Obsession

Twenty-Six -Ventisei

It's been weeks since I've last seen Alessandro. And with every day passing, my heart breaks a little.

When I beg my father to fly me back - it's a no. I've only seen Matteo in passing when he comes to visit my father. He is staying with my Uncle Massimo, who my father loathes. The mere mention of his name has him clenching his jaw.

The brief time I spent with my Uncle back in New York was lovely. He told me things about my mother that I never knew and how she and I are much alike.

She would have loved to have seen Vince and I grow up together, but Mama's affair would have been frowned upon. A made man's wife needs to be respectful and keep a happy home.

But my mother was more than a made man's wife, she was my father's, who is called Capo by the men here. Her infidelity if it came out, would have made made my father a laughing stock, and question my honor. If mama could cheat, then I might not be a Bonetti.

No Bonetti blood meant no one would want me. Which isn't true, Alessandro would still want me. My father tells me he is lying. He is rather good at wording his words to worm his way in. That was why he was deemed the best in my father's eyes -until he started sniffing around me.

I saw a young handsome man who happened to be my brother's best friend. Little did I know, Lorenzo was going to be taking over and Ales would have been his right-hand man. A consigliere is what my father called it. But my father saw something in his eyes that didn't fit in the world he built.

I think back to Alessandro's grey eyes, and all I saw was passion, love, and hope. The way they darken when he ravishes my body. The little creases, when he smiles. It's a rare sight, one I'm blessed to withhold. My father wouldn't notice these features in Alessandro or anyone for that matter. He is incapable of loving. 

A knock on my door has me spinning around on my seat, at my dresser. Before I could even reply the door opens, and Matteo makes his way in. 

"I'm surprised you remember me," I mumble and spin around to carry on getting ready. 

"One would assume you missed me cara!"  He goaded back and takes a seat on my bed. "I'll never forget a beautiful woman." 

I turned away from him completely the moment my cheeks heated. He didn't need to see my blush. I heard shuffling from behind, and hands grip my hair, tugging my head backward. 

Rich blue eyes glare down over me."Don't hide from me." 

The sly smirk on his smug face told me he knew he got the reaction he desired. I'll admit, Matteo is handsome. He isn't Alessandro good-looking but he is a looker. I can imagine all the ladies swooning beside-behind him. I won't be part of that group. 

He released his hold, and I picked up the brush to fix my hair. Grumbling how long it took for me to get it straight, and how I didn't even want to attend this dinner. 

"Are you done?" Matteo asks. He straightens his jacket before looking over and inspecting my attire. Which was a slim-fitted black silk dress, with a cowl front and criss-cross back straps. 

"Black?" He cocks a brow. "It's not a funeral!" He held his hand out for me to take, and on a normal day I wouldn't touch him, but since I have never ventured out of my family home, and I'm going to be dining with a bunch of strangers - aside from my father and Gianna, it's reassuring to know Matteo is here at my side. 

I had to beg my father to allow him to attend the dinner, or I wouldn't show. I took his hand, and Matteo gave it a light squeeze. "Don't worry," he whispers against my ear, making my body shiver. "I won't let anything bad happen to you."