Mateo Caputo (Unseen Underground 2)

But when I finally looked at her, I knew I couldn’t ask.

“I’m so over today,” Aida sighed, leaning her head back and staring up at the ceiling. I stayed quiet

, not sure what to say, but she continued, “I hate when my routine is changed.” She let her head drop, meeting my stare. “Know what I mean?”

“I…sure?”

Our coffees were placed on the table between us, steam flowing off each of the cups.

“Mateo always brings me to college.” She wrapped her hands around her cup, and I just hoped she couldn’t see the way my pulse quickened at the sound of his name. “But Romeo brought me this morning.” She growled and my brows shot up on my forehead. “He doesn’t even talk. Literally just grunts.”

“Romeo?” I asked, having no idea what she was talking about.

“Yeah.” She lifted her cup, blowing on the hot liquid and then taking a sip. “My husband is their boss. Although, he’s Romeo’s cousin too.” She paused. “Not that I’m complaining.” Her eyes widened. “I’m glad Mateo has moved out of that apartment, but it means I’m stuck with the silent, broody guy today.”

“Moved out?” I asked, trying to sound completely casual as I picked up my coffee too. I’d seen the trucks there this morning, but now she was confirming it.

She nodded, then froze. “Mateo did tell you, right?”

“Yeah, yeah.” I grinned, acting like an Oscar winner. “Of course he did. I just didn’t realize it was today.”

“It’s going to be good for him and the kids.” She placed her cup down and clicked her fingers. “You’ve met the kids, right?” I didn’t even have a chance to answer as she leaned closer. “I’m dying to meet them. What are they like?”

All of the front I’d put on since I’d run into her washed away, and a gentle smile lifted at my lips. “They’re…such good kids. Chiara, she’s four and so cute. Honest to God, the cutest kid I’ve ever set eyes on.” I stared at a spot on the wall behind her. “And Riccardo, he’s always talking or doing something, mainly looking after his little sister. You’d never guess he was seven if you met him.”

“Ugh.” Aida leaned back in her seat with such force the chair moved. “I just want to meet them. I bet they’d get along so well with my niece.” Her eyes glazed over, her mind taking her anywhere but here.

I waited for her to say something else, but when she stayed silent, I said, “Ask him to meet them,” wanting to take that look away from her eyes. I didn’t know why I didn’t want to see anything but happiness in her eyes. When I’d first seen her on the pathway last week laughing, I’d thought she was easygoing, but now that I was sitting opposite her, I could see there was so much more to her than what I’d first seen.

And in that moment, I realized I’d judged her, just like everyone did to me. They took one look at me and who my parents were and shoved me to the side, not wanting to bother. I hated when people did that to me, and that was what I’d done to Aida. I’d put her in a box, not even giving her a chance. And now I was here, sitting opposite her and wishing I could get to know her more.

“I keep asking, but he just has so much going on. And then the business is—” She cut herself off, her cheeks turning red. “I mean, everything is just so hectic, you know?” I didn’t know, but it was obvious from the way she reacted that she was saying too much. “Anyway, tell me about you.” She placed her hand on her chin. “Have you chosen your major yet?”

“Not yet.” I gnawed on my bottom lip. “I know what I want to be, I’m just not sure how to get there. I need to keep my GPA up for my scholarship, so I’m just trying to get my prerequisites out of the way first.”

“That’s a good plan.” The ringing of her cell blasted out, and she sighed, showing me the name Romeo on her screen. She clicked ignore, grinning as it started immediately ringing again. “That’ll teach him.” She pushed her shoulders back, looking super proud of herself. She placed it on the middle of the table, and we both watched as he called her over and over again. “I need Mateo back,” she whined.

I wanted to tell her I knew how she was feeling. I hadn’t seen him once since the morning in the apartment, and however needy it sounded, I just wanted to see him one more time. I wanted to know I didn’t imagine the look in his eyes as he stared down at me on his bed. I wanted to know that he felt the connection that I did.

Aida’s cell rang again, but this time the name Lorenzo flashed on the screen. “Should have known,” she ground out, picking her cell up and holding it to her ear. “Hello?” She grinned at me as she listened to the person on the line. She paused. “Yes?” She tilted her head. “I’m with a friend.” Tapping her fingers on the table, she asked, “Where are you?” I took a gulp of my coffee now that it had cooled down. “I told you, I’m with a friend.” She raised her brows, the silence stretching. “Yeah, well, Romeo is boring. He didn’t say a single word to me on the way here.” Her nostrils flared, her annoyance loud and clear. “I do. He messed up my chi.” She narrowed her eyes. “Yeah. My chi. I haven’t even been able to go to classes he messed it up that much.”

I bit down on my bottom lip to hold my laugh in. She was being dramatic, but I had no doubt she knew that.

“I need you to come get me.” I heard the deep baritone over the line and then her eyes widened. “You are?” She took a drink of her coffee, trying to down it but shivering at the action. “Why didn’t you start with that? I’ll be out in two minutes. Just going to say bye to my friend.”

She grabbed her bags and turned to face me as she ended the call. “Hubby saved me from a silent ride with Romeo.” She chuckled but couldn’t contain her grin. She stood, tapping on the table. “Let’s do this again.”

“Okay.” I nodded, not sure if we would. It was what most people did to be polite, but as she rushed out of the store, I couldn’t help but hope we could. I’d never had a real friend. Maybe she could be my first.

* * *

MATEO

Being a member of the Beretta Mafia wasn’t just about the mansions and money. That was just a front for the people from the outside looking in. It was about brotherhood—trust—but it was also full of deception. There was always someone waiting in the ranks to take you down, and today was no different.

The Enterprise had been in place for decades, but the more meetings we attended, the clearer it was becoming that what used to work with Lorenzo’s dad, Luca, no longer fit the situations we were in.

Lorenzo spoke of a time when The Enterprise would work together, but as I stood here staring at two of its members around the table, I knew it was no longer the case.