Stolen Queen (Dynasty of Deception #4)

26. Matteo

26

MATTEO

I 'm seething with rage as I grip Ava's wrist, my mind reeling from the events of the past hour. How dare Elio barge in and threaten everything I've built with Ava. And this scumbag in the alley, I should have killed him right then and there. But what cuts deepest is Ava's betrayal. She ran away… again. After everything we've shared, everything I've risked for her, she decided to throw it all away.

"What the hell were you thinking?" I snarl, pulling her closer. "Do you have any idea what could've happened to you out here?"

Ava flinches at my tone, tears welling in her eyes. "I, ah?—"

"No," I cut her off. "You made your choice. You were ready to leave without a word, without even saying goodbye."

The pain in her eyes mirrors my own, but I can't let it sway me. Not now. Not when my world is crumbling around me.

“Matteo…”

I don't listen to her stammered attempts at explanation. My emotions are too raw, too volatile. Without thinking, I hoist her over my shoulder in one swift motion.

She lets out a startled yelp, her small fists pounding against my back. "Put me down!"

I ignore her protests, striding out of the alley. I'm relieved I found her, enraged she tried to leave, and terrified of what could have happened if I'd been a moment later.

I make my way back to where I hastily parked my car. My heart still pounds from the frantic search, the fear that gripped me when I realized she was gone. Now, with her safely in my arms, that fear morphs into rage.

"You can't just manhandle me like this!" Ava continues to struggle, but I tighten my hold.

I reach the car and fumble for my keys, keeping a firm grip on her legs. I open the trunk and unceremoniously put her in it. Then I slam the trunk closed, muffling Ava's protests as I slide behind the wheel. Am I being a dick? Yep. But fucking hell, what was she thinking?

My hands shake as I grip the steering wheel. The engine roars to life, and I peel away from the curb, tires squealing. Ava's muffled screams and the thudding of her fists against the trunk lid echo through the car. Each impact sends a jolt through me, fueling the storm of emotions raging in my chest.

"Fuck!" I slam my palm against the steering wheel. How did everything fall apart so quickly? One minute, all was well. Sure, I knew we were playing with fire, but there was no hint of smoke anywhere. Next, Rinella is accusing me of taking Ava, Elio is threatening to turn me over to Rinella, and Ava's running away. It’s that last truth that is fucking with me the most. The thought of losing Ava, of her walking away without a word after everything we've shared… it's tearing me apart.

I want to put the fear of God in her. Not fear that I’ll hurt her physically, although I may have fucked that up by putting her in the trunk. But that’s the only place I could put her that she can’t escape. I can totally see her jumping out of the car at a stoplight if I put her in the front seat.

Another series of thumps from the trunk makes me flinch. "Matteo! Let me out!" Ava's voice is barely audible over the engine and the rush of blood in my ears.

Guilt wars with anger and fear. I know I've crossed a line. I kidnapped her. Again. I grit my teeth, fighting the urge to pull over and release her. Part of me wants to beg her forgiveness, to explain why I reacted so extremely. But another part, the wounded, angry part, wants her to understand the pain she caused by trying to leave. Plus, I reason, she always nearly gets killed when she runs off.

I pull into the underground garage of my building and park. I climb out of the car, my legs unsteady. As I approach the trunk, Ava's voice becomes clearer.

"Matteo! Let me out, you bastard!"

I pop open the trunk, and Ava bursts out, her face flushed with anger. "You monster! How dare you throw me in there like some piece of luggage!" She shoves me hard, her eyes blazing. "I thought you were different, but you're just another brute!"

Her words sting, but I can't let her see how much they affect me. I grab her arm, dragging her toward the elevator. She struggles, but I'm stronger.

"Let go of me!" she screams, trying to wrench free.

I ignore her, pulling her into the elevator. As soon as the doors close, I pin her against the wall, my body caging her in. She glares up at me defiantly, but I can see a flicker of fear in her eyes.

"You have no idea what you've done," I growl, my face inches from hers. "Do you understand how reckless you were? How much danger you put yourself in?"

She opens her mouth to argue, but I cut her off.

"You think I’m a monster? I've shown you nothing but gentleness, Ava. I've protected you, cared for you." My voice drops lower, a dangerous edge creeping in. "But if you ever try to run from me again, you'll see just how much of a brute I can be."

I see the shock in her eyes, the realization that I'm not the man she thought I was. Part of me hates myself for threatening her, but the fear of losing her overrides everything else.

I storm into the penthouse, dragging Ava behind me. As soon as we're inside, I release her arm, and she stumbles away from me.

"You're insane!" Ava shouts, rubbing her wrist where I gripped her. "How could you do that to me?"

I ignore her, striding to the bar. My hands shake as I reach for a bottle of whiskey. The familiar routine of pouring a drink helps steady me, if only slightly.

"What, you're just going to ignore me now?" Ava's voice drips with venom. "After manhandling me and throwing me in your trunk?"

I down the whiskey in one gulp, relishing the burn. It's become a habit, I realize. Whenever things get tough, I reach for a drink. It's not healthy, but it's better than losing control completely.

"I was only doing what you told me to do. You said I had to go. Time was up."

Ava's words freeze me in place. I set my glass down hard, the sound echoing through the room. "The plan was for you to tell me where you wanted to go and I’d send you there with your new identity. Not for you to wander the streets with no money and no phone.” I suck in a breath and turn to look at her. “What was your plan?”

She flinches at my tone but stands her ground. “It’s none of your business. And I’m not completely inept. I would have figured things out."

"Like you 'figured out' how to handle that creep in the alley?" I scoff, my anger rising again at the memory. "You have no idea what's out there, what could have happened to you."

Ava's eyes flash with defiance. "I was going home, if you want to know the truth.”

That confession pisses me off even more. After all I’d done for her to give her the freedom she wanted, she was going home? What the fuck?

Seething, I throw my glass across the room. Ava flinches but doesn’t try to run.

Pain follows the anger. “I’ve risked everything to protect you and you just throw it away. Why? Why would you do that?”

She looks down, her fingers nervously fidgeting. "I heard you arguing with Elio. If I went back, told my father I ran away on my own?—”

“No." The word comes out as a growl. "You don't get to make that decision, Ava. Do you have any idea what your father would do to you if you went back?"

She flinches at my tone. “It is my decision.”

“So everything I’ve risked to protect you… that means nothing to you.” Fucking hell, why does my chest hurt so much?

She tentatively steps forward. “It means everything, Matteo. But I can’t come between you and your family.”

"To hell with all of that!" I slam my hand on the bar, making her jump. "I chose to protect you. I knew the risks. But you don’t care about any of that.”

Tears well up in her eyes, but I'm too angry to care.

"Did these past weeks mean nothing to you?" I demand, advancing on her. "Was it all just a game until you could find a way to escape?"

"No!" Ava cries, her voice breaking. "I didn't know what else to do. I couldn't bear the thought of coming between you and your family."

“If you’re going to run, why not go away? Why were you going home?”

She wipes a tear from her cheek. “Because as long as I’m gone, missing, I’m in the way of you and your family, and my father would want to kill you.”

“He’s going to want to kill me no matter what. And I’m okay with that, Ava. I’m not okay with him taking you and sending you off to Nardone. I can’t live knowing that’s your fate.”

“All this started with me, didn’t it? This way, I could fix it.”

I close my eyes as I begin to understand her motivation. But I’m the protector here, not her.

“Everything I’ve done is to protect you. Your going home nullifies all of that. Why would you do that?”

She wipes a tear from her cheek. “Because I love you.”

I struggle to process her words, my anger warring with a surge of unexpected emotion. Love? She loves me?

I should tell her how I feel, but for some reason, that feels scarier than the threat of Rinella holding a gun to my head. Tonight, I’ve felt the worst sort of pain. If that’s what love brings, I don’t want it. And yet, even if I can’t say the words, I know it’s there. She’s become a necessary part of my life. Like breathing. I have to give her something.

I step closer to her. "Did you think I could just let you go? Watch you marry some old bastard in New York?"

Ava shakes her head. "I thought… I thought it would be easier for you if I was gone. That you could make things right with Elio and the others."

My chest tightens at her words. How can I make her understand that nothing would be right without her? "Ava," I say, cupping her face in my hands. "You're not coming between me and anyone. I chose this. I chose you."

I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me. "You need to understand something. Your father… he's going to want me dead no matter what. Whether you go back or not, once he finds out I've been hiding you, I'm a marked man."

Fear flashes in her eyes, and it kills me. But she needs to know the truth.

"I knew the risks when I took you that night," I continue, my hands moving down to her arms. "I've been living with that threat hanging over my head ever since. But I'd rather face that danger than see you shipped off to Nardone in New York."

"You don't know what kind of man Nardone is. I can't let that happen to you, Ava." I realize I'm gripping her arms too tightly and force myself to loosen my hold. But I can't bring myself to let go completely, as if she might disappear if I'm not touching her.

"I understand now that you were trying to protect me," I say softly. "But don't you see? The thought of you with him, suffering God knows what… it would kill me. It would destroy me in a way your father never could."

I pull her close, overwhelmed by the intensity of my feelings for her. Without thinking, I capture her lips with mine in a passionate kiss.

Ava responds instantly, matching my fervor. Her fingers tangle in my hair as she presses herself against me. As the angry conflict transforms into raw passion, I deepen the kiss, pouring all my fears, frustrations, and longing into it.

When we finally break apart, I rest my forehead against hers. “Tell me you won’t run again. Not without telling me. Not without letting me make the arrangements. If you really care about me, you’ll promise me this.”

She looks up at me. “I promise.”

I caress her cheek gently, marveling at how this woman has completely upended my world. I’m convinced now that it won’t be long before I’m dead. I’m not sure if Elio will really hand me over to Rinella, but because he knows I have Ava, it won’t be long before everyone knows, and Rinella will come knocking. Maybe I can kill him first, but that will cause even more trouble. Caruso would likely order Elio to deal with me for taking out the head of a family.

Yep, I’m well and truly fucked. But with Ava in my arms, knowing she’s safe, I’d do it all over again.