Bloodied Hands (Bellandi Crime Syndicate 1)

"Nope, not happening, Ive." Duke crossed his arms over his chest. I fished my pan out, slipping butter in and hanging my head once the heat was on.

"There was a slight incident at the restaurant," I admitted. "One of Matteo's business rivals became interested in me, cornered me in the bathroom. Matteo seems to think he's dangerous, so for the time being I'm stuck with Scar."

"Shit," Sadie muttered, and I watched as Duke's eyes flared. He stood from the stool, striding around the island to turn off the heat on my stove.

"Pack your shit, Ive."

"Duke-" I protested. We'd been here before.

"No, I let you try it your way. Do you see how well that worked out?" He pointed outside, where I could practically feel Scar watching our interactions through the mirror.

"I can't."

"Do not tell me you're getting sucked into his web again!" Sadie jumped up, hands on her hips. "Do you remember what happened last time? You were so happy with him, and fell so hard, and he crushed you!"

"I'm not!" I ran my hands over my face. "I just, I don't think it will matter if I'm here or at your house. You don't know the full story yet." I knew my grimace was visible and watched as Duke's face morphed in anger.

"What, Ivory?" Sadie's voice gentled, seeming to realize I was balancing delicately on the edge of sanity.

"He was here this morning when I woke up," I whispered.

"The goon? I figured he turned up at some point, since he's outside now," Duke said, and I turned wide eyes his way.

"No. Not Scar, I mean him too." I sighed, even I knew I was doing a shit job of explaining a shitty situation. "Matteo."

"What did he want? Introduce Scar?" Sadie asked, and I knew she was as confused as Duke looked.

"Matteo was in bed with me when I woke up," I spat out.

"You slept with him?" Sadie hissed, looking at me like I'd lost my mind.

"No! I went to bed alone," I explained. "He—I think he picked the locks. Crawled into bed with me while I was sleeping. Scar and Matteo's security guy were down here when I tried to leave. They told me it would be pointless to run. That he would never stop," I gasped, feeling the weight of their stares on me.

"Holy shit," Sadie whispered and her brow furrowed.

"Duke?" I asked, watching as his face hardened to a point I'd never seen before.

"He was in your bed with you? After he broke in?" I nodded, feeling tears pool in my eyes when he turned and strode out of my house without another word.

"Duke!" I yelled, chasing after him.

Sadie grabbed my arm, stopping me from following him out the door. "Let him go. He needs to cool off, think things through. You know how protective he is of you."

I nodded, feeling like I'd fucked up again.

I shouldn't have told them.

“What are you going to do?” she asked.

"I don't know, Sadie. This time I really don't know."

Ten

Matteo

I couldn't wait to get back to Ivory, but the life I lived stopped for no one. Taking a day off to spend with my angel just wasn't possible, especially not with Adrian sniffing around her like a rabid dog. Donatello poked his head in my office while Lino and I were going over some upgrades to one of the apartment buildings I owned within the city. "Paolo called. Mr. Bradley has left Miss Torres' home. In a fit, evidently."

I smirked. "I can't imagine he's pleased to know I'm back in her life."