The SUV pulled to a stop right in front of the house. Anastasia rushed out before the engine would stop humming.
Her heels clicked against the floor as she strutted inside in haste, trying so hard for Matteo to not catch up with her. His silence from the party and throughout the ride home had her terrified.
Maybe he was saving all that energy to pounce on her the minute they got home. Lock her up again.
Just as she was about to curve into the hallway, Matteo grabbed her by her arm and flung her till she landed on the couch behind. Her heart jumped. Not as high as Matteo's anger was flaring.
He held her up the couch by her neck, his hand wrapped around it so tight she was practically begging for breath.
"You're hurting me," she whispered, her hands holding onto his to free her.
"Isn't this what you wanted?" Matteo asked.
"To whine me up... "
"Matteo please," she choked. He didn't let go, his eyes were red with anger, and terrifying as Anastasia stared at them.
"Matteo" Nico called behind him. That almost snapped Matteo out of his rage, but he still didn't let go. He only loosened his grip, watched her cough for air till her ragged breath came steady again.
"You don't get to humiliate me in front of the same men I command. Not without bleeding for it," he growled, eyes locked on her trembling lips.
When she kissed Antonio, she didn't put much thought into the consequences. Into Matteo's anger.
Suddenly her own mouth tasted sour. Maybe it was the unsolicited kiss. Maybe it was watching Matteo almost snatch life from her.
"You're mine, Anastasia. And if you ever forget that again, I will remind you in ways you will never forget."
He released her throat fully, fists clenched, breathing hard as he walked out of the house. Nico spared Anastasia a glance before going after Matteo.
She stood there, one hand on the wall to steady herself, the other caressing her neck like Matteo had left a scar there.
Tears streamed down her eyes as she swallowed. She found the kitchen, poured herself a glass of water and gulped it at a go. When she was filled, she burst into tears. Loud and painful.
~~
Matteo stormed out onto the field fuming. Nico stood beside him, lit a cigarette, dragged an inhale, and passed it to Matteo. They both didn't say a word, it was silent, just the distant neighing of horses from the ranch.
"You almost killed her." Nico finally broke the silence. Matteo said nothing. He thought about her lips on Antonio, it burned.
She was his. His wife. He was never going to let someone else lay eyes on her, let alone a finger. And Antonio? Antonio was a foe. He has contended for everything Matteo owns since they were teenagers.
Antonio's father and Matteo's Godfather were rivals themselves. A vendetta of generations. The thought of Antonio's shadow falling on Anastasia made his blood boil.
And she kissed him? He doesn't even know what her lips taste like, and she belongs to him.
The thought made him pull out his gun and fired several shots into the sky.
When he got to the bedroom, he saw her sprawled beside the bed, on the floor. He stood in front of her, watching her sleep. Suddenly, he was filled with regret, he shouldn't have hurt her the way he did.
He should've punished her some other way, not almost snatching air from her lungs. He crouched. Tint of dried tears stained her face, her makeup was smudged, her hair frizzy. He picked her up gently and placed her on the bed.
As she moved slightly, tears streamed down her temples and her lips trembled.
He swallowed. He walked to the dressing table and returned to her side with wet wipes. He sat beside her, gently moved her hair away from her face and wiped her face with the wipe, careful not to wake her up. As he wiped the lipstick off her lips, his other fists balled, he remembered her lips on Antonio's. "You forget the rules, Hermosa."
~~
"I think these papers are fake," Nico hissed. "I sent men there to check the properties and there is a legal owner. He has played a fast one on us."
Matteo stared at the papers scattered on the table. Land ownership papers, vineyard ownership papers, there all stared back at him as he stood there, both palms pressing on the table. "And the club?" he asked. Nico brushed a hand into his hair. "I'm checking on it."
Just then another of Matteo's men walked into the office. Jax. "Boss." He called as he stepped closer to them. "The club you asked to be checked, it was raided last night by the police."
Nico slammed his palm on the wall angrily, his teeth gritting. "This was all Hector's doing, he gave us fake papers to pay his debt and leaked the club to the police before we could get a chance to take it."
Matteo didn't say anything. He was fuming, people who thought they could cheat him infuriated him the most. His money, his name, and his respect were aspects he didn't gamble with.
"Some of our men say they've seen him in the north of Brazil," Jax added. Matteo looked from Jax to Nico and back to all the fake documents that were laid on the table.
"His family?" he asked.
"Orlando. The ex-wife works as a nurse. The daughter is in 12th grade. Son's at NYU, pre-law," Nico responded. Matteo listened attentively, taking notes for the next doom.
"The mistress is in Miami. Running a high-end boutique, funded with his dirty money. Their son just turned six," Nico added.
"He owes me. His family will remind him why messing with me is a mistake. I need..."
"Boss," Enzo interrupted, walking into the room.
"What?!!" Matteo growled angrily as he slammed his hand on the table without looking up.
"Boss, these have arrived for Madame," Enzo replied. That's when Matteo finally tilted his head up, his eyes fell on the bouquet of red roses and a crimson red gift box in his other hand.
His blood boiled at the possibility of whom the sender might be. He walked from behind the table to Enzo, stared at the petals and picked out the card beneath them.
"You looked beautiful last night. Can't stop thinking about the way you taste — Antonio Salvador"
Matteo squeezed the card into his balled fist then threw it to the ground. He took the box, took out the content. It was black lingerie. He threw everything to the floor.
"Everybody get out!" he ordered, his voice laced with fury. They all left, closing the door behind them.
His eyes burned with anger and jealousy. Another man knew what she tasted like while he had no idea what her lips felt like. Worst, Antonio. It was tormenting to even think about it.
He left the office and headed for the bedroom. Anastasia was still in bed. She was sleeping soundly while war was brewing over her. He moved closer to the bed, stood beside her and stared at her with his hands in his pockets. That's when he noticed her sweating. He looked at the Aircon, it was working. He leaned in and placed the back of his hand on her forehead. She flinched. She was burning out.