Page 87 of Declan's Dove

“Dolcezza,” Matteo scolds. “No.”

The fuck?

“The fuck?” I thought it, but Hawk and Declan voice my thoughts.

“Did he just tell you no?” Hawk asks disbelievingly. “That’s like throwing a match on gasoline. Good luck with that, brother.”

Sadie’s eyes narrow, and I watch with fascination as she fights not to say what she’s thinking. When her eyes meet Matteo’s and his one raised brow, I feel for her. I know that look. I got it often when we first moved here and I worked for Vincenzo.

Matteo is a very dominant man by nature and although he can be very sweet, he expects obedience. What puzzles me is how he and Sadie are suddenly in this dynamic. If it is that dynamic. It’s hard to wrap my head around. Matteo is older. Much older. In his late thirties to Sadie’s almost nineteen.

Sadie backs down from whatever retort was on her tongue, instead addressing Skyler, “I’m going to call it a day. I’ll be back in the morning if you have time, Anna?”

“Just come in. I’ll work you in around my schedule,” Anna answers.

“Come Sadie,” Matteo beckons, and she does as he asks, sidling up beside him. “It was good to see you all, but we have somewhere to be.” Matteo says, reaching for Sadie’s hand and leads her out of the training room doors.

“What the fuck was that all about?” Ethan beats us all to voicing the question we are all wondering.

There’s a low growl coming from Hawk as he storms out of the room.

“I don’t know, but I am so here for it,” Skyler says, smiling widely. “I think Hawk just met his match.”

“Or the forceps he’s been looking for,” Declan laughs.

“What?” Sky and I ask in unison.

“He’s had his head so far up his ass for so long forceps are the only thing that could help him dig it out.” Declan explains.

“Shit. I don’t know if Matteo is the right kind of tool for the job,” Ethan adds, looking worried. “This could end ugly.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Violet

I’m helping Skyler behind the counter as she shows me the new schedule changes and her interview schedule for the next week to find us a new hire. We want to have time to train them before she has to go out on leave with the baby.

The phone rings and Skyler picks it up before I can. The guys are already gone to do whatever errands Gabe sent them on. I didn’t ask because I think Declan is right. The less I know, the better.

“Hey, Violet,” a male voice says from behind me. I turn and find Dr. Halloway leaning on the front counter.

He’s a handsome man. Tall, slender build, with shaggy blond hair and a slightly crocked smile. His icy blue eyes lock on mine, but he seems angry about something.

“Can I help you, Dr. Halloway?”

His smile is dark. “We’re friends aren’t we, Violet? Please call me Paul.”

“Okay,” I reply hesitantly, not liking the way my body shivers. Something feels strange about the way he’s looking at me. It’s not the same shiver I get with Declan. It’s a familiar, unpleasant feeling. One that says I should run.

Hoping to diffuse whatever issue he may have with the gym, I ask, “You look upset. Was there something wrong with the equipment this morning?”

Calm down. You’re safe here. It’s just all the talk of James lately that’s got you on edge.

I mentally scold myself. But I can’t shake the uneasiness in the pit of my stomach.

Paul scrubs his hand behind his neck, standing to his full height, looking back and forth between me and the front door. When he points at the door, then turns back to me, he asks, “So, when did you and, uh, the biker become a thing?”

Caught off guard by his question, I take a small step back. I don’t like the way he says the word biker, like Declan is lower or less than him, but maybe I’m reading too much into it.

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