Page 21 of Third Crime's A Charm
Truman didn’t want to scare Matteo, but to prove he could be trusted by owning up to the ugly truth. “You mentioned ‘the code’ before and how things work in polite society. We have a code too and trust me, you don’t need to worry over someone who’s been found guilty of violating it.”
“Trust you…” Matteo squinted, pausing thoughtfully before shaking his head. “I’m supposed to trustyourcode,” he said and pointed at his face. “And that this other person you’re working for isn’t a monster too. Forgive me if I’m still skeptical.” He turned to go but Truman stopped him again.
“Fine. You have every right to doubt me there and I’m going to work on that. But forgivemefor being a clown last night. I knowyou don’t need a sugar daddy or anyone to protect you. You’re too independent and you’re too smart for something like that.”
“Am I?” Matteo asked, arching a brow. But he was smiling again.
“Way too smart,” Truman agreed. “I don’t know if we would have met if it weren’t for those diamonds. But if we had, I would have done things right and treated you like a prince because it’s what you deserve.”
There was another long pause before Matteo bowed his head. “Apology accepted. Thank you for telling me,” he said, givingTruman a glimmer of hope and a thread of reasonable doubt he could tug at.
“You have to see that I’d be nuts to blow it with a man like you over trash like Marty or some object. Not when I have prettier things,” he said as he reached for Matteo’s cheek. This time, Matteo didn’t pull away so Truman stepped closer and pressed a cautious kiss to his lips. “I’d walk away from it if I could but someone else needs my help.”
“That someone and your code is the problem, Truman. I have my own code too and I’m breaking it. I don’t know how much of a crime I’m committing because your definition of justice and mine are very different.” He gave Truman a quick peck, then pushed him away. “Like I said, time to get back to work. And by work I mean breakfast.”
Truman let him go, trudging back to bed as Matteo brushed his teeth and started the shower. “I don’t know what you’re made of but go on without me.” He didn’t know if he’d made things better or worse with Matteo but Truman was too hungover to face Donna. “This is why I never drink wine.”
Nine
The following morning, Matteo’s premonition came to fruition. Matteo was still in bed when Truman returned from his morning run, more winded than usual.
“We have a problem,” Truman stopped at the foot of the bed, frowning and panting. It was slightly distracting but Matteo gestured for him to get on with it. “Your brother, Theo, and Muriel Hormsby returned from Austria last night and are already turning the city upside down, with your cousin’s assistance,” he added, wincing as he tugged at the front of his shirt, unsticking it from his body and making Matteo’s mouth water. “They heard that we were together and Ms. Hormsby’s attorney called. I just got off the phone with him.”
“I did warn you. It’s been over a week since they’ve heard from me. What did the attorney say?”
Truman widened his eyes at Matteo. “They’ve gotten it into their heads that you’ve been abducted and are demanding your return,” he said and Matteo nodded.
“Sounds about right, if Muriel is involved.”
“What do we do? It won’t take them long to find this place.”
“I have to come up with a plan for this as well,” Matteo said, sighing as he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. “We’d be sunk if Leo was here but I can reason with Theo as long as he doesn’t see this.” He waved at his face.
“Do you plan to meet him in the dark?” Truman asked warily.
“No. I’ll cover it with makeup and he won’t notice if I make a video call. That will buy us enough time for this to finish healing while people gossip about us,” Matteo said and Truman pointed, grinning.
“Good thinking. I’m supposed to fly to Chicago for a meeting with you know who on Thursday but I’ll tell him something came up. He knows where I am and that’ll drive him nuts.”
“Leiwand. Now, get your arse to the drugstore. I have to call Theo soon.”
Two hours later, Matteo was pleased with their efforts as he gave his face one last dusting of setting powder. Truman had found everything Matteo had requested and the two of them were able to hide the bruise around his eye and his swollen lip. They used the camera on the television so Matteo could stand farther away and Truman made sure the number couldn’t be traced.
“Hello?” Theo answered, squinting into his phone’s screen. “Who is this?”
“It’s me!” Matteo said, waving as he took a few steps closer. But not too close, he was counting on poor camera quality and weak lighting to hide whatever the makeup hadn’t.
“Matteo? Mein Gott! Are you alright? It’s Matteo! I can see him!” Theo shouted behind him and there was a lot of noise and shuffling until his phone was cast onto his laptop.
“I’m fine. I have not been abducted. I’m here of my own free will,” Matteo said clearly.
“Matteo von Hessen! What the hell were you thinking, running off with Truman Tennyson?” Muriel demanded, wavingher cane as she pushed Theo aside. “There’s no telling what kind of mess he’s gotten you into.”
“Please calm down. We didn’t run off, we’re in Southampton.”
“Southampton?” Muriel asked and leaned toward the screen.
“Why don’t you have your phone?” Theo interrupted.
