Page 18 of Doll Face

Her first date was the absolute best date in history, if she did say so herself.

Chapter Six

“Sit,” Pietro ordered when Matteo stepped into his office. “You missed a meeting with Reznikov at the Pace Street warehouse.”

Matteo sat down in the chair in front of his father’s pale lavender colored desk. The purple hue was ostentatious but it had been commissioned by his mother, so he couldn’t really say anything too negative.

“Ran into a problem I had to take care of,” he replied smoothly. He couldn’t let on about Macy. “And I already changed the meeting time with Reznikov.”

“Anything I should be concerned about?”

“Nah, just a misunderstanding.”

His father nodded and shuffled through paperwork on his desk. “Has Jaime reported anything?”

“No, he’s only been there a day.”

“Don’t underestimate the Iannuzzi threat.”

“I’m not, but there’s nothing to report,” Matteo said. “Personally, I don’t think they’re as big a threat as you think. Perhaps if we could send someone to talk peaceful negotiations—”

Pietro slapped the desk with his palm, the crack reverberating through the office. “There will never be peace with the Iannuzzi.”

Matteo cocked his head. “Why do you have this hatred for them?”

“Anyone trying to take over my turf is enough to warrant my hatred,” Pietro said coldly.

Something wasn’t ringing true, but Matteo didn’t have enough info yet. Just a gut feeling he had to investigate further.

“Very well, I’ll have Jaime give me regular updates.”

Pietro nodded, mollified. “I think we should invite the Callegari’s for dinner one night this week.”

The shift in topic jarred Matteo a little. “All right. Any reason why?”

“Their eldest daughter turned eighteen last month,” Pietro said. “An alliance with them could be beneficial.”

Matteo’s stomach clenched. “You gave me until the age of thirty.”

Pietro looked up from his papers to meet his gaze. A charged moment stretched between them, but Matteo refused to glance away. That would show a sign of weakness and he refused to give his father the upper hand.

“So I did,” Pietro intoned. Anger flashed in his eyes. “Make sure you get to that meeting.”

Matteo knew he was dismissed. He rose and got the hell out of there because he didn’t want his father to ask any further questions. He wasn’t ready to share Macy yet. Outside the door, he gave Rocco a follow me nod, and together they exited the Romanelli house.

“Did he bust your ass about postponing the meeting with Reznikov?”

“I can handle that,” he muttered. “He was talking marriage again.”

“But he gave you until you’re thirty.”

“That’s exactly what I said. I don’t think he appreciated the reminder.”

“No, I suspect not,” Rocco mused. “I guess you didn’t tell him you’ve already met your future wife?”

“No fucking way can I tell him about Macy.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

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