Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
It would be heaven with him, a real man, Matteo DeLuca.
CHAPTER SEVEN
MATTEO
“You’re smiling,” Elio says as he secures his wraps around his wrists. Before our father passed, he made us promise one thing: Never let yourselves become weak.
“Am I?” I grunt, wiping the smile away when I realize he’s right.
He laughs. “It’s not a bad thing, you miserable bastard.”
“A happy Don isn’t any use to anyone.”
“So we’re quoting the old man now.” It was one of our father’s sayings.
“Is that a problem?” I snap.
“No,” he says, slipping one hand into the boxing glove. “Just curious, that’s all.”
“The war’s over,” I grunt.
“Yeah, we sent the Gallos to the gallows. But you didn’t have that boyish grin on your face last night.”
“Boyish grin,” I repeat, shaking my head. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Well, I would …”
Since leaving Bella’s apartment around two hours ago, I keep replaying when I put the money into her hand. There was a second when it felt like the most natural thing would be to lean in and kiss her. Not that I love her, or know her, or … or … Hell, anything her. Yet in that moment, it was so damn tempting. Her lips parted slightly. She smelled of perfume and something else, just her.
“Earth to Matteo?”
“You haven’t even put your second glove on yet.”
“Yeah, ’cause I just asked if I should sort the timer or if you’re going to, and you just stared at me like a loon,” he chuckles.
“That’s the thousandth time you should thank God we’re related.”
He flashes a smirk. “Every single day.”
I move to the corner of the private gym, handling the timer, and then put the pads on my hands. In a fight, Elio or I would be foolish to use our fists, but sometimes, a man has no choice.
“So you’re not going to explain the smile?”
“Seems like a strange thing to ask a man to explain.”
“A normal man, maybe.”
“It’s nothing,” I snap, relieved when the timer goes off.
Even when we’re both sweaty and tired right down to our bones—the way we like our workouts—Elio won’t quit. He wipes himself down with a towel and says, “Is it business news?”
“Is what business news?”
“The reason you’re smiling like a little kid.”
“Can’t you just leave it?” I grunt.
“Yeah, I can,” he says with a shrug, “but can you blame me for being curious?”
“Hmm.” I shrug. “Maybe I smile all the time. Maybe you just don’t notice. Not everything is a big puzzle that needs to be solved.”
“Fair enough,” he replies, though, in classic Elio fashion, he feels the need to give me a searching look that will make me confess something that wouldn’t make sense coming from a man like me. “Are you heading into the office?”
“Yeah,” I tell him. “There’s always work to do.”
Plus, it means I don’t have to hang around here listening to this crap about smiling. I walk through the house toward my bedroom, pausing when I hear the squeaking sound of a violin coming from Sofia’s room. The sound instantly takes me back to the apartment, to the lesson. However, I can’t get Bella out of my head.
“Want anything from the city?” I ask, knocking on the door.
“No,” she replies. “But Matty?”
I push the door open, finding her sitting on the bed with her violin propped against her chin.
“Yeah?”
“Can I get another lesson soon? Bella’s already given me so much to think about. With her, I genuinely think I could make some proper progress.”
“When would you like your next one?” I ask.
She laughs. “Now, but realistically … tomorrow? That’s reasonable, right? Or is it too much?”
Sofia often seems far younger than she is, and this is one of those times. She’s holding a violin that costs more than most people’s houses and than most people will earn in their entire life. Yet she thinks a few hundred bucks is too much. “It’s fine. I’ll book another session.”
“Yay!”
After showering, I drive into the city and begin answering legitimate emails.
After about an hour of work, Elio shoots me a text with a link.
Fire Destroys Popular Downtown Bar; Community Seeks Answers!
In the early hours of yesterday morning, a devastating fire consumed “The Crimson Feather,” a well-known downtown bar. The blaze erupted around 3 a.m. and quickly engulfed the establishment, leaving it in ruins. Firefighters responded promptly, but the building was significantly damaged, and the bar is considered a total loss.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. While initial reports suggest it may have been an accident, some in the community question this conclusion. Witnesses reported unusual activity before the fire, including vehicles arriving and leaving in the early hours.
The police, however, have been tight-lipped about the case details. “At this point, we are not ruling anything out,” said a police spokesperson without elaborating further. The spokesperson also confirmed that they are working closely with fire officials and other agencies to determine the exact cause of the fire.