been doing this for the Feretti family since I was barely more than a kid. But this time feels different. This isn't just business. This is Hazel.

Damiano's enforcer. The tough guy who makes problems disappear.

That's the man I've been for so long I sometimes wonder if there's anything else left. My mother used to say I was a gentle boy, before she died. Before I learned that gentleness gets you nowhere in this world.

Everyone looks at me and sees capability. Strength. The man who handles things. No one sees the cost. How each death, necessary as it might be, carves away another piece of whatever soul I have left.

And now Hazel looks at me the same way—like I can fix everything, protect everyone. The weight of her trust presses on me, both burden and gift.

What happens when she truly understands what I am? What I've done. The blood on my hands doesn't wash off, no matter how justified each kill was.