Stolen Queen (Dynasty of Deception #4)

32. Matteo

32

MATTEO

I thought the last few days were hard. The last few minutes nearly gave me a heart attack. To see Ava at her father’s mercy, to watch him hit her and not be able to do anything without risking all our lives was unbearable.

"I'm pregnant."

Those words took us all off guard. I suppose that was a good thing as Lazaro saw it as an opportunity to act and save all our asses.

The question is, did she mean it or did she say it thinking her father would finally discard her?

I study her face as I wait for her answer. My hands hold hers, and I realize she’s shaking. Now I feel like an asshole for not asking how she is first.

“I’m… I’m going to be sick.” She jumps up and rushes to the bathroom.

“Ava…” I watch her go, wanting to follow her but knowing I have work to do. I take my gun and stalk over to Rinella.

“Matteo,” Elio warns.

“I should kill you right here, you motherfucker.” I ignore Elio.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

My hand shakes as I hold the gun to his head. “You’re a pathetic excuse for a man.”

“This changes nothing. Ava is my daughter?—”

Elio's voice is steel. "No, Vincenzo. This changes everything. Ava is carrying a D'Amato child now. She's family, and we protect our own.”

Okay, so I wasn’t hearing things when she said she was pregnant. And whether she’s bluffing or not, Elio is going with it. Good.

I lower my gun and step back.

Elio continues, “We can have the same deal as before. She marries Matteo and?—”

“He’s not a D’Amato,” Rinella growls.

“Of course he is. He’s Enzo D’Amato’s grandson, just like I am. I know you were around during his day. Are you going to tell me Enzo’s grandson isn’t good enough for your daughter?”

“The deal was?—”

“Deals change. You have two choices. You can let Ava come with us, knowing she’ll have our full protection and preserve the alliance, or you can start a war that will end with the destruction of everything you've built. Choose wisely."

“You cocky son of a bitch.”

Elio shrugs. “You know who Caruso will favor in this dispute. I’m right in that as the father, Matteo’s rights to Ava and the child usurp your own.”

Fucking hell, I’m going to be a father . “I need to check on Ava.”

Elio nods. “Get her packed. She’s coming with us.”

“Like hell,” Rinella yells. “That little whore is coming home with me.”

Unable to help myself, I backhand Rinella. His head whips hard, and blood oozes from his lip.

“How do you like it?” I sneer at him.

“Matteo, go,” Elio orders me.

I head down the hall to the bathroom and knock on the door. “Ava?” I click open the door and peek in. She’s sitting on the floor, her head resting against the wall next to the toilet.

“Baby.” I rush in, drop to the floor, and gather her close. “It’s okay. You’re safe. We’re going to pack up and bring you to the house.”

She looks at me with tired, wary eyes. “It won’t end.”

“It’s ending now. Elio is taking care of it. Just to be sure, you’ll stay at the house. It will be nice.” I force a smile, hating how lost she looks. “Piper and Diana are there so you won’t be alone. You’re under D’Amato protection now. You’re safe. Come on.” I help her up and get her a glass of water before escorting her to my room. She sits on the bed as I gather her things, waiting for her to tell me whether the pregnancy is real or not. I have this strange desire for it to be true. I’m a man who never thought I’d have a wife, much less a kid. But right now, I want it more than anything.

A vision of our future together flashes through my brain. I see Ava, radiant and glowing, her belly swollen with our growing child. I imagine holding our baby for the first time, tiny fingers wrapping around mine. I picture us as a family, teaching our kid to ride a bike, celebrating birthdays, sharing quiet moments at home.

I want this. All of it. With Ava. And I’ve been such a dick because I haven’t told her how I truly feel.

I sit next to her. “Are you okay?”

She looks at me, and I see apology in her eyes. “I just found out today.”

Is she worried I’ll be angry about a baby? Or is she upset about it? She is young. Her dream isn’t to be a mother. It’s to be free.

I swallow as I consider she doesn’t want what I want. Yes, she said she loved me, but that doesn’t mean she wants to give up her dream.

“That’s why you’ve been sick?” I ask, still trying to probe her feelings about this situation.

She nods. “I know you used a condom, but I guess it didn’t work.”

“This changes things for you, I guess.” I’m at a loss for what to say, but I’m pretty sure these are the wrong words.

She looks at me again. “If you don’t want us?—”

“What?” I’m shocked. “Are you kidding?”

She blinks. “It seems like you don’t?—”

“I’m trying to figure out what you want.”

She looks down at her belly, rubbing a hand over it. “I want the baby.”

“What about me? Do you want me?” I shake my head because I sound like such a jerk. I move to my knees in front of her and take her hands. “Let me tell you first that I love you.”

Her eyes widen. “You do?”

“I do. I think since the first time I met you when you were betrothed to Elio.”

Her lips twitch up in their first hint of a smile. It gives me hope.

“I want you and the baby, if you want me.”

Ava bites her lip. "I just… I don't want you to feel obligated. If you're not ready for this, I understand."

How could she think I wouldn't want this? That I wouldn't want her and our child? A possessive feeling tightens in my chest, and I cup her face gently in my hands.

"You and this baby are everything to me. I want this. I want us." I search her eyes, willing her to understand the depth of my feelings. "Do you want this?”

“Yes. I want this baby. And you.”

Relief washes over me, so intense it's almost dizzying. Without thinking, I scoop Ava up in my arms, spinning her around as joy bubbles up inside me. Her laughter rings out, clear and bright, and I've never heard a more beautiful sound.

I set her down gently, mindful of her condition, and pull her close. My lips find hers in a fervent kiss, pouring all my love and happiness into it.

"You know what this means, right?" I ask, a grin spreading across my face as I press my hand to her belly. "You're stuck with me for life now. You, me, and this little one, we're a package deal."

Her smile widens, and she places her hand over mine on her stomach. "I can live with that."

I'm going to be a father. The thought both terrifies and exhilarates me.

"I hope you know what you're getting into," I tease. "I'm not exactly father material."

Ava reaches up, cupping my face in her hands. "You're exactly what this baby needs. What we both need."

Her words build me up. I feel like a fucking superhero. I lean in, pressing my forehead against hers. "I promise you, I'll do everything in my power to keep you both safe and happy."

"Well, well, well. Look at the lovebirds.” Lazaro’s voice breaks through my moment with Ava.

“Never thought I'd see the day Matteo Moretti turned into a sap,” Elio chimes in.

My cheeks heat as I turn to see them in the doorway. As I look at their grinning, mocking faces, I feel a surge of affection for these idiots… my brothers.

"Alright, alright. Show's over.” I wrap an arm around Ava. “Is everything all taken care of?” I ask, referring to Rinella.

Elio nods. “Ava’s with us. You might have to grovel a bit for him, but?—”

“Whatever it takes. Thank you, Elio.” My voice is thick with emotion as I realize that this life with Ava could be coming true after all. "I don't know how to repay you for this."

"You're family, Matteo. Both of you. We protect our own." Elio gives a sharp nod. “Let’s get back to the house, shall we?”

I help Ava pack up her clothes, and we head down to the car. Our men are everywhere, which tells me Elio doesn’t trust Rinella not to try to pull a fast one. Good, because I don’t trust him at all.

When we arrive at the house, Piper, Diana, and Lana are there to greet Ava. They take her in like a sister, and it makes me feel like an ass that I didn’t come to Elio sooner about Ava and bringing her into the family.

I take Ava upstairs to the room that had once been mine when I resided in the house. It occurs to me that if Ava is here, I should be here too. I should have packed a bag for myself.

“This is nice,” she says, looking around the room.

“It used to be mine. Well… I guess it’s mine again. Ours,” I correct.

She turns to me. “You’ll be here too?”

I set her bag down and go to her, taking her in my arms. I can’t seem to stop needing to touch her. “I’m wherever you are. Remember? You’re stuck with me.” I feel like I owe her more words. "You've changed everything for me. Before you, I never thought I'd want a family. But now… now I can't imagine my world without you in it."

Her smile is like a gift. She leans in, resting her head against my chest. “I feel like a princess in a fairy tale.”

“I wish I could say I’m a Prince Charming, but unfortunately, I’m not. But you make me want to be better, to do better. For you, for our baby, for us."

She looks up at me. “Thank you for saving me.”

“Which time?” I joke with a raised brow.

“Every time.” She cocks her head to the side. “Did you really mean it when you said you loved me from the first time we met?”

“Love for a woman is new to me. What I know is that there was something about you that drew me to you from the start. I hated the idea of Elio having you for his wife, even as I was glad you’d be away from that fuckhead father of yours.” It’s my turn to tilt my head in question. “You’re not just settling for me, are you?”

“What?”

“I’m not the head of the family like Elio. I’m not Lazaro?—”

She presses her hand over my mouth. “You’ve always been my favorite.”

My brows rise in surprise. “Favorite?”

She nods. “You were always so nice to me. You saw me when no one else did.”

I did that? As I look into her eyes, I realize that I still need to give her more. She deserves romance, a real commitment, a proper proposal.

“Ava, my princess, you’re all I see. Then, now, and forever. I want to give you a ring and a real proposal, not just some deal between families.”

Her breath hitches, and I hope it’s a good surprise.

“I don’t have a ring now, but I do have my love for you. My desire for us to be a family. What do you say? Will you marry me for love, not just an alliance?”

“Yes, yes!”

Without warning, I sweep her off her feet, cradling her in my arms. She lets out a surprised laugh, wrapping her arms around my neck.

As I carry her toward the bed, I’m filled with hope that she understands just how deep my love for her runs. I’m not perfect. Far from it, actually. But I plan to spend the rest of my life trying to be the man she and our child deserve.