Accardi (Genevieve and Matteo) by Allison Franklin novel Chapter 116

Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen

Matteo watched his weakness trying to deflect Alessio’s five sisters with all the grace and diplomacy of a seasoned Donna. He felt eyes on him and glanced at Mrs. Palladino, Alessio’s mother. Her dark eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She looked at Gen and back at Matteo before closing her eyes and giving him a nod of approval that sparked pride and sorrow in his chest. He would never have his own mother’s approval and that thought gutted him more than he thought it would. To have someone he considered a second mother give her silent consent… it made his chest tight. Gen’s hand fell on his thigh and squeezed. Though she wasn’t even looking at him, she had sensed his change in moods. God, he was so fucking lucky.

“Accardi,” Alessio called from where he stood looking out on his property. He flicked his cigarette away and motioned toward the house with his head.

“Do you have to go?” Gen asked quietly as Arianna, Alessio’s second oldest sister, looked down at Gen’s engagement ring with a jeweler’s magnifier.

He took the hand on his thigh and kissed the back of it. “Will you be okay?” he asked.

She looked around the table at Frankie, Leo, Jada, Louis, Lucy and Alessio’s chattering family. She smiled and swiped a tear from her cheek. “Yeah, I’ll be okay,” she confirmed with a nod. He kissed the back of her hand again and stood to follow Alessio inside.

He met him just inside the back foyer. “Dobbiamo Parlare.”

“Apri la strada,” Matteo said, gesturing down the hall.

He cast one last look at his life before he followed Alessio down the hall.

“We’ll need to talk with Conor,” Alessio said as they started up the stairs.

“Conor is here? Why hasn’t he met me yet?” Matteo asked, confused he hadn’t seen his youngest cousin in the three hours he’d been here.

Alessio released a long sigh of pent up frustration. They came to a stop in front of Conor’s bedroom. “You have no idea how annoying he’s been,” Alessio muttered before shoving the door open without knocking.

Matteo stepped inside and wrinkled his nose. The air smelled foul, like food had been left out to rot. The curtains were all drawn, casting the room in a sick- like darkness. Alessio clicked his tongue as he walked across the room, stumbling over miscellaneous objects he couldn’t make out in the dim lighting. He threw back one curtain and dust scattered through the air like living beings rushing to find a new surface to cling to. Matteo heard something groan from the direction of the bed. He walked to it, grabbed the edge of a blanket and yanked just as Alessio pulled back the second set of curtains.

“What the fuck, Man? Leave me alone,” Conor said, his head buried beneath several pillows.

“Nemmeno un saluto per il tuo cugino preferito?” Matteo asked.

Conor muttered a few words in a language Matteo couldn’t understand before his hand appeared in front of the headboard brandishing his middle finger.

“What did I say about muttering that Gaelic shit in my house?” Alessio asked, his voice clogged with annoyance. He rolled his eyes as Conor continued to speak in his mother’s native tongue. Alessio rolled his eyes and turned to Matteo. “He’s renouncing his Italian heritage.”

“Is that so?” Matteo asked, crossing his arms and glaring down at the misshapen figure still covered by a few layers of sheets and pillows. “That’s a shame seeing as how his Italian family is going to be needing a new Don here soon.”

Matteo and Alessio waited. It took about thirty seconds for the twenty–two year old to pull the pillow from over his head and emerge from beneath the sheets. Matteo’s brow furrowed at the sight of his young cousin caught in the throes of depression. His greasy blond hair stuck up in multiple directions. His green eyes were bloodshot and he’d clearly lost about twenty pounds. Conor pulled himself up enough to sit back against his headboard. He shocked Matteo further by procuring a bottle of wine from somewhere among the sheets and blankets and taking a heavy swig.

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Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen

“Jesus Christ,” Matteo said with a shake of his head. He pulled out his packet of cigarettes and knocked it a few times against his palm before he pulled one out, lit it and extended it toward Conor.

Conor glanced at the olive branch and shook his head. He took another swig of the wine. “Mira doesn’t like it when I smoke.”

Alessio chuckled. “Good thing she won’t ever know.”

Matteo’s eyes cut to Alessio, a silent warming to watch his mouth. When he looked back at Conor his face had become even more sullen.

“Yeah. I guess you’re right,” he whispered, his voice small and heartbroken.

He took the cigarette from Matteo’s hand and inhaled long. He closed his eyes, let his head fall back against the headboard and released a large plume of smoke that collected in the top of the canopy.

“What do you want?” Conor asked, not opening his eyes as he took another drag. “I was planning on sleeping in til…” He glanced over at the clock with one eye screwed shut. “December,” he finished with a sigh.

“We have to talk.”

“About you killing my dad?”

“Among other things.”

“You want my permission?” Conor asked with a short laugh and a shake of his head.

“Nope, I don’t give a fuck what you think. Especially after seeing you. I know no one in your family will want to follow you so I don’t run the risk of retaliation,” Matteo answered.

Conor opened both eyes and leaned his head forward to glare at him. “Is that so?”

“Shall I get you a mirror?” Alessio prompted.

Conor’s eyes cut to his other cousin. “Fuck you.”

Alessio pulled his gun from his chest holster. “In my house?”

“Yeah! In your daddy’s house!”

“Hey!” Matteo yelled. “The fuck is wrong with the two of you? We have bigger shit to deal with than this. I’m getting married. I have an undercover cop up my ass and Michele down my throat. Save your fucking bullets for those who really deserve it, Les. Put. It. Away.”

Conor stared wide–eyed at Matteo, “You’re getting married?”

Matteo watched Alessio holster his gun before he looked back at his other cousin. He smiled, making Conor’s eyes widen further at the rare sight. “Yeah, in two days. I need you to get yourself cleaned up, Cugino, cause I can’t have you standing next to me looking like a vagrant.”

“You’re gonna have a Donna?” Conor asked, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Yes.”

“Is that why you came over uninvited?” Alessio asked, hiding his disbelief a tad better than his other cousin.

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Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen

Matteo met his eyes. “One of the reasons, yes.”

“And the others?” Alessio pushed.

Matteo sighed and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his palms. “Before I get started I need to make sure that what is said in this room doesn’t leave it. Conor, you’re not officially Don yet, but I need you to fucking grow up and act like one.” He waited for both of his cousins to nod. “The shit is about to hit

the fan back in the states.”

“My dad?” Conor asked, pulling his knees up to his chest.

“He’ll make his move after, I’m sure,” Matteo guessed.

“After…” Alessio said with a gesture for him to explain fully.

“The undercover cop I mentioned. I have intel that he means to make a name for himself by ridding the world of mine,” Matteo explained.

“He’s going to kill you?” Conor asked.

Matteo shook his head. “Worse.”

“If what you’re suggesting comes to pass, you can always stay here,” Alessio suggested.

Matteo scoffed. “You think I’d be so cowardly? No, not with Gen pregnant.”

“What?!” “Christ, Matteo.” His two cousins spoke at the same time.

“I assume you have a plan?” Alessio asked, widening his stance and crossing his arms.

“Yes… Sort of…”

“Matteo, it’s not like you to go half measure on anything.”

“I’m getting married. I’m having a child in eight months,” Matteo said with a heavy sigh. “I have a plan and the first stage will commence in three days.”

“After the wedding?” Conor asked.

Matteo nodded before he turned to Alessio. “That’s where I’ll need your help.”

“Manpower,” Alessio said with a nod.

Matteo shook his head again. “This visit. It’s not a vacation. It’s a drop off.”

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