Page 27 of Matteo

His words spark something in Niko, and for a moment, the kid lights up like Christmas morning. But my gut knows better. Matteo's layers are darker than the bottom of the ocean, and no matter how much he tries, the shadows never stay hidden for long.

Chapter Fourteen

Eleanor Wang

I'm standing there, staring at the chaos that's unfolded in a mere handful of hours. The painter's laid out a fan of colors like a deck of cards, each one darker and more brooding than the last—shades that'll turn Niko's room into some cozy den. The bed they're assembling is solid, the kind that won't squeak no matter what nightmares toss Niko around on it.

"Remember to thank Matteo," I tell him, my voice a mix of gratitude and a warning. "For all this."

Niko's sprawled on the floor, thumbing through the samples, his eyes wide with that innocent excitement kids have before the world claws it away from them. "Mum, Matteo said it's your money too."

"Did he now?" My blood simmers. That man's always playing games with words, twisting them into knots I'm supposed to unravel. "Either way, we're not blowing it all, right?"

"Okay, Mum." He's distracted, already lost in visions ofhis new room. "When's dinner? I'm starving." His stomach growls in agreement, a low rumble that echoes off the walls.

"Christ, kid, you're a bottomless pit." I shake my head. It's barely been twenty minutes since lunch, but he's acting like he's been stranded in the outback for weeks.

"Hey, Niko," Angel calls down from halfway up the staircase, his voice a casual drawl. "Hungry? Got some pizzas coming. Twenty minutes out."

"Really?" Now Niko's up, energy sparking off him as if Angel's words fuel his fire. "Heck yeah!" And he's off after Angel like a shot, leaving me alone in the soon-to-be-painted fortress.

"Eleanor," Angel throws over his shoulder, "Matteo's hunting for you. He's in his office."

"Thanks." I frown at the maze of halls and doors. "Where's his bloody office again?"

"First door on the right. Can't miss it." His shout echoes down the stairs, bouncing off the walls.

I head for the door, the house's opulence pressing in on me, smelling like money and secrets. This place could swallow you whole if you're not careful. I knock a quick rap of knuckles against dark wood and wait for the grunt that means enter.

"Come in," comes the muffled call, and I push the door open.

"Um, Matteo, what the fuck?" The words slip out before I can stop them. There he is, king of his cluttered little domain, surrounded by stacks of paper and cardboard that teeter precariously on the edge of order and chaos.

"Princess..." His smile flickers across his face, all teeth and dark glee. "You wanted a job. Here it is."

"Ummm, yeah, sure, but what's all this?" I wave a hand at the mess, feeling a headache brewing.

"This, my sweet, is my life in paperwork form." He looks almost apologetic—the bastard. "An admin usually sorts it, but I've been... preoccupied."

"Clearly." I step closer, taking in its sheer volume. "So, what, I'm your PA now?"

"Seeing as you’re so good at being a PA, I thought you could perhaps be mine. That solves the need for a job issue, helps me out, and keeps you safe," he says with that same smirk that tells me he thinks he's won.

"Safe," I echo, tasting the word like it's laced with poison. "This isn’t your main office, is it?" I already know the answer but want to hear him say it.

"Nope, I have a high-rise down on Elizabeth St," he admits nonchalantly as if it's nothing to shuttle mountains of paperwork from there to here to keep me tethered to his side.

"And why can't I just do the paperwork at the office in the city?" I challenge him, even though I know the game he's playing.

"You can, but only when I’m there. Otherwise, here it is," he states plainly, dropping the gauntlet.

"Let me guess—" I start, feeling the walls close in even as I play into his hands, "—I tell Angel what I need, and he'll have it delivered to the house?"

"Yep! That!" He snickers, and something dark curls in my chest. He knows too damn well I prefer to stay put, keepwatch over Niko rather than rub shoulders with the other power-hungry vultures circling his throne.

"Princess," Matteo murmurs, and suddenly, he's right in front of me, arms caging me in a gentle yet immovable embrace. I didn't hear him move, a shadow slipping through the light. "You need to tell me what’s going on. There’s only so much I can do with my limited information."

"Later," I breathe in, his scent of cedar and pine anchoring me in the storm. "We'll talk later. Today, I want to breathe."

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