Tears burn into the back of my eyelids as I screw my eyes shut. I have no idea how I’m going to tell him about the pregnancy. If I even should.
CHAPTER 23
Matteo
Chess is a game of precision and control, which is why I’ve always excelled at it. But the minute Lindsay Beaumont came into my life, all my precision and control went to shit.
I’ve unraveled. Changed into a version of myself I’m still not sure I understand. And it’s all because of her.
I should be angry. That she has so much control over me. Instead, all the knowledge fills me with is a measure of hopelessness and desperation.
I told her I loved her two days ago and she didn’t say it back. Which is fine; I hadn’t been expecting her to reply. At least she didn’t tell me to get the fuck out of her life. She isn’t running away anymore. In fact, she’s starting to consume so much space in my life that my every breath is for her.
A dart goes flying by the side of my head before landing on the board mounted on the wall. I turn around with a glare, my eyes landing on Raffaele who’s the obvious culprit. My brother flashes me a look of lazy amusement.
“Don’t worry,fratello. I have impeccable aim,” he tells me. “Wouldn’t want to hurt your pretty-boy face the way you almost hurt mine a couple weeks back.”
I roll my eyes. No one can keep a grudge better than Raffaele. He still reminds Salvatore of the time he flushed his bunny down the toilet when we were kids.
He’s relaxed on an armchair, obscured by the shadows as he puffs on a cigar. On the other end of the room is Elio, watching, observing quietly. Salvatore sits at his desk as well, his eyes trained on the clock mounted on the wall.
We’re all waiting. Tonight, the Bratva falls. How it goes down is entirely dependent on a phone call I’m hoping to get.
“Maybe he won’t take the bait,” Elio murmurs. “It does seem suspicious that we’re reaching out to them for a truce.”
“We’re trying to force the Pakhan out of hiding. If he doesn’t take the bait, someone else important will.”
It doesn’t really matter much to me. Whoever’s calling the shots behind the scenes is who I’m after. And that’s exactly who will show up today, hooked by promises of mercy and grace.
They’re already dying and we’ve thrown them a bone to gnaw on. It would be stupid of them not to snatch up the opportunity.
Once they do, I’ll destroy every last one of them.
“Knock out one piece and they’ll all fall like dominoes,” Raffaele says with a flourish.
“Exactly,” I murmur. “No more playing it safe. I’m done with the diplomatic approach.”
Salvatore speaks gruffly. “Yes, it hasn’t escaped our notice that you’re throwing away your carefully laid plans,fratello. Care to share the reasons why?”
“I want them gone and I want them gone as soon as possible,” I answer easily.
“For Lindsay, right?”
They’ve caused my girl a great deal of pain and trauma. She’s still afraid of what they might do. I need to be able to tell her that I’ve destroyed all her demons. At least the ones that scare her.
I don’t reply to Salvatore, and he doesn’t seem to need an answer either.
“Despite my reservations, I am happy that you seem to have found someone, little brother. It fucks with your head, though, doesn’t it?”
“You have no idea,” I mutter.
Raffaele groans. “You both make me sick.”
“We’ll meet her soon, right?” Elio asks me. “A proper dinner.”
“Sure. As soon as this shitshow with the Bratva is over.”
Almost as soon as I finish the sentence, a text flashes on the screen of my phone. I read the details of the location with my jaw clenched.
