Matteo (The DiMaggio Crime Family, #1)

by T. Priceton

This one goes out to anyone who thinks their words on a piece of paper aren’t good enough for others to read. Go ahead and publish that book. You won’t regret it.

I’ve come across several Macies in my life, so I’m used to her bad attitude. It’s annoying but not something I need nor have the energy to combat.

“The strength of a woman comes from her confidence within, and it’s my job as your mother to teach you and make you see the worth you have.”

Look at that. Honesty. Say it ain’t so.

Power in our world is what’s important, Enzo. It’ll blind even our worst enemies.”

“Ahh shit,”

“Luxtyn Stockwell is the daughter of an old friend of mine.” He clears his throat and runs a hand over his goatee. “And possibly mine, as well.” “Oh fuck,” Enzo mumbles. Right fucking there with you, brother.

The fact this woman stabbed me in the back and I’m still checking her out tells me there’s something seriously fucking wrong with me. I barely pay attention to the females that throw themselves at me every night at the club, yet here I am checking out one who tried to fucking kill me. With my back turned, nonetheless. Fucking ridiculous.

“Start talking, Angelo,” Luxtyn spits out, which has me biting back a grin. She’s not afraid. An admirable trait.

He’s still speaking, but the only thing shouting through my mind as my brain processes this information is, What the fuck?

“I’m not done speaking. You’ve done enough talking, and I kept my mouth shut. Now it’s my turn to speak and your turn to listen. Are you capable of that?”

“She stabbed you?” Angelo says from behind me. He doesn’t sound upset, though. He sounds . . . proud? “She really is my daughter, huh, Matteo?”

This girl might actually make having a wife . . . exciting. There’s a thought I never thought I’d have.

I’d say it’s a miracle she hasn’t passed out from system overload like Enzo said she might. She’s stronger than any of us give her credit for.

“You might be able to use my mom against me right now, but make no mistake, I am my own woman. If you can’t seem to wrap your mind around that, then this marriage isn’t going to work.”

“He did try to wake you, but you’re an extremely heavy sleeper. Has anyone ever told you that? You could probably be kidnapped, and you would have no idea because you’d sleep through the entire thing.” I narrow my gaze on him. His lips curve into a smirk. “Too soon for a kidnapping joke?” “Way too soon,” I grumble, taking another sip.

“Why didn’t you wake me up last night when the DNA results came back?” “You’re a heavy sleeper. Impossible to wake up.”

“So you’ve said,” I respond nonchalantly.

Ah? Nochalant, I see.

She narrows her gaze, and it’s the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever seen. Irritating Luxtyn Stockwell might be my new favorite hobby.

awwww

In one last ditch effort to get out of this situation, I say, “Father Barone, isn’t it against your religion to force someone into marriage?” “Yes, dear, it is.” “Maybe you can talk some sense into my fiancé, then.” Father Barone looks from me to Matteo before Matteo speaks. “Father Barone, please excuse my fiancée. It seems she’s lost her manners.” He gives Matteo a small smile. You have got to be kidding me.

“I had to dress in my big brother’s favorite color for the most important day of his life,” Enzo says while slapping Matteo on his shoulder. Most important day of his life my ass.

LOllll

“I might not know you too well yet, but I can tell something’s off.” “Well, I was kidnapped, found out my estranged dad is in the Mafia, and forced into a marriage with an asshole who is also in the Mafia all in twenty-four hours. I apologize if I’m acting . . . off.” “Damn. When you put it that way, your life definitely sucks right about now.”

“And why should I trust you and Matteo?” Enzo offers an effortless shrug. “Because who else do you have?” “Is that supposed to be helpful?” “No. It’s just a fact. You have no one else out here,” he says as he pours my freshly pressed coffee into a black ceramic mug. “We’re not the bad guys. Teo . . . he might come off as⁠—” “An arrogant prick?” I offer. He gives a breathy laugh. “Yes, but he’s not all that bad. You just have to break through that outer shell of his.”

The ding of my phone grabs my attention. Enzo: If you don’t come back to this penthouse soon, I’m going to lose it. Me: What, you can’t handle my new wife? Enzo: Oh, I didn’t realize you wanted me to handle her. In that case . . . Pressing the call button next to Enzo’s name, I bring my phone up to my ear. He picks up after the first ring, but I speak before he can say anything. “You put your hands on my wife, and I’ll fucking end you.” “Okay, first of all, I’m offended you’ve taken the side of a woman you haven’t even known for a week over me. And secondly, I’m just messing with you, big brother.”

oop-

Silence fills the air once more. “What if I do it?” Luxtyn asks. “What if I can get close to Mauricio?” “Absolutely fucking not,” I say at the same time Enzo responds, “The fuck, no.” Luxtyn bounces her gaze from mine to his and back to mine again. “Fine. That would probably be too obvious anyway, but what about Elena and Giuliana?” “Another terrible idea,” I say while Enzo asks, “Are you insane?” at the same time as me.

“Please.” The single word squeezes my chest so tightly it hurts. “Let me do something.” She swallows deeply while she waits for my response. I close my eyes and tilt my head up to the ceiling, letting out a long sigh. This is not what I want to do, but I say, “Fine,” and the excitement on her face is immediate. A smile pulls at her lips, and I love that I put it there. “Thank you, thank you!” she squeals before reaching up to place a light kiss on my cheek. The act was so innocent, so comfortable for her, she didn’t even falter when she did it. “I’m going to go get changed,” she adds before scurrying back down the hallway that leads to her room, leaving Enzo and me in silence.

“There’s something about you. Something that draws me to you. Something that doesn’t allow me to get you out of my head.”

he holds the object up between his fingers, and I see it’s a wedding band. My wedding band. The last time I saw it was the morning he forced me to marry him. I took it off and left it on my nightstand and haven’t thought about it since. When the hell did he get that? “I know you haven’t been wearing it.” “Well, there wasn’t really anywhere to wear it.” “This is a symbol of our marriage. It represents the binding of our relationship. I would like for you to wear it at all times.” I almost roll my eyes at the statement, but then I notice the shiny metal band he has wrapped around his ring finger. Does he wear his at all times? “I keep mine on, so keep yours on . . . please.” I think that’s the first time I’ve heard him say please.

“Pleased to meet you, dear,” she says, but her tone says the opposite. Luxtyn puts on a smile and shakes her hand. “You too,” she says, matching her unenthusiastic tone. Elena raises her drawn-on eyebrow in response. She didn’t like that, but I sure as hell did.

And her strength. The way she’s been able to handle everything she’s been thrown this past week. I know killers who would break if they had to go through everything she has.

“Don’t be sorry. I admire that you stabbed me. It shows that you have some fight in you.”

“I’m pretty sure you might be my spirit animal.” “Thanks,” she says with a flattered smile. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

I gaze into her eyes. The eyes of a fighter. She’s been strong. Too strong.

It’s a miracle she’s been able to hold it together for as long as she has.

Her sobs are like torture, but I do my best to be here for her. Comforting her. Letting her know I’ll always be here no matter what.

“Sometimes being a female in this world is hard. You have to be stern. Put your foot down. Make sure they know you’re not one to fuck with, because if you don’t, you’ll never get the respect you deserve.”

“I’ll always come for you, Little Lux. I’d go to the ends of the earth and back to find you. Never giving up until you’re back in my arms,” I whisper. “I’m so fucking sorry, baby. No one will ever take you away from me again. I promise you.”

“Then I’m not going to say no. I’m not going to say no to being part of this world that you live in.” She wraps her other hand around the back of my neck. “Because a world without you is a world I want no part of. I’m in this with you, Teo. I’m choosing to stay married to you for the rest of my life.”

“I love you too, Teo,” she whispers. “And I’d choose this life over and over again if it meant choosing you.”

Char: We’re pulling up to the park now. The dress fit Lux perfectly. Izzy had to threaten her to keep her from crying and ruining her makeup. A smile breaks out on my face, knowing that my beautiful wife will be here any minute. Me: Tears of joy or tears of anger with wanting to kill her husband for keeping her in the dark about her own wedding for so many weeks now? Char: Tears of joy, and possibly embarrassment. She has no idea how she never caught on to what you’ve been planning.

“Okay, stop. That’s enough of the mushy gushiness. You’re going to ruin her makeup, and I will not stand for that,” Isabella calls out from behind Lux, and we can’t all help but chuckle at how high strung she is about it.