Accardi (Genevieve and Matteo) by Allison Franklin novel Chapter 67

Gen’s fingers slowed to a stop after Jada spoke the name she’d refused to utter for two years. She glanced around her computer to find

Jada staring down at her lap.

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“Dane? The guy you dated from college?”

Jada smirked. “I met him while in college, but he wasn’t a student. He was in the crime world. A pretty big player. I met him at a party.

He was tall, dark, dangerous. Just enough of a bad boy to be exciting but he was sweet to me, gentle, caring.” Jada looked up. “There are

things you don’t know about my family. About my mom and I’s life before we met your dad. Things I can’t tell you even though I wish I

could. But Dane knew. He knew all along. He wanted to use me. I didn’t realize who he really was until it was too late. He started getting

abusive. He would hit me, throw me around… rape me,” Jada admitted in a small voice, looking away as if ashamed. Gen quickly stood up

and walked around the desk. She crouched in front of Jada and took her hands.

“I’m sorry, Jada. I didn’t know. Please forgive me,” Gen whispered.

Jada squeezed her hands and smiled. “I wanted to tell you but Mom had promised your dad we would never involve you in these things.

That’s why I got so upset when you met Accardi.”

“You don’t have to tell me anymore,” Gen said, brushing some of her hair behind her shoulder.

“No, I need to at least say this…” Jada took a deep breath. “I was with Dane for a while and I started going along with whatever he

wanted.”

“A survival tactic,” Gen said with a nod.

“Yeah, I guess. Anyway, one day we went to this fundraiser. I said something that upset him and he took me to the bathroom and started hitting me. What he didn’t know, though, was that there was someone already in there.” Jada smiled and swiped a tear from her cheek. “That’s the night I met Louis. He saved me. Without even knowing my name he promised he would never let anything happen to me again. And he hasn’t. He’s a good man.” Jada took a deep breath and met Gen’s eyes with resolve. She squeezed Gen’s hands hard. “As is

Accardi.”

“Was he in the bathroom too?” Gen asked with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

Jada smiled and shook her head. “No.” She looked down. “He was there after. He helped Louis and I to clean up the mess I’d created. He made deals, paid people off, went to war for Louis all because Louis fell in love with me. Accardi will do anything for those he loves. He takes care of his people, his family. He’s taken care of me, though maybe not directly. I know if anything ever happens, I can go to him. Any of us can,” she said gesturing around as if his power encompassed the whole building. Gen sighed and went back to her own seat, facing away from the door.

“If you’re such a fan of his… Why have you been telling me to stay away from him?” Gen asked.

Jada looked down at her lap. “Selfish reasons, Genevieve.” Jada looked up. “This life is not easy. Look at what happened the other week. If you go through with this, your life will never be the same. You will always be in danger. Sometimes loving someone isn’t enough to survive this way of life. From now on, if you decide to be with Accardi, I will support you. But he’s not Louis. He’s the boss of an entire

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family. The stakes I am involved in are small potatoes compared to what you would go through. All I ask is that you really think about

whether your love for him is worth it. You won’t go back to Boston. You won’t have freedom to do anything or go anywhere. Your life

would revolve solely around him. Please, just think about it before you decide.”

“I have been thinking,” Gen said with a sigh. “I think…”

Jada’s eyes widened as she looked at the door. Gen slammed her lips shut. A moment later she felt hands caress her shoulders but the

fingers she felt did not belong to Matteo.

“Paul?” Jada asked, surprised at the sudden appearance of Gen’s high school boyfriend.

“Hey, Jade, you look great!” Paul said, squeezing Gen’s shoulders.

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Gen pulled away and stood so she could get some space. “Paul, what are you doing here?”

“My meeting is done with Accardi so I thought I’d drop by and talk to you before I left.” He flashed her his brightest smile but there was a darkness to his eyes.

Gen instinctively stepped back. It was the look he’d always give her when he became jealous of another man. He usually looked at her that way after he’d beat the ever–loving shit out of someone and was about to take the rest of his frustration out on her. Jada, possibly sensing the new tension, came around the desk to stand beside Gen.

“You work with Accardi?” Jada asked.

Paul’s jaw ticked and he shrugged. “Nah, he couldn’t offer me the money I needed to keep working for him. I guess business isn’t as great as he wants everyone to think. I have an offer from a different player. I’ll go see him before I leave town… Which brings me to the other reason I stopped by. Jada, do you mind?” Paul asked, bobbing his head at the door.

“Uhh…”

“You stay, I’ll just step outside with him,” Gen assured her. She folded her arms and walked out into the hallway. She felt Paul walking closely behind. Out in the hall, he swiveled around and raised his eyebrows suggestively. “What do you want, Paul?”

“That second chance I keep begging you for.”

Gen rubbed her temples. “You live in Austin.”

Paul shrugged. “Maybe not for long.” Paul stepped forward and placed a hand against the glass at her head. She leaned backward away from him and gave him a tight smile.

“I don’t really care where you live. I was being nice. I am not interested. Our era is done and gone.”

Paul leaned forward as if he meant to kiss her. She placed a hand against his chest, barring him from coming any closer. He looked down at her hand and pouted.

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Chapter Sixty–Seven

“At the very least, I could show you a good night, you know, for old times‘ sake?” Paul whispered in a voice that used to make her knees weak. “Let me take you to dinner. I’ll even promise to not go home with you. Just dinner, some reminiscing before I leave for Austin tomorrow morning. One dinner and I’ll leave you alone.”

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Gen’s annoyance knew no bounds. She knew exactly what was going on. She’d dated the guy for four years and yet he acted as though all

of his old tricks would still work.

“I’m good,” she said, pushing him a step back.

He raised his hands in surrender and winked. “Give me a call when you change your mind,” he said, glancing down the hall toward the

tinted windows of Matteo’s office. “I have a feeling it will be sooner than you think.”

Gen rolled her eyes as Paul turned and walked away. Kaitlin gripped a pile of folders tighter to her chest as Paul walked by. He must have winked because Kaitlin’s face turned scarlet. Beside her, Alexander seemed to notice her reaction. His normally stoic face turned

murderous as he looked between Paul’s retreating figure and Kaitlin’s obvious fascination. She squeaked as Alexander grabbed her by the

upper arm and pulled her down the hallway until they were out of view. Interesting.

A second later she heard someone snickering. She glanced back to her left and inwardly groaned as Mallory sashayed toward her. Mallory

fixed her ruffled top and pulled at her skirt. She looked up, acting surprised to find Gen watching her. She flicked her hair behind her

shoulder, showing off some marks circling her neck. Mallory gave Gen a victorious grin.

“Seems you took too long, Gen. Men like him don’t wait around forever. He sure does love pinning us to the wall, doesn’t he?” she gloated

with a broad smile and an evil laugh.

Gen’s stomach churned as she looked back at Matteo’s office. She clenched her fists. She pulled her phone from her pocket and held it to

her ear as she stalked back into her office where Jada continued to wait.

“Genevieve?” the surprised voice came on the other end.

“Keep your sister on a fucking leash or I’ll handle her myself and we both know what that will look like,” Gen said before ending the call.

Jada’s mouth hung open as she understood what Gen had just done. “Genevieve… was that Louis?”

“I have a meeting that just came up. Do you mind if I call you later?” Gen asked, already walking out of her office.

“Yeah, sure, but… with who?” Jada called from the doorway.

Gen’s eyes were singular as she stormed toward her objective, “Matteo fucking Accardi, that’s who,” she mumbled under her breath.

“Uh, Miss Sinclair?” Mrs. Tutt called from the conference room.

Genevieve glared at her own reflection in Matteo’s door. She unclenched her hand from the door handle and turned to find Mrs. Tutt and Bella watching her from the conference room doorway.

Mrs. Tutt gestured toward the room filled with people. “Our meeting?”

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Gen’s face flamed. She looked toward Kaitlin’s desk but her assistant was still nowhere to be found. “Right, sorry, of course,” Gen said,

shuffling quickly away from the object of her anger.

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