Page 46 of His Tesoro

“Morning,” I said as I pushed myself to a seated position against the headboard. Matteo was already getting out of bed.

“Are you feeling better?” he asked, keeping his back to me.

“A lot better than last night, yeah. Thanks for helping me.” I wanted to say more, wanted to say how much his care meant to me, but the words stuck in my throat. He was already at the door like he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.

He opened the bedroom door and paused. “Use your wheelchair today.” Then he left, shutting the door loudly behind him.

I got ready slowly, trying to be gentle on my body after my rough night. When I was finally dressed and made my way out to the kitchen—in my wheelchair—I spotted something on the counter. It was a black credit card with my name on it, and a note that said, “Use this. No limit.”

I carefully folded the note and slipped it in my pocket alongside the credit card, a smile on my face.

25

SOFIYA

Angelo and I pulled into the apartment’s underground garage. I was exhausted but encouraged after my appointment with Dr. Amato. I was finally getting the chance to learn about EDS. All the random puzzle pieces of symptoms I’d had all these years were coming together, and while it didn’t fix anything, it made me feel less out of my mind.

I’d also hung out with Kat and Stasya. We’d watched a movie and I’d taught them some words in English. Their eyes were still haunted, and they were quiet and jumpy, but there were moments where it felt like we were just three girls having fun together. It made me feel like I had something to offer them… like I was useful in some way.

It was a good feeling.

Angelo rounded the car with my wheelchair and opened the door for me. As I was getting into it, another black SUV pulled up beside us. My heart started pounding as Matteo got out. His dark gaze was fixed on me as he buttoned his suit jacket and ran his thumb across his lower lip. Something fluttered in my stomach, and I wished he would sweep me into his arms and kiss me.

“Where have you been?” he asked, his voice hard as his eyes flitted to Angelo. I bit my lip. Was he upset with me?

“The clinic?” I said, hating the hint of nervousness that slipped into my voice.

Matteo swallowed. “How did it go?”

“Good.”

He hesitated, almost like he wanted to push for more information, but then he turned to the man standing between him and Romeo. “This is Domenico. My enforcer.”

Domenico was almost as tall as Matteo and muscular in the way I would expect from an enforcer. He stepped close to me and took my hand, leaning down to kiss it. His knuckles were covered in scars. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Rossi.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” I said, although the way he was looking at me gave me an uneasy feeling. I pulled my hand from his.

“Did you get any new intel from the girls at the clinic?” he asked.

“Oh, no, but I wasn’t really trying to get, um, intel.”

Domenico cracked his knuckles. “They might be hiding some information that would help us take down this sex trafficking ring. There’s no limit to the depravity of these Albanians.”

“I don’t think they’re hiding anything.” I didn’t like the insinuation. Stasya and Kat were victims in all of this.

Domenico’s expression was full of condescension. “Perhaps.”

Angelo moved to stand behind me, and I drew strength from his support.

“We have work to do,” Matteo said, turning on his heel and heading to the elevator. Romeo gave me a wink before he and Domenico followed the Don.

“Fuck, I hate his pretentious ass,” Angelo muttered once the elevator doors closed.

I turned to him and laughed. “Oh, yeah?”

“He’s been trying to get us all to call him Il Diavolo.” He rolled his eyes. “The Devil.”

I grinned. “Mafia men are so dramatic with their little nicknames.”

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