05

Matteo Salvatore

I extinguished the cigar and glanced at the surroundings out of the corner of my eye. There was nothing I couldn’t handle, no problem big enough to shake my control.

The large glass door to my office opened, letting the cold wind of New York in and hitting my face. It had been a while since I’d seen summer, but the snow and cold didn’t bother me; they were just another part of the city.

I saw myself in the glass of the door. I quickly looked away and saw Silvia, my blonde secretary, walking in. She looked as perfect as always, but not even that distracted me.

"The boss has an appointment, Mr. Salvatore."

"Thank you, Silvia. There’s no way to forget this one." And I really couldn’t. The appointment wasn’t with just any woman; it was with my future wife, the woman I left behind years ago without giving her any explanation.

I knew I didn’t deserve forgiveness. My life had never been easy. I grew up in a poor neighborhood, living with my mother. But the Salvatore blood was always stronger, and I knew that from an early age. At twelve, I learned how to shoot. At thirteen, I killed for the first time. I grew up in Italy until my father, the great Don of the Cosa Nostra, was arrested. We fled to New York, and the past didn’t stay behind. It always followed me. My mistake, the greatest of them all, was meeting her. And leaving her behind.

Lily didn’t deserve that. When duty called, I knew I couldn’t take her with me. I loved her, but the world I lived in had no room for her. I grew up seeing my mother packing and unpacking bags, running away, afraid, with a father in prison. I didn’t want her to have that life. So, I left her. Without words, without explanations. I just vanished.

I knew I was a mafioso now. And I knew what that meant. I couldn’t let myself get lost in feelings.

Then, Luigi Romano showed up with an offer. He wanted a marriage arrangement. But why, as a simple mafioso, should I marry a daughter I didn’t even know he had? When I found out his empire was collapsing and the only way to save it was by joining the Salvatore family, everything became clearer. The marriage wasn’t in my plans. But I had to think. The advisers pressured me, and the life of freedom I led was addictive. Women came and went, just for the power, for the money. I only wanted fun. I had it all. Until Luigi’s daughter appeared.

Lily Montgomery. It couldn’t be. Was fate playing a joke on me?

I left her without answers. And everything I did to keep her away from this life was in vain. My men investigated, and I found out that Luigi had another option. And if I didn’t marry her, another mafioso would. One of the worst.

"Matteo," said Paolo, my consigliere, as I left the office. "The drugs we sent by ship haven’t arrived at the buyer yet."

"Make sure they arrive in two hours. I don’t tolerate delays. If they don’t get there, we’ll never do business with them again." I glanced at my phone; the urgent problem called my attention. Paolo knew that, in situations like this, I didn’t tolerate failures. But in this case, I didn’t want his opinion.

"Boss, we’re friends... I really don’t think marrying a Romano is the best deal."

I sighed. I hadn’t told anyone about Lily. Not even her father. For all intents and purposes, we would meet now.

"I have my reasons. Take care of the drug situation."

I got in the car and started it, my mind thinking of everything that was ahead. The last time I saw Lily, she ran from me as if I were the devil himself. I didn’t know what to expect this time. She would never be the woman I knew, but something inside me knew I had to win her back. She would be my obsession, no matter the cost.

I arrived at Luigi’s house. The maid greeted me with a smile. It made me wonder how a man like him could trade his daughter for power. But I was there to save his skin, and that was enough.

Luigi greeted me with courtesy. He knew I was the key to his salvation. But his daughter? I wasn’t there for her. I was there for me.

"My daughter will be down shortly. And once again, thank you, Salvatore."

I saw her descend the stairs. The world around me stopped. Lily. She was more mature, but still the same. Those eyes… I would never forget those eyes. But what I saw in them now was different. It was anger. Contempt. And I knew the blame was all mine. I left her. I hurt her.

She stopped at the top of the stairs and stared at me with a mix of pain and disdain. The silence between us was oppressive, but I knew it was part of the game. I had to play.

I broke the silence, trying to maintain the coldness they expected of me, but the tension was palpable. "Lily…" The word came out softer than I expected, and that bothered me. "You look beautiful."

I didn’t have the right to say that. I had no right to anything. I left her. I broke her.

But now, standing before her, I knew I had to try. She was the only woman I would never forget, and I was willing to do whatever it took to win her back.

She looked at me. She didn’t say anything. She just stared at me with a look of someone who wanted to shout everything she was thinking, but was controlling herself.

I took a step forward. I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to say what needed to be said. "I know you hate me. I know what I did. But you need to listen to me. It wasn’t what I wanted…"

"Why are you here?" Her voice wavered, the pain showing through.

She cut me off, but I didn’t care. I had to continue. "I know I made the wrong choice."

But before I could continue, her father stepped between us, interrupting what could have been our last conversation. "This is Matteo Salvatore. And he will be your future husband."

I didn’t know what else to say. I couldn’t wait any longer. She would be mine. And no one else would take her from me.