Page 171 of The One
Chapter Sixty-Five
Mariella
We enter through a back entrance, soldiers flanking us on all sides. Given what happened, it’s hardly surprising. Mateo is the acting Don now, his safety the highest priority.
The air is thick with the scent of antiseptic as we walk down corridors that seem to stretch endlessly before us. One sterile hallway bleeds into the next, their similarity making it impossible to tell where we are.
My stomach clenches. I’ve never been in a hospital before. If sick or injured, a physician working forla famigliaalways tended to us in the privacy of our own home. The stark white walls, the cold sterility of the corridors, the sharp echo of our footsteps are foreign and unsettling.
The weight of eyes on me is undeniable, and I can almost taste the curiosity of the men surrounding us. Their gazes dart to our intertwined hands, lingering longer than they should.
A woman by Mateo’s side in broad daylight is new, especially one whose hand he’s holding possessively. The rumors will spread in no time, and I’m tempted to pull my hand away to spare us both the added scrutiny.
But beneath my fingertips, Teo’s pulse pounds erratically. Outwardly, he’s composed, his expression carved from stone, betraying nothing. If I weren’t touching him, I might believe the mask he’s wearing.
He seems to need my touch, and I need his too. I won’t let him go.
The soldiers fan out as we reach the private waiting room, stationing themselves outside the door, their presence a silent warning to anyone who might intrude.
God, what will await us in there?
The moment the door slides open and we step inside, dark, cold eyes lock onto mine.
My breath catches. My stomach knots.
Father.
I didn’t expect him to be here, though I shouldn’t be surprised. Most of the high-ranking capos are assembled.
A flicker of something, disbelief of seeing me here, perhaps, passes across Father’s face, but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared. His gaze drops to where Mateo’s hand still encloses mine, and then lower, to the engagement ring glittering on my finger.
Merda.
A chill runs through me. This is not how I wanted him to find out.
His eyes narrow slightly, and for the briefest moment, I see the calculations running through his mind.
Antonio Accardi doesn’t like surprises, but he adjusts quickly when necessary. The almost imperceptible twitch at the corner of his mouth tells me everything.
He’s already planning how to take advantage of this.
Involuntarily, I tighten my grip on Mateo’s hand, and he glances at me before following my gaze to my father. A heartbeat later, he leans in, his breath warm against my ear.
“I will deal with him.”
I exhale slowly, trying to loosen the knot in my chest. There’s nothing I can do about my father right now. My focus needs to be on Mateo, on what he’s about to face.
Mateo straightens, his commanding presence filling the room.
“Any news?” His voice is steady, but I can hear the tightness beneath it.
Romeo, Santino, and Barroni, the family’s current consigliere, are gathered, along with my father and a few high-ranking capos. It’s a room full of powerful men, yet all of them look to Mateo now.
Barroni steps forward. “Still waiting, sir.”
Silence settles over the room, unbearably heavy. Mateo’s gaze drifts across the gathered men, searching their faces. When his eyes land on Santino in the corner, tension stiffens his posture. Without releasing my hand, he pulls me toward him.
In a hushed voice, he asks, “Did Ella show up in Brazil?”
