“Did you want a drink, pet?” I asked Mae, brushing my hand to her nape.
“Yes please.” She nodded vigorously.
Smart girl. We took our drinks and sat on the white leather couch with Mae kneeling at my feet.
I almost demanded for her to sit on the couch beside me but I knew that my father wouldn’t approve of it. Mae saved me from getting questioned by him. “Thank you,” I said, kissing her cheek.
She nodded.
“I hate to interrupt this little moment,” my dad said waving a hand between us. “But we need to talk.”
Mae inched a hand under my pant leg, brushing her thumb back and forth over my calf.
“Fine. Talk,” I said, sitting back on the couch.
“How well do you know Morgan Weis?”
(Mae)
Matteo stiffened behind me, his grip on my hair tightening. “Why?”
Not being able to look up, I listened to the interaction going on around me. Mr. Santos egged Matteo on. For whatever reason, he didn’t treat his son the way a father should.
“Just answer the question,” Mr. Santos demanded. “I’ve heard some rumors and I want to know if they’re true.”
“I’ve told you everything. As much as I could until you told me to leave your presence. You were disgusted that I allowed such a thing to happen. How could I, Matteo Santos, the son of the prestigious, Edwin Santos, fall victim to a woman?”
A shiver of unease washed over me at Matteo’s words.
“You said that never happened.”
“I lied,” Matteo shouted.
“Marketa,” Edwin barked. “Leave us.”
“Like fuck. She leaves, so do I.”
I remained completely still, refusing to listen to the man who treat the only son he had like shit.
“Fine. You want to do this with her here? By all means.” Edwin sat forward¸ slamming the tumbler on the table. “Look at me, girl.”
I swallowed hard when his dark eyes pierced into mine. I had seen that look before. It was intense. Filled with scrutiny and lack of trust. Matteo had given me that same look time and time again.
“Do you love my son?”
“Yes. With everything in me”
“Good. I pray you still love him after tonight.”
His words registered inside of me. Why he said what he did was beyond me. Of course I would love Matteo after the night was over. Nothing would make my feelings for him change. As much as his relationship with Morgan sickened me, it was before I was ever in the picture. I trusted him when he told me that he hadn’t fucked her since meeting me. Even though I was sure she tried. But her men, the evil bastards she had at her beck and call daily, bothered me more. Matteo never told me the exact details on what had happened the last time he saw them. But the fresh wounds on his back told me that it wasn’t a pleasant visit.
“Marketa,” Edwin said softly.
“I will love Matteo no matter what happens or what is said.”
“Good girl.” Edwin peered at his son. “Tell me why you agreed to meet with me when it’s been at least a year since we saw each other last.”
“You asked me here,” Matteo said, his hand cupping my nape.
“I’ve asked to meet up before today and you have always made excuses.” Edwin’s brows narrowed. “What’s wrong?”
Matteo shifted behind me. “I…I need your help.”
My heart jumped, knowing it wasn’t easy for Matteo to get those words out when the relationship he had with his father had been estranged for so long.
“You need my help?” Edwin’s eyes widened.
“Fuck. Yes. Don’t make me beg. I am your fucking son.”
“Start acting like it then,” Edwin snapped.
“Fuck you, dad. I have tried to act like your fucking son since the day I was born. But you shut me out. You blamed me for your wife’s, my mothers, death. You treated me like a disease. Why didn’t you throw me away if you didn’t want me? Why did you have to raise me in that shit? Why did you let me meet her?” Matteo threw question after question at his father, his voice only getting louder and louder.
Edwin never backed down. “I never blamed you for your mother’s death.”
Matteo scoffed. “Wow. Are you fucking shitting me right now?”
“Watch it, boy.”
“No. I’m done.” Matteo released me, sitting forward. “You can threaten me all you want but it’s nothing compared to what I’ve been through already. Do you know how it feels when you tell someone something in confidence and they don’t believe you? I opened up to you. I