Page 70 of Mafia King: Matteo
“That she did.” My marriage to Alena must be protected at all costs. “I assume I should do something nice for her. Let’s drive by Tiffany’s. Women like jewelry, don’t they?”
“Does a man like a warm pussy?”
“Hey, that’s my wife,” I snap.
“I didn’t mean her, Matteo. I meant in general.”
“Noted,” I reply.
This woman is getting the best of me. Everywhere I turn, her presence is felt. When I met her, she wasn’t pretentious, and she didn’t impress me as the type to play games with people’s heads. She was transparent and straightforward, which was a new experience for me. She’s down to earth amid the finery she wears.
One would never know that she’s generous to a fault and caring. I never considered her as important as her mafia princess friend, Izzy. I guess I still have a lot to learn.
CHAPTER 24
ALENA
I walk out of my condo, pulling luggage behind me. I hand Vito a cup of coffee and lock the door.
“You shouldn’t be doing this, but it’s nice you do. Just don’t let Matteo see you doing it, darling.” Vito takes the coffee, but I insist on rolling my luggage so he can drink it without spilling it.
“Okay. So, how is the weather today?”
“Bad as usual. But the car is warm. Busy day today?”
“I have no clue. I’m still figuring out what I’m supposed to do. It’s more busy work than I expected.”
“Well, the hotel floor is closed and looks like shit. I hope you get it fixed soon. It hurts my calves walking on the concrete floors. It’s like I’ve run twenty miles a day on that shit.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I reply as I slide through the open door of the warm vehicle. He tosses my luggage in the trunk of the SUV. I wonder how many vehicles Matteo owns. He must be in the limo today. It’s always best to show up like you own the world when you meet with another Don.
I text Izzy on my way to work. She advised me her father is meeting Matteo today for lunch. I hope it goes well. For the first time since I met Matteo, I worried about him. I love Alexsei. He’s more of a father figure than he is a hardened criminal. As a don, he is no stranger to being betrayed by his family. Izzy and I hold a special place in his heart. Perhaps he and I have more in common than I thought. I hope I’m wrong about my father, but my gut tells me I’m correct in my assumption and that he might be planning to take over the bratva. If that is the case, Matteo just fucked up his plans with our engagement.
I breeze through the doors at work. Penny greets me.
“Oh, my,” she exclaims. Her parted lips are poised as if she is without words.
“What? Is my lipstick a mess?” I ask.
She shakes her head no. “Your ring! My god, it’s stunning. I had no idea you were serious with someone. Who is the lucky man?” She pulls my hand to her face and eyes my ring like a juicy steak.
“Someone special.”
“You’re not telling me who he is?”
“For now, I want to keep it to myself,” I reply, and I wouldn’t be lying. I don’t have a wedding date. Besides, I don’t want my new coworkers to think I’m rich because I’m not. Matteo is. I didn’t earn it. I hate the fact that I need his credit card. Who knows what my father did to scrape together money for a property in the heart of the City? I’m not sure I want the details, but I’m concerned about his financial situation. Why else would he want to take over the Russians?
I know his attempt would be futile. Dmitry’s syndicate, along with his brothers, is enormous. They opened the door to overseas resources, and it’s made us stronger. Alexsei loves his daughter, and what is his is hers, even though Dmitry will run it.
“Well,” Penny drops my hand. “It’s gorgeous. Flawless. Your man has money—that stone was not made in a lab,” she says, resigning herself to the fact that I’m not giving her any more details.
“How do you know?” I ask to throw her off.
“It’s a unique dark yellow. They are rare. Sure, most people can’t tell the difference in stones, but I have a knack for it. I used to work at a diamond clearinghouse,” she drops this on me. Now I’m shocked.
“It’s not such a big deal. It was boring as hell, but I made connections, and that’s how I got to where I am today.”
“That’s cool. I never knew.”
