Chapter 15: Under the surface
The drive back to Matteo’s villa was quiet, each une dokiing is a reflective since that Isabel welcomed. Her mind was aher, running through the encounters of the day–the wrth et the Hallan streets, Don’s quiet natty, and Matteo’s Hegering protectiveness. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to both men than they let on, but Mateo was the one who does her thoughts back, a shadow she couldn’t quite capture, no matter how close she got
She glanced sideways at him as he drove, his face sot in cententration, the city lights casting freting glimmers cross his features. The intensity she’d seen before was still their, but there was something gentler about him at this moment, unded news that made him feel somehow closer yet still tades away.
when thre reached the villa, he packed and opened her door, offering a warm but restrained smile. “Home sweet home,” he murmured.
abel couldn’t help but smile back, though the day’s events fingered on her mitt. They walked up the path, and when they reached the front door, Matteo nimed to her, his expression other than usual
“Goodnight, Isabella,” he said, his voice tooth but edged with something deeper.
She paused, looking up at him in the dim light “states. Why don’t you ever sleep in the house?”
There was a best of silence, his face barely illuminated, but she could sense the slight andle pulling at the corners of his lips. “Because I have my own place just across the
Dabel titted her heat, her brow furrowing “And why is that? Het volke was curious, a thle teasing, though she couldn’t deny the genuine interest beneath it.
He leaned against the doorwas, his eyes tracing her face thoughtfully. “To show you that I’m not what you think lam”
Sheblinked, caught off guard by the softness in his words. “And what exactly do you think I think you are?” she replied, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Matteo chuckled, his game dropping to the ground for a moment before meeting her eyes again. “A villain, maybe,” he said with a hint of humor. “Or someone with a darker apenda. Whatever assumptions you have, I want to challenge them.”
Isabel found herself smiling, surprised by his openness. “Touchli tha kril need more convincing, though.”
Matteo held her gaze, an unreadable expression passing over his tace, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was an intrigued by her as she was by him. “Maybe “hereplied, his vice low, “‘re closer to figuring it out than you think.”
i thoughthilly, the silence between them hanging for a few heartbeats longer than necessary. Finally, she asked, “So, where did you go tarber? You just…
The question brought a slight tension to his postime, his easy demeanor stating ever so slightly. “Thad something urgent to take care of,” he said, his tone suddenly cautious.
“What was “She searched his face,catching a flickerot hesitation that piqued her carlosky even more.
Micro glanced away, his jos tightening subtly rean’roll you that, Isabella”
She folded her arms, her gave sharpening “Whynot?”
Ha erpes returned to hers, his gaze steady hut guarded. “Some things are better left unsaid.”
Isabel’s trustrationbubbled up, her voice gaining an edge. “You know, for someone who wants to comince me you’re not a villain, you sure are good at keeping secrets.”
Matteo smirked, though his expression was strained. “Not everything is meant to be understood, tabella. You’re fast going to have to trust me on that
She exhaled sharply, shaking her head “Trust? You left me alone in a city I barely know. And the minute you were gone, some creep tried to comer me.”
Hestiffened, a flicker of concern breaking through his calm facade. “What happened?” His voice was quiet, but there was an unmistakable intensity in his eyes.
“Don was the one who came to my tracur,” she replied, watching his reaction closely. “He just happened to be there when things got uncomfortable.
The moment she mentioned Dun’s name, a dark shadow possed over Matteo’s expression, and he stepped back slightly as though her words had hit a nerve.
“Don’t mention his name here again,” he said, his voice suddenly cold.
habelarched an eyebrow, challenging him with her gue. “Why? Why not?”
Matteo’s face hardened, and there was a flash of imitation in his eyes. “Because I said so.”
She delt bertemper flare at his evasiveness, the tension between them crackling like a live wine. “Matteo, you can’t just expect me to take your word for everything you won’t tell me why, then how am I supposed to trust you?
Hinjaw clenched, a flicker of frustration breaking through his calm demeanor. “I’m trying to protect you, sabella Not everything needs to be explained.”
She stepped closer, het voer low and unyielding “Protect me from what? Don’t you think I deserve to know?
The air between them grew thick, and her heart pounded as she held his gaze. He booked down at her, his expression fierce and protective but als conflicted, as though he were struggling with what ty
“Isabella “hebegan, but he trailed ort, his hesitation only turling her frustration.
“Stop treating me I’m fragile,” the shot back, her tone sharper than intended, “I’m not same porcelain doll, Matteo. If there’s something Ineed to know, then just tell me.”
For a moment, day sood there, the tension between them taut and electric Matteo’s eyes bore into hers, and she felt herself getting swept up in his intensity, drum to the shadows flickeringin his a
“Somethings,” he finallysed, ils voice bow and righ, “are better left unspoken.”
Her frustration reached a boiling point, and before she knew it, she was closing the distance between them, her gaze unwavering as she stood on her tiptoes, her face mere inches frombs. “Why won’t you let me in, Kate? Are you afraid see something you don’t want me to?”
Mate’s pression soften,
tracing her face at searching for something but he held his ground. “I’m trying to keep you safe, Isabella,” he murmured, his ver barly above whisper. “You may not understand that now, but one day you will.”
Herage simmered, but she couldn’t ignore the warmth spreading through her at his words, the way he looked at her with a blend of protectiveness and something deeper. She www.close enough to feel his breach, close enough to see the lack of something vulnerable in his eyes.
“Sale from what?” the pressed, her tone after now, almost pleading “Just tell me, Matteo I’m not asking for the world. Just a little honesty.” Heexhaled slowly, his gazeificering with indecision, but just when she thought he might relent, he shook his head. “Goodnight, Babella”
Chapter 15. Under the surface
He took a step back, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before he turned away, leaving her standing there in the dim light, her heart pounding v and something else she couldn’t quite name.
e with a
a mixture of anger
As he disappeared into the shadows, she was left with more questions than answers, a fire of curiosity burning within her that refused to be extinguished. The quiet of the night settled around her, but her mind was anything but calm, her thoughts racing with the mysteries Matteo seemed determined to keep hidden. Isabel sighed, watching the place where he’d stood, feeling the Engering heat of their argument mix with a deepening intrique.
