The Mafia King's Contract Bride

Chapter 18

DAMIAN

I looked at my wristwatch for the second time since I got into the car. It was finally Monday, and my bride hadn't come down yet. For someone who seemed excited when I informed her, she was late. My mind went back to the room then, how my touch had affected her, how it might have affected me too, how swiftly she had identified the problem in the document, and how excited the employment had made her. She walked out then, looking regal in the corporate outfit that Christy told me she got for her. She looked over at Matteo who was waiting for Christy in the other car and smiled before walking towards him, I frowned then and slowly rolled down my window.

“Where do you think you're going to?” I asked sharply and she froze before turning towards me with those widened eyes.

“I-I didn't know you were still here,” she said but didn't move.

“Now that you know, why are you still standing there?” I asked and she blinked. Christy walked out then.

“You're supposed to go with your husband, Sera,” she said and Seraphina turned towards her and whispered something that I wish I'd heard. Christy laughed then and walked towards me. “Be nice to her,” she warned.

“What did she say to you?” I asked her instead but she was already moving towards her car while my bride slowly moved towards mine.

The drive was silent, but I didn't miss the five times she threw glances at me. We got to the office and she got down faster than I'd ever imagined and walked towards Christy’s car and Christy led her in. I got down and walked towards the building, it was a busy day and I wasn't going to waste it on my bride.

**********

I was going through the files that my secretary had dropped earlier when Matteo knocked and came in.

"She's settled in," he said simply, but I didn't look up.

"I didn't ask," I replied and he nodded and placed the morning reports on my desk.

“We have a meeting with Jacob by 11,” he said and I nodded.

“Get the car ready,” I said and he simply nodded before leaving the office.

I got back to work then but the door opened again, this time without a knock. Christy.

“You know knocking is a thing, right, Christy?” I asked sternly and she scoffed.

“And you know not being an asshole is a thing, right?” she replied and I finally looked up.

“What do you want?”

“For you to be a little nice to her.”

I went back to my laptop then. “Who is her?” I asked.

“Your wife, silly.”

“How nicer can I be, Christy, I treat her as a wife,” I said but she shook her head.

“You make her scared.”

“And that is my fault? Everybody is scared of me.”

She looked at me for a few seconds before finally sitting down.

“She's had it hard, and you know it,” she started and paused. “You don't have to be harder on her.”

“She's a contract, and will be treated as one,” I said without looking up.

“Really?”

“Yes, and don't ever have this conversation with me, ever again,” I said and she stood up then.

“Understood, brother,” she said and straightened her dress. “But I'll remind you of this statement when you'll want to talk about her with me,” she said and I scoffed.

“Please,” I said and she smiled before walking out of my office. I looked up then. She's had it hard. Who hasn't? I thought and went back to work.

***************************

I walked inside Jacob’s office with Matteo behind me.

“Damian! Hi,” Jacob said immediately he saw us and I nodded.

“Nice to meet you, Jacob,” I said and quietly sat down.

Jacob was a childhood friend and the only person that seemed to know me well besides Matteo and my sister. He was also a businessman who helped in the supply of most of my goods.

“You asked for a meeting,” I started, getting into business immediately.

“Yeah, it was important.”

“I’m here now,” I said but he was looking at Matteo instead. “What?”

“He should excuse us,” he said and I scoffed.

“Speak, Jacob,” I said but he didn't. “Matteo is not a problem.”

“I’m sure he's not,” he said but didn't take his eyes from him. “But I want this private,” he said. Seconds went by and no one talked, Jacob was bent on having Matteo out of the room, so I turned and nodded at Matteo who left the room then.

“Five minutes,” I said immediately Matteo left and he nodded. He opened his drawer and brought out a letter and handed it over to me. I opened it and looked at him when I saw the writer. Vincenzo.

“He wants to work with me,” he said and I nodded. I could see that in the letter. “And he said someone in your gang is giving him information,” he continued and I looked at him then.

“And you think it's Matteo?” I asked with a smug smile, finding his accusation funny.

“We can't trust anyone,” he said and I looked back at the letter before folding it and handing it over.

“Thank you for the information,” I said while standing but he stood too.

“Think about what I said,” he said and I looked at him before slowly walking out.

The drive back was silent, I kept thinking about what Jacob had said. Matteo had been my second in command for a long time and I knew he wouldn't betray me, but why would Jacob suddenly suspect him and the information in the letter contained something important, something an ordinary man wouldn't know.

“What are you doing?” I asked suddenly and Matteo turned towards me.

“What?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Someone messed with information and gave it to Vincenzo, Matteo, was that you?” I asked and the car remained silent.

“If I have to ask again, you might not be alive to answer,” I said and he finally nodded.

“I did it to get information,” he said and I narrowed my eyes. “I needed him to think he could trust someone in the mansion.”

“And that someone must be you?”

“I didn't give out my identity, just enough to make him trust me,” he said and I looked at him again, enough to know that he wasn't lying to me.

“And?”

“Jacob wasn't being truthful,” he said and this time, I was genuinely confused.

“Be specific,” I said and he nodded.

“He might have shown you the letter but he called you to the office for something else,” he started and I narrowed my eyes again.

“He needed you physically to put a tracker on you, and to make sure we are being followed right now,” he said and I quickly turned back and he was right.

Two black cars were following us.

“That's not all boss,” he said and I turned towards him. “One car is following Sera and Christy too.”