Another silence, a crackle of tension down the line.
“Get some rest, fiore mio. Think of gardens and stolen kisses.”
“I’ll think of running you over with the drinks trolley.”
A smile curves my lips as another pause of silence carries through the phone.
“Don’t go back there again.” Her voice wobbles and I’m not sure if she means the garden or the past, but it’s too late now. Our past is entwined with our future and even after all this time, even after everything we’ve been through—she remembers too.
“I have to go.” Her voice fades, but the ache she leaves behind doesn’t.
I hang up and pocket the phone, the promise of a past we can never quite shake still burning in my chest.
And now, it’s time to deal with the other mess I came here for.
Knock,knock.
Matteo cracks the hotel door wide enough for me to enter. “Did anyone follow you up here?” He clicks the door shut behind us and runs a hand through his short hair.
“No. I have Riccardo’s security guys keeping close tabs on everyone coming in or out of the hotel. I’m keeping a close eye on someone else right now.”
“Can we trust Riccardo’s men?” Matteo sits on the bed, his head dropping into his hands as if the weight of the world is bearing down on him.
“He may be a second cousin, but he’s still a Bianchi like us.” I recline into the hotel chair at the old wooden desk. “How have you been?” I know how he must feel. It’s hard returning to the place you once fled. The last time I was here, apart from recently, I was on a mission to avenge my mother. Now my mission is to protect the woman whose family I was sent to destroy.
Matteo lets out a long sigh. “Truth? Not good.”
I lean back and scratch the short hairs on my jaw.
He scrubs a hand down his weary face. “I’m obsessed with bringing my father down. I don’t know if he’s caught wind of this, or if he’s merely evil enough to want to hurt me for being disloyal. But he’s put a hit out on my wife.” His voice wobbles, just for a second. He blinks hard and clears his throat, but the fear lingers like a shadow across his face.
“Fuck.” My spine straightens as I hang on every word.
“I’ve been trying to infiltrate his business communications to put a stop to them. Particularly his drug and weapons business. However, the safety of my wife is paramount. It makes it difficult to focus on anything else.”
“I understand better than you think.” Resting my elbows on my knees, I rub the back of my neck as my head dips. “I’ve been under similar stress. Trying to keep Rose safe. She’s…it’s complicated.”
He lets out a half-hearted laugh. “If anyone can relate to complicated, I’m your man.”
“It’s a big mess. She’s married to a man from an Italian crime syndicate in London. He wasn’t a problem while he was incarcerated, but now he’s back on the scene, looking for her.”
Matteo shakes his head.
“It gets worse.” I swallow the bitterness on my tongue,bile rising in my throat whenever I think of my girl with him. “He’s asked me to find her.” I clench my fist, wanting to tear the man’s skin from his bones and feed it to him in a dog bowl. “I accepted because if I’m not the one looking, then he’d find someone else. I need to stall him long enough while I can gather some dirt.
Matteo places a hand on my shoulder. “This life isn’t for the meek, cugino.”
“Isn’t that the damn truth?” I walk over to the phone on the nightstand and order room service, then open the fridge and pull out a beer. “Want one?”
Matteo’s brow wrinkles. He pulls his lip between his teeth before shaking his head. “I don’t do well with alcohol these days, my friend.”
I place the beer back in the fridge, sensing his struggle. “You’re right. We both need to keep a clear head.” I reach into my bag for my journal. “All right, let’s make a plan.”
23
ROSE
“What room are you in?” D’Angelo’s voice says through my phone.
