Ahhh i'm SO excited about writing the next few chapterss

Happy reading!

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Chapter 29

Valentina

Downtown Manhattan, NY, USA - April 23rd, 2021

Turns out, Matteo knows about Isabella being in love with Vinnie. We didn't get to meet up last time after Marco's birthday, so she's spilling it all in the smoking area.

I could use a distraction from how absolutely fucking edible Matteo looks tonight. With his black shirt tucked into those dress pants and the perfume, dear God.

"Are you even listening to me?" Isabella asks.

"Yes."

"Liar."

"You're pissed with Vinnie because you're mad at yourself that he's not over Sofia yet." I summarize it for her, bluntly.

Her mouth opens.

"That is not what it's about."

"It kind of is though."

"No, it's not! I didn't tell Matteo everything because it wasn't the time, but the Sofia thing was the cherry on top of the cake. Everything started because I think he's been doing some bad things."

My entire mood changes. "What bad things?"

"I think he's getting into something that's not...ethical."

Mafia.

"Like what?"

I know she knows but doesn't want to tell me, but I'm not sure she knows about my family. I'm not even sure Matteo knows, but if he's in charge of laundering money for his father, then he must know some things. He's been his usual self though, and it's either because he knows and doesn't care or doesn't know at all. Either way, as long as we're normal, I'm not worried.

"Like...doing things people go to jail for."

I nod. "Ah." There's nothing I can say that won't make me a hypocrite.

"Anyway." She takes a sip of her drink, her eyes changing. "When are we going to talk about you and Matteo?"

It's my turn to gape. "Okay, fair. What about me and Matteo?"

"Well, you've been talking to him no?"

"Yes."

"Because you like him."

"Sure."

Her brows raise, annoyance all over her face. "You know what I mean."

"Are you mad?"

"I'm not mad. I just...you're my only real girl friend who I can trust to put me above any guy."

Guilt washes over me. She doesn't even know the half of it. She also doesn't know that there was a time when a part of him was literally inside of me.

"I would never-I would never choose a man over my best friend."

"Okay, I need to be honest." I say, knowing very well I'll start talking too much in a second. "We kissed last summer and he fingered me and then we kissed again in November and then on New Year's when I decided that if he's with Ariana I won't do it anymore. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you about."

She stops mid-smoke, looking shocked to the core.

"You-eeeeww." A hand goes to her chest and something gets off mine. "I can't believe you kissed. And you hid it from me!!"

"Technically, you never asked." I raise my other hand in defence. "But I'm aware it's on me. I should've told you, but then on my birthday you said something about me being your only friend who has never slept with him."

She shakes her head, processing the information.

"But you like him? Like- I just need to know how you feel about him."

"I like being in his presence."

Her eyes widen. She looks shocked once again, only this time it's not disgust but rather surprise. "Really?" she goes back to being her usual self. "But...why?"

She looks over my shoulder before I can even start thinking about it. I turn, only to see Matteo and Vinnie coming towards us. Vinnie is hesitantly trailing behind Matteo, who looks very determined to join our conversation.

Something in me flutters at the sight of him.

I wonder if it feels the same for Isabella.

"Are we interrupting?" Matteo asks, stopping by my side.

"Yes." Isabella and I answer in unison.

"Does anyone have a lighter?" Vinnie chimes in.

Isabella's arms are crossed, and she doesn't move a muscle, so I give him mine.

"What are we talking about?"

"I'm cold." Isabella says and throws her already burnt cigarette into the trash. I notice Vinnie's free hand inch towards his own jacket. Isabella doesn't. "I'm going to go back in."

I wave her my half-smoked cigarette and she nods, silently saying she doesn't need me to go with her.

Matteo motions to me. "Have you won a game tonight?"

"Yes. Blackjack, twice."

"Impressive."

Vinnie's face is unreadable, but I can tell that he's not present.

"You think I'd be capable of laundering money?" Matteo asks.

This gets Vinnie's attention.

"Yes, I do think."

"Just because it's a casino?"

"Aleski told me about the deal you had when you used to run the club."

"Really." He doesn't like it.

"Really."

He spares a look in Vinnie's direction. "And?"

I cross my arms over my chest. "And what?"

"What do you think?"

I remember what Isabella just told me about Vinnie. "Aren't you constantly scared you're going to go to jail?"

They look at each other, then back to me.

"Not really." Matteo answers.

I shrug. "Okay."

Him having dealers in the casinos and laundering that money through it doesn't seem like a big deal. Yuri is doing it for my father. Which, now that I think about it, would make Matteo the Italian Yuri. Which...which means that Matteo's father trusts him to run an enormous account.

Which! Which is incredibly hot.

I'm still thinking about Matteo running a multi-million dollar a month operation by the time we go back inside.

The inside still amazes me. The room is a large, open space stretching beneath the warm dimmed glow of chandeliers that shimmer like stars, casting soft shadows across the high ceilings. There is sultry music coming from the speakers, its volume low enough for me to hear murmured conversations, the shuffle of cards, and the occasional bursts of laughter.

I like the palm trees that reach toward the ceiling, scattered randomly across the room. It doesn't feel like New York, which is why I like it.

The bar is in the middle, shaped like a circle that allows for 360 bartending. The drinks are very aesthetically pleasing as well; they come with a flower or a fruit or something in them no matter what you order.

The two women are still at the bar, still very obviously trying to get Matteo to notice them. I feel creeped out at this point.

We get in line to get another round of drinks, and Vinnie goes to get the others.

"Doesn't it bother you?" I ask him.

"What?"

"Being ogled all the time."

He looks confused. "Doesn't it bother you?"

"What?"

"The guy in blue on the west side of the bar. The two men play at poker table four. The group in the smoking area."

"I-"

"A lot of people stare at you, Valentina." He looks around the open space. "I bet you could sleep with any guy here if you wanted to."

I wave it off. "Nah."

He points to the one sitting at the west end of the bar. Blue shirt. Mid-forties, probably. Average built and not entirely ugly.

"I dare you to go over there and ask him if he wants to have sex."

My mouth falls open. "I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because it's embarrassing."

"Nothing is embarrassing unless you're embarrassed, Valentina."

We're next in line to order, so we pause or conversation to do so. Once the bartender starts making the drinks, I give Matteo my full attention.

"He'll say no."

"So?"

I huff.

Alright. What do I have to lose besides my dignity?

"I'll never turn down a chance to be right." I say, straightening my back. "What do I get if I'm right?"

"I'll pay for your drink."

I'm not pleased. "You own the place."

"Bragging rights and I'll admit I was wrong."

A good businessman knows what his client wants. Again, impressive and unfortunately for my sanity, incredibly attractive.

"Alright."

He smiles like he knows everything. Sometimes I feel like he does.

The bartender sets the drinks in front of us, then moves on to the people behind us without even asking for Matteo's credit card.

"What am I even supposed to say?"

"You ask him if he wants to go up to a room with you and have some fun."

"Stop."

His bites down on his smile but still beams as he nods. "And really sell it."

I roll my eyes, trying to hide that I'm not enjoying his very blatant way of saying I'm attractive.

"Some guys will say no to me."

"Not to you."

I take my glass, down half of it, and then I'm off.

I try to be as consciously composed as I imagine a woman his age would be. My Tom Ford dress could come off as classy, which is exactly what this man's haircut suggests about his preferences.

"Hello." He greets me before I even have time to introduce myself.

He takes my hand and kisses the top of it. Oh God.

"Hi."

I look back at Matteo, who I've never seen so entertained.

"Let's go up to a room, what do you say?"

I cannot believe these words are coming out of my mouth.

The guy's eyes change, and I feel violated from the way he looks at me.

"Sure."

He pulls out a wad of cash from his trousers and swats a hundred-dollar bill on the bar.

I panic, because I didn't even think about the consequences.

"Actually- never mind." I say because I don't know what else I could say.

His demeanour changes. "Are you serious?" His back straightens. "Why are you wasting my time?"

I look towards Matteo for help, and he's already a step away from me.

He gives the guy two black chips and tells him to go enjoy his night.

We watch him walk away.

"That was-" I start. "Feels like I've had an outer body experience."

He laughs. "I was right."

"Yes. You were."

It's different; talking to him now that I don't need to hide anymore.

I stretch out my palm. "I'll take two complimentary black chips now."

"You're asking for two grand when you're the one who lost the bet?"

"I'm requesting two grand for emotional distress damages."

He laughs and nods as he takes out two black chips from his coat and places them in my palm.

"You cannot exchange them for cash, only other chips."

Of course, he's smart like that.

"Obviously not, you don't have one grand chips available to buy. And I wasn't going to. I'm going to play them."

His eyebrows raise. "Where?"

"Roulette." I say and already start walking in that direction.

He follows me. "Why Roulette?"

"Because it's the one you cannot possibly cheat at." I stop. "Unless you rigged them."

He shakes his head. "Nothing is rigged in here, but the odds are always in the casino's favour. It wouldn't be a business otherwise."

"Are you mansplaining business 101 to me?"

"The student has become the master." He says only because it'll annoy me.

"Rigging it would bring you even more money though."

"Rigged games are not fun."

I smile and stop next to the Roulette table.

"You should've-" he starts but I'm already placing a chip on red and the other one on even. "-gotten your chips exchanged." He finishes just as the dealer announces that betting is over.

We watch as the Roulette spins, then slows down, until the ball eventually stops.

I look up at him and smile.

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Seee you in the next chapter ahajhfjf I'm excited about where the story is going FINALLY I have been slow burning myself