Chapter 26

MATTEO'S POV~







" Darkness collides..."







Earlier I lost my self-control, and I allowed myself to feel. I let my guard down even though I knew I would still end up hurt like every other time but fuck it I don't care. I wasn't thinking when I pulled her flush against me and slammed my lips to hers, it felt good to hold her close and pretend like she was mine even if it was only at that moment. And I hate to say that I don't regret it I don't think I have ever regretted doing anything with her even when it was such months ago in that casino.



She walked out of the bathroom dressed in the white shirt I had given her earlier. I watched as she dried her hair with a towel moving around the room.



"Please tell me you have a comb here," she muttered as she walked to the mirror trying to untangle her braids with her hands.



"No I don't, but I will tell someone to bring one in tomorrow morning," she groaned dramatically turning to me.



"But that will be too late, my head will be in a tangled mess by tomorrow if I don't comb it now," I struggled with my shoulders and sat on the bed before pulling up my laptop from the bedstand.



She huffed and puffed before walking over to the couch. From the corner of my eye, I saw her frown as she angrily arranged a set of pillows and blankets I had set for her.



"Get some sleep darling, tomorrow is going to be a very long day," I remarked before turning back to my laptop.



I spent the next few minutes making calls and sending out emails trying my best to be as quiet as possible. My phone rang indicating another call I picked it up to see it was Dimitri Markov calling.



"What?" I sneered into the phone.



"You know fucking what Matteo. Your time's running out, find me that device or get ready to face the Russian family," I remained silent for some time, taking in huge calming breaths.



"You seem to have forgotten who you are speaking with but I will let it slide for now. Your fucking device will be delivered to your steps before the end of tomorrow. Keep your threats for someone without balls and oh, I'm signing off whatever deal you had with my father" I wasn't up for it in the first place. I couldn't bring myself to trust anyone not even the Russians because those guys know nothing about loyalty, they can turn on you anytime as long as something is in for them. No surprise there though that's how dirty life in the underground is.



"You can't terminate the contract," he scoffed. "We had a deal remember? If you back off now then you'll have to pay up the agreed amount."



"Whatever, I'm calling this off," I hung up the call breathing heavily. If there's any reason why I never associate myself with the Russians, it's Dimitri fucking, Markov. The guy is a snitch, a very selfish fellow. He would stab me in the back without blinking believe me I know all this from experience.



We used to be friends, very good friends. He was the first real friend I had or so I thought until he allowed power to get to his head. Our dads were very good friends and that's why our families were allies. I remember spending the holidays in their home in Russia as a kid. His mom and mine clicked the very first our fathers introduced them. They both became instant best friends having sleepovers, going on shopping trips, and bonding over their kids.



Few years down that line something changed and both families drifted apart. I heard his mom left with his little sister who was just about two or three years then. Dimitri and I became even closer because we both went through the same loss of watching our mothers abandon us. We started our training as heirs to the two big families, we were trained together by one of our dad's trusted men. It was hard that time but we went through every hard situation because we had each other. That was until he betrayed me, it was after that experience I ran away from home, and were through some rebellious years until I met Mikhail and here we are today.



I never got to ask Dimitri Markov why he betrayed me and I didn't care anymore. He could shove whatever reason he had for doing that up his ass for all I care. Right now, I needed to focus on getting back that device and calling whatever contract we had quit. It doesn't matter the cost I just don't want to be around him anymore, he is a reminder of all the past hurts I buried long ago and I didn't want anyone digging them up.



"N-no n-no, I- I am sorry please," Hazel stuttered from where she lay waving her hands widely like she was fighting with something or someone. I got up walking over to the couch, she looked very uncomfortable laying there, her legs hung out of the couch resting on a small stool whereas her neck was bent weirdly on the armrest. The pillows had long fallen onto the carpeted ground.



"Let me go, let me go," she wailed as tears streamed down her cheeks, I knew she was having a nightmare and I knew better than to just wake her up anyhow. From experience, I knew I had to take proper measures to wake her up, or else she might have an episode of a panic attack.



So I just squatted down to rub her arms in comfort, she grabbed onto my hands pulling them close to her chest while still asleep. I listened as her breath evened out indicating the worst was over. I carefully picked her up and took her back to bed. I laid her down until I was sure she was comfortable before switching off my laptop which was on the bed placed back in my bed stand. I dimmed the room light and lay down pulling the comforter over us. She immediately snuggled closer to my chest letting out tiny snores. I pulled her close, pushing back some strands of her hair from her face.



"You are too stubborn," I whispered before laying a kiss on her forehead. She was a bucket of mystery and I know I wouldn't be satisfied until I unraveled all of her. I knew she had a dark past from the way she used to flinch at any slight movement when she first came here to that guarded look she always had on. Most especially her records show nothing of where she lived or who she lived with after her parent's accident. She was hiding more than she was letting on and I am going to find out.



She was beautiful even with all that darkness inside or maybe it's the fact that I know that she has a darkness that attracts me further to her. And that was something we both have in common, our love for the dark was what brought us so close that even on the balcony of my casino.



I look over at her sleeping face, "I don't know what you are doing to me, Fiore," I whispered. "But believe me when I say I'm loving every aspect of it. Bring it on" I declared before kissing her one more time. That night for the first time in forever, I slept soundly without the nightmares or cold feeling only sounds of little snores and warmth in my arms.