NOVEL DRAMA ONLINE His Tesoro: Chapter 29
The dim light in the basement cast shadows on the pathetic man swinging in front of me.
“Where is Arben getting the girls?” I asked. The man sobbed, tears and blood running down his face.
Domenico had found an Albanian spy watching my building.
My. Fucking. Building.
Arben was getting too bold. We should have been able to destroy him in a matter of days, but he was like a ghost. His father had been a pathetic, spineless son of a bitch, but he clearly wanted to make a name for himself. I clenched my jaw as the man let out another shrill scream as Domenico dislocated his shoulders.
The spy was strung up by his wrists, his legs jerking with desperation to touch the floor and alleviate the pressure.
“I don’t know, I swear I don’t know anything,” he choked out. “I was ordered to watch the building, that’s it.” His underwear darkened as he urinated himself.
“For fuck’s sake,” Domenico muttered, his face twisted in disgust.
I sliced a long cut in the Albanian’s skin, making sure to go through the clan tattoo on his chest. He let out a piercing scream, snot running down his face and mixing with the blood on his chest.
“Arben’s forces must be pretty weak if this is who he’s sending to spy on you,” Domenico said.
“Please, please,” the spy begged. “I don’t know anything.”
“Then what use are you to me?” I sliced another line through the man’s chest, but this time I dug my blade deep until blood and intestines spilled out onto the floor.
“Double the surveillance around the building,” I said to Domenico. “Cameras, men, everything. If Arben is monitoring movements, I want to know, and I want it stopped.”
“Yes, Boss,” Domenico responded.
“Good work finding him,” I said before leaving the basement. Domenico and his men would oversee the cleanup.
I rode the elevator to my penthouse, the stench of blood in my nose. Angelo had messaged to let me know they were having dinner with Sienna, so I knew the apartment would be empty.
Rage pulsed through me as I stood in the shower, cold water pouring down my body. Usually, I went to the gym to work out my anger, or I would find someone to fuck, but deep down, I knew neither of those options would soothe me tonight. I got dressed, leaving my suit jacket off and rolling up my sleeves, and then headed down to Sienna’s floor.
“Matteo!”
Sofiya’s cheerful greeting twisted my insides. When was the last time someone had been that excited to see me? Not my sister, who I’d pushed away for years, or my men, who responded to me with respect and an edge of fear, and certainly not my enemies, who called me the Angel of Death.
I sat down beside my wife, drawn like a planet into her orbit. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes bright, and I realized she was tipsy. I cocked an eyebrow at Romeo, who was refilling her glass with sake, and he just grinned.
“You sure you don’t want anything else to eat?” Sienna asked Sofiya, who shook her head.
“Trust me, I’m full.”
“Sorry for making you eat so much. I was sure there would be at least one you liked,” Sienna said with a pout.
Sofiya shrugged. “It’s okay. This can count towards my Dream List, so it’s worth it.”
Angelo raised his eyebrows. “Dream List?”
“About a year ago, Mila and I each made a list of things we want to do before we die. We spent most of our days stuck inside, so we had a lot of time to brainstorm. One of my things on the list is to try something new every week for a year. So this week can be sushi.”
There was a lightness to her I hadn’t seen before. I found myself wanting to run my fingers along her skin, to tuck a piece of bright blonde hair behind her ear, and to know every item on her list.
“What other new things have you tried?” Romeo asked.
“Getting married,” she said, flicking her eyes to me with a blush on her cheeks.
“That’s such a fun idea. I want to make a list like that. What else is on yours?” Sienna asked.
“Umm, a bunch of things,” Sofiya said, suddenly shy. “Like get a dog, go to Disney World, see the ocean, things like that.”
The things on her list were so innocent. How had something so sweet and pure come from Rustik?
I grabbed a set of chopsticks and ate a California roll as the others talked about what they would put on their list. Sofiya arranged the remaining sushi pieces on a plate and slid it in front of me. I felt a strange fluttering in my chest. She took care of me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I finished eating, and we moved to the living room. I ended up next to Sofiya on the couch. She curled up under a blanket, and my skin itched with the urge to pull her against me. I was struck by the feeling that I would taint her by touching her. My life was one where my skin was regularly marked with blood. Hers was one where she dreamed of having a dog and touching the ocean.
Romeo moved a floral cushion off a leather armchair and sat down. “So, how’re you finding the Italian Mafia, Sofiya?”
“So far, so good,” she responded with a smile. “And last night, I watched The Godfather for research.”
Angelo snorted a laugh, causing him to choke on his drink. Romeo thumped him on the back.
“Yeah, that was pretty much Matteo’s reaction.” She glanced over at me with a smile. “But I thought it was educational.”
Sienna raised an eyebrow at me. “Sounds like you had a cozy little movie night.”
I fixed her with a scowl, but the smile didn’t fade from her lips.
“I made caramel popcorn,” Sofiya said.
“Sounds like we need to have a movie night at the Rossis’,” Romeo said with a shit-eating grin.
“That would be so fun,” she said. Then she yawned for the third time.
I stood up. “Time to go.”
All of us moved into the hall, and I noticed Sofiya’s old wheelchair sitting there.
“What’s this doing here?”
“Romeo and I were racing,” she said. “I crushed him, of course. Oh! And we practiced some moves. Look what I can do.” She wheeled back onto her back tires, a huge smile on her face. But I was on the verge of a fucking heart attack.
Images of her losing balance and crashing to the ground flashed before my eyes. “Stop that,” I growled, running to her side and forcing her back on four wheels.
She stared up at me with an adorable pout.
“It’s too dangerous. You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“But I looked good, right?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You always look good, tesoro,” I muttered.
Based on everyone’s stunned expressions, I’d spoken loud enough for them to hear.
“Let’s go,” I said, irritation seeping through my voice.
Sienna squeezed Sofiya in a tight hug, and my body vibrated with something that felt strangely like jealousy. I huffed and got in the elevator, tapping my foot impatiently.
Sofiya joined me, giving everyone a sweet wave before the doors closed.
That night, I couldn’t sleep. For once, it wasn’t my nightmares keeping me up. It was thoughts of Sofiya—wondering what else was on her list and which items I could help her check off.
I might do just about anything to ensure she was always as happy to see me as she’d been this evening.
And the thought scared me shitless.