Chapter 13: Shadows at the Door
(First-person POV: Alessia)
The crash echoed through the mansion, sharp and jarring against the silence. My pulse raced as Matteo disappeared into the hallway, his movements swift and controlled.
"Stay here."
The words rang in my ears like a warning, but the truth was, I couldn't sit still. My legs moved before my brain could catch up, carrying me toward the door. I hesitated just long enough to hear voices—low, tense, and distant—before slipping into the hallway.
The shadows seemed to stretch and twist under the dim light, and the air was thick with a tension I couldn't ignore. I followed the sound of voices, careful to stay out of sight.
As I rounded a corner, I spotted Matteo and Nico near the main entrance. Nico had a gun drawn, his sharp eyes scanning the space. Matteo stood in the center, his body rigid, exuding the kind of control that made him both terrifying and fascinating.
Across from them were two men I didn't recognize. They were dressed sharply, but there was a roughness to them—a sense that they didn't belong here.
"This isn't how you handle business, Matteo," one of the men said, his voice laced with a mix of arrogance and irritation.
"I handle my business just fine," Matteo replied coolly, his voice like a blade. "You, however, are trespassing. That's not a mistake I take lightly."
"We came to talk," the man insisted, though the way his hand hovered near his jacket suggested otherwise.
"And you chose to break into my home to do it?" Matteo's tone was calm, but there was a warning beneath the surface, like a storm waiting to break.
"We didn't come to fight," the second man interjected, raising his hands slightly. "We came because we have information. Something you'll want to hear."
"Speak," Matteo said, his eyes narrowing.
The first man glanced around the room, his gaze lingering on the shadows as if he expected more company. "There's someone in your ranks feeding information to the Di Luca family. Someone close."
My stomach dropped at his words.
Matteo didn't so much as flinch. "And why should I believe you?"
"Because it's not just your family they're betraying," the man replied. "It's all of us. You're not the only one with a knife aimed at your back, Matteo."
There was a beat of silence, thick and suffocating. I could see Nico shift slightly, his fingers tightening around the gun in his hand.
"And what do you want in return for this… information?" Matteo asked.
The second man smirked. "Your cooperation when the time comes."
Matteo's jaw tightened, but his voice remained steady. "You've said your piece. Now leave."
"You're making a mistake, Matteo," the first man warned.
"Get out," Matteo said coldly, his tone brooking no argument.
The men exchanged a look before turning and walking out the door, their footsteps echoing in the stillness.
I pressed myself deeper into the shadows as they passed, my heart hammering in my chest.
Once the door closed behind them, Nico turned to Matteo. "Do you believe them?"
Matteo exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "It doesn't matter if I believe them. We tighten security. Double the patrols. And keep an eye on everyone."
Nico nodded, his expression grim. "And Alessia?"
Matteo's gaze darkened. "She doesn't hear a word of this."
I bit my lip to keep from gasping. They didn't want me to know—again. Always keeping me in the dark, like a child who couldn't handle the truth.
But I wasn't a child. And I wasn't staying quiet anymore.
Later That Night
I waited until the house had settled, the lingering tension fading into an uneasy quiet. When I was sure Matteo wasn't coming back to the room anytime soon, I slipped out and made my way to the garden.
The cool night air hit my skin, calming my nerves. But my thoughts were anything but calm.
There's someone in your ranks feeding information.
The words repeated in my mind like a drumbeat. I didn't know much about Matteo's world, but even I understood the danger of betrayal. Trust was rare here, and loyalty was always conditional.
I wandered deeper into the garden, the soft rustle of leaves filling the silence. The moonlight cast eerie shadows on the stone pathways, but I found comfort in the solitude.
Until I wasn't alone anymore.
"I thought I told you to stay in the room."
Matteo's voice came from behind me, low and edged with frustration.
I turned to find him standing a few feet away, his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.
"I couldn't sleep," I said, crossing my arms. "Not that it's any of your concern."
"It is my concern," he said, stepping closer. "Everything about you is my concern."
There was something in his tone that made my breath hitch—possessive, protective, and maddening all at once.
"Why?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. "Why do you care so much about controlling me but not about telling me the truth?"
His eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't understand."
"Try me," I challenged.
For a moment, I thought he might actually answer. But then he shook his head, his lips pressing into a thin line.
"Not tonight," he said.
"Then when?" I demanded, taking a step closer. "When will you stop treating me like I'm some fragile thing that can't handle the truth?"
Matteo stared at me, his expression unreadable. Then, to my surprise, he reached out and cupped my face in his hands.
"You think I'm trying to keep you in the dark because I don't trust you?" he asked, his voice low and intense. "You're wrong, Alessia. I'm keeping you in the dark because I'm trying to protect you."
"From what?" I whispered, my heart pounding.
"From me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Before I could respond, the sound of footsteps shattered the moment. Matteo's hands dropped from my face as Nico emerged from the shadows, his expression grim.
"Matteo," Nico said, urgency lacing his voice. "We have a problem."
"What is it?" Matteo asked, his body tensing.
"There's been a breach," Nico said. "And it wasn't the men from earlier."
Matteo's gaze darkened, his jaw tightening. "Who?"
Nico hesitated. "It looks like… someone from inside."
My blood ran cold.
Someone inside the house was working against us.