Page 19 of Ruthless Match

“Understood, Boss.”

Marco started yelling orders to the men as I hung up the phone. I walked back to the house, taking a shortcut through the rose garden. It made me stop.

One of Aurora’s favorite spots is the rose garden, and I planned to surprise her with various new colors. I couldn’t wait to see her beautiful face light up when she saw the array of reds, purples, oranges, pinks, and hybrids.

What if it was too late? What if Aurora wouldn’t listen to reason no matter what I said? It was a sickening feeling that I had to force myself to push aside. I couldn’t lose her now. I would find her and make her understand. That’s all there was to it. It had to be.

CHAPTER 12

Aurora

Angry and scared, I didn’t know what else to do, so I ran. I needed to get as far away from Matteo as possible. I was in shock. I didn’t want to believe what I had heard – didn’t want to believe that I had walked in on him ordering my father’s murder, but I had. And I couldn’t forget that. How could I?

My heart pounded as I crossed the estate to the back fence, not stopping until I successfully passed through the opening I discovered last week on one of my walks. I had meant to tell Matteo about it so it could be fixed, but right now, I’m grateful I didn’t.

I needed to find a safe place to think while I thought about my next move. I couldn’t believe I had let my guard down and started to think I could trust Matteo. What a joke!

Matteo was nothing more than a cold-blooded killer, and now my family was the target. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was next. The realization of who Matteo was was a cold, sharp knife slicing through my fragile heart. All the trust and hope I built over the last few weeks was instantly shattered.

Luckily, I found myself in the neighbor’s backyard. Trembling, I crouched behind a tall hedge. The neighbor’s yard was quiet, and the house appeared empty. Hopefully, it will stay that way while I gather my thoughts. I needed time to catch my breath.

My mind was racing. What in the hell was I going to do? There was no way I could go back to Matteo. I couldn’t trust him, not after I discovered his plan.

But I knew the neighbor’s backyard wasn’t an option. I needed help, someone I could trust. My father’s men were the only ones who came to mind. They had always been loyal to my family, and I knew I could count on them.

With shaking hands, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed the number of my father’s top man, Rico. The phone rang twice before Rico answered.

“Rico, it’s Aurora,” I said barely above a whisper.

Rico’s voice was immediately filled with concern. “Aurora, what’s wrong? Did Santoro hurt you?”

“I need help, Rico. I can’t explain now, but I need you to pick me up. I’m in the neighbor’s backyard, the one behind the mansion. Please hurry!”

“I’m on my way. Stay safe until I get there.”

I disconnected the call and clutched the phone tightly to my chest. I leaned back against the hedge and tried to steady my breathing. I was a sitting duck, and I could only hope I was rescued before the shot went off.

Time seemed to crawl by as I waited for Rico to arrive. My mind was a chaotic swirl of fear and anger as I continually replayed the conversation in Matteo’s office.

I’ve always known that Matteo was in the mafia. Everyone in the city knows that. However, I was also under the impression that Matteo’s dealings were primarily financial, hedge funds, and providing private equity for wealthy clients who didn’t want to involve a bank. People who wanted to invest fast but needed access to money without the red tape and holdups.

Why in the hell is he going after my father?

A fresh wound opened every time I thought of him, saying, “Under no circumstances can I be tied to Dominic DeSantis’s murder.” I was such a fool. How could I let myself think that I could trust Matteo Santoro? Even worse, how did I believe our marriage could be more than a business arrangement?

I tried to remain calm, but every sound made me jump; every rustle of leaves or the distant bark of a dog sent a fresh wave of panic through my already shattered nerves. Hiding here was a risk; I knew that, but I had no other choice. I couldn’t go back to Matteo, and I couldn’t hide in the open.

After what felt like hours, I heard the soft purr of a car engine approaching. Carefully, I peered through the hedge and saw a sleek, black SUV pulling up to the burb. Rico stepped out, his eyes scanning the area.

“Aurora,” he called softly.

I stood, hurried to the fence, slipped through the gap, and ran to the car. Rico held the door open, and I jumped onto the back seat, my body trembling with relief.

Once I caught my breath, I closed my eyes and leaned back on the headrest.

“Thank you, Rico, I don’t know what I would have…”

Rico glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his expression serious and concerned. “What happened, Aurora? Why did you run away?”

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