Matteo

"Boss in the most respectful way, you have fucked up."

"Shut the fuck up, Reggie." Vincent said, a bit agitated.

"What?" Reggie asked innocently. "He basically scarred Aurora for the rest of her life."

Matteo cringed as he thought about his barbaric actions in front of her. If he was being completely honest, he was not thinking in that moment and lost all sanity.

"I can understand since that fucker always presses our buttons." Vincent sighed. "What the fuck was he doing here anyway?" he asked Matteo.

Matteo leaned back into his seat. "He wanted to take Aurora out. I couldn't let that happen."

"That's it? That is the reason you almost killed him?" Reggie asked in disbelief.

Matteo just gave Reggie a look. He didn't want to admit to what he clearly implied since he couldn't look like a fool in front of them. He drank a bit of the whiskey from his glass and didn't answer.

Reggie laughed. "Un po' gelosi, non siamo capi? Eh." (Little bit jealous aren't we boss? Huh)

Matteo shot Reggie dark look and Vincent began to bicker with him. While the two were engrossed in a conversation, Matteo faced the window as he sipped on his drink.

There was no other rational explanation for his sudden outburst with Chandler. There was the years of endless bad blood between the two cousins, but never a stronger hatred for seeing him close with a woman. It was a burning feeling inside of him, one that brought a strange bitter sensation in his stomach whenever he saw them together.

His hatred for his cousin started before he met Aurora, but for some reason in went deeper than that. There was burning hot jealousy bubbling inside of him that reached it's peak unfortunately in the wrong way. It scared her off to see that side of him and until today he hadn't cared about that.

He didn't care if she saw him kill someone previously but that feeling wasn't there anymore. It wasn't as satisfactory as before, all that could fill up his heart was guilt, a heavy burden of guilt.

God he felt like a total bitch. It must be the whiskey that is making him feel this shitty way.

"Is she mad?" he heard himself ask.

The room was still as no one answered the question as if it fell upon deaf ears. Matteo had his back turned towards the two men yet he could feel their questionable gazed burning against his back.

There was hesitation in their voices. "Huh?"

"Aurora," he answered, "Is she mad?"

The words tasted like a bitter substance on his tongue when they left his lips. He felt confused at what he was saying, never once conversing with his comrades about things involving a woman.

He continued looking at the view in front of him as he awaited their response.

"Capo has a crush." Reggie all but softly snickered.

Reggie cleared his throat after seeing none of the men smiling with him. "I don't think she's mad. I think that maybe she's just confused."

"Confused?"

Reggie hummed. "She has no idea what you do for a living. Vederti in quello stato potrebbe averla scioccata, ma l'ha lasciata più confusa." (Seeing you in that state might have shocked her but it left her more confused.)

Matteo was impressed that Reggie actually made sense for the first time.

"È scioccante che tu abbia avuto un senso per una volta." Vincent said. (It's shocking that you made sense for once.)

"Fuck you."

"What do I do now?" he asked, turning around to face the two gentlemen.

The both gave each other a look of bewilderment mixed with pure interest. They must be enjoying this moment where their boss has no idea of what the next move will be, and is asking them for help.

Help is too big of a word, asking for advice is a bit more suitable.

"Well the only logical thing you can do is to talk to her. She needs a bit of clearance on the matter as to what happened with Chandler." Reggie said.

"First give her space, boss. She is probably a bit shaken up on what transpired. Seeing you now will be a bit much." Vincent chimed in.

Matteo sighed, thinking about what the two men had told him. It made sense to keep his distance from her and give her time to process what had happened. What Reggie has suggested is a bit out of his comfort zone per-say.

He was not that much of a talker who could deal with "conflict" by talking. The only thing he was good at was removing people permanently by force and that would solve the issue. However, he could not do that even though she has witnessed something she shouldn't have seen, twice.

What had he become?

A person who considers another person's feelings and that belonging to a female. He knew that his father wouldn't at all be impressed about the way he is behaving, not in the least. His father would lecture him about the events that happened with his mother and that would be enough for Matteo to close off.

He couldn't trust women. Not after what his mother had done to his father.

"Parliamo di affari." Matteo said, flicking his jacket to the back and settling down onto his chair. (Let's talk business)

Reggie and Vincent shared a look before taking a seat in front of Matteo's desk.

***

Punch.

Punch.

Punch.

He swung his fist back and hit the punching bag, each time harder than the last. His frustrations and anger were all poured into his punches as he tried to release some of his pent up rage.

Sweat glistened against his skin as it trickled down his body. His breaths came out in slight pants and groans resonated throughout his private gym. Matteo had an image in front of him that made him only hit harder and harder.

He imagined the red punching bag to be Chandler. It wasn't something new to him to picture it to be Chandler, but this time he had a pretty good reason for it to be him. This is what he wanted to do to him for making him feel something like jealousy.

Why? That was the question that was on his mind for the longest time. Why was she so important to him now? Why did she occupy his thoughts this much? Why does he react that way towards her?

He hated this feeling. This feeling should have never be able to creep it's way into his heart. There was no room for a third party in his dark heart, which beats for fear and violence. If he could go back in time and never sat in the park that night, he would do it without a doubt.

He would do it so that he never had to meet some girl. Some girl that wormed her way into his life and scratched the hard surface of his demeanor. The day he asked her to stay with him was a mistake, and he would regret it for the rest of his life.

Aurora.

Matteo's movements seized the instant he heard the loud clanking of metal hit the hardwood floor. There were dozens of sounds as it crashed onto the floor, sounding like some metal sticks hitting the ground. His head whipped to the side to see what had happened.

Aurora stood with her eyes wide and a hand over her mouth, looking back and forth between Matteo and the rack that had fallen. He didn't understand what she was doing down here and how she even got here. It was though a funny sight to see the frightened little girl quiver at the mess she had made.

"I-I'm sorry!" she squeaked.

She bent down, her thin arms trying to pick up the heavy weights that had fallen. She struggled and pulled with all her might but it did not even move an inch. He watched her as she heaved and grunted, trying to pick it up.

At that moment Matteo felt like he had malfunctioned. She was such a pathetic little person but there was something weird about it that he found fascinating. While she tried to pick up the weights he bit back a smile, all though he's attempts were proven to be futile.

A little smile was painted on his face as he watched the red-headed girl, struggling on the floor and not giving up. It was such a hilarious sight to see and Matteo must admit he quite enjoyed this moment.

Oh Aurora, what have you done?

Hello!!!!!!

This was a very short chapter I know and I am sorry. I just couldn't delay the upload any longer and I had to write something. It was my original plan for this chapter but I couldn't think further so I ended it there.

What do you guys think though? Do you think there is some character development on his side? Please comment your thoughts.

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Have a good day everyone, love yah.