7. MATTEO

For the past three years, I regreted every single thing that I did. And if only I could undo it, I would.

The weight of the past felt like a burden to my shoulders while I wipe my bike's side mirror. The hum of the morning wind didn't even help to calm the storm inside me. Giuli’s words kept echoing in my head. It was sharp, clear, and painfully true. I can't blame her if she doesn't want me back. I pushed her away.

She was stronger now. And I was the reason she had to be. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath.

I remember the scent of her hair everytime the wind blows it while she's riding with me in the road of down town n. How she used to laugh when we go over the speeding limit. That laugh—it was my compass. My lifeline.

It’s what kept me sane whenever womens threw themselves at me throughut that three years. Whenever they try to hit on me I always saw Giuli's face instead. I hear her laughter echo in my ears. Her dirty whispers at nights.

But I was long gone. And it's all because of me. I destroyed the one person who believd in me the most. Valentine was a consequences of my mistake that I’ll carry forever.

Giuli was someone I could never forget. I didn't even try. Not once. She's the only person stitched into my soul that everytime I laid I am haunted by her presence. I just wanted her back beside me because her anger would've been better than her absence in my life .

And now… I’m losing her. I’m losing my daughter for the second time whom I never even got to hold when she first opened her eyes. I’m losing the chance to make her laugh the way I used to make her mother laugh.

Sofia didn’t smile at me once today. Her little face was so pale, so quiet and it broke me in ways I never thot possible.

And Giuli… my dolcezza. My fire. I saw it in her eyes how much she wanted to believe in me. But her instincts tells her it's not safe because of what I did. Every action I do now, she's afraid thinking I'll turn my back at her again. That's ow badly she’s been hurt. By me.

As she stands taller, her silence is sharper than any blade. Her strength? It terrifies me. And yet… it makes me wanna be better.

My thoughts were interrupted by a call from my phone. Giuli’s Dad.

I stared at the screen, debting whether I should answer. The last time we spoke, his words weren’t exactly… comfortin. But out of respect, I picked up.

“Matteo." Antonio’s deep voice rumbled over the phone. “Come outside.” He firmly demnded.

My brows furrowed. “Why?”

“Just come outside.” he said before hunging up.

I stood there for a moment, unsure of whether to follow his orders or not and also thinking if this could be a trap by Giuli's family. As I opened my clubhouse's door and stepped into my garage, my eyes landed on the black SUV parked just across the clubhouse.

And then I saw Antonio coming out of the SUV as well as my two girls. Giuliana and Sofia. My heart pounded and my breath was caught in my throat. What are my two beautiful girls doing here?

Sofia stood between them, holding her mother’s hand. Her cheeks were paler than yesterday when I first met her.

Her natural curled hair bounced slightly as they walked towards the clubhouse. Her wide, innocent eyes lifted up at me.

And then when she's close enough, she reached out her tiny hand. My heart cracked open realizing she wants to be carried by me. His daddy.

I kneeled carefully because I'm afraid that all of this might just be a dream. I caressed her warm cheeks. “Hey, princess,” I murmered. "You okay?”

She didn’t speak but she nodded shyly and then lifted up her arms again in a silent request. Giuli looked at me warningly and permitting me as well to carry her.

I carried Sofia into my arms, carefully. She was so light. Too light. Her small arms looped loosley around my neck, and I swear I felt something shift in me.

We walked slowly inside the clubhouse together. Just the three of us. Antonio insisted to wait in the SUV if things didn't went great between me and Giuli. I could feel every eye turning toward us. My brothers. The women. But none of it mattered.

Giuliana followed, strong and sure. Her presence filled the room like fire and steel.

She waited until I gently sat Sofia on the worn-out couch and wraped her small blanket around her before she finally spoke.

“This changes nothing between us,” she said cooly, crossing her arms.

You're so wrong for that, dolcezza.

“You can see Sofia on weekends and when I'm not around because of work.” she continued, her voice even. “If you prove you can be trusted, we’ll talk about more. But her health comes first. If you cause her any stress or anything that makes her worse, I’ll cut you off.”

Her eyes burned into mine like saying 'one wrong move' and I'm dead.

“Do you understand me?” I nodded and swallowed. I could feel the forming lump in my throat. “Yes, ma’am. And I promise she’ll be safe. I already called the best doctor in the country. He’ll see her this week.”

But just as the moment and atmosphere between us was getting better, one of the women from the club who's been trying to hit on me for already a year decided to sit beside me and purr. Really? What the fuck. “Missed you last night, baby. You left me waiting.”

My heart stopped. Giuli blinked at her, then looked back at me. “Right. Nothing’s changed.”

“Giuli!” I stepped toward to stop her from running away, but she raised a hand.

“We’re nothing to each other anymore." she said directly while staring at me. “I’m only here for Sofia.”

She walked back to the couch and helped Sofia wear her coat and then gently picked her up. “Dolcezza, please.” I called.

As she carried our daughter back outside, Sofia looked over Giuli’s shoulder and gave me a little wave.