Chapter 7 - The Woman From Matteo’s PastThree days passed without another message.
Ayla almost found the silence worse.
Every morning she expected an envelope.
Every evening she examined Matteo for injuries even when he told her repeatedly that nothing had happened.
He did the same to her.
Their increased security arrangement quickly became absurd.
Three guards followed Ayla everywhere.
Matteo assigned an additional surveillance vehicle to remain nearby.
Kyle personally reviewed every route she traveled.
Even Kitty was accompanied by 2 men who attempted to appear inconspicuous despite both being approximately 6 feet 4 inches tall and built like professional fighters.
On Thursday afternoon, Kitty entered Ayla’s office and dropped her purse onto the sofa.
“Your husband has ruined my dating life.”
Ayla looked up from a campaign proposal.
“How?”
“One of the security men stood 10 feet from Kyle and me during dinner.”
“That sounds romantic.”
“He stared at us for 2 hours.”
“Maybe he was lonely.”
“He inspected the waiter before allowing him to pour my wine.”
Ayla tried not to laugh.
Kitty pointed at her.
“This is not amusing.”
“It is slightly amusing.”
“I kissed Kyle goodbye, and the man looked away as if observing a crime scene.”
“Did Kyle object?”
“No. Kyle said, ‘Security first.’ Then he kissed me again for so long that I forgot why I was angry.”
Ayla smiled.
“You seem happy.”
Kitty’s expression softened.
“I am.”
She sat opposite the desk.
“And that is terrifying.”
Ayla understood immediately.
“When happiness becomes important, losing it becomes frightening.”
“Exactly.”
Kitty looked at her stomach.
“Look at us. A year ago, you were miserable at Laurent. I worked endless hospital shifts and complained that every decent man in New York was either married, emotionally unavailable, or a dermatologist.”
“What is wrong with dermatologists?”
“Nothing. I was angry when I said it.”
They laughed.
Then Kitty became serious.
“Any new photographs?”
“No.”
“Do they know who sent them?”
“Not yet.”
“That worries me.”
“Matteo too.”
“Matteo is always worried.”
Ayla lowered her voice.
“He is sleeping less.”
“Does he think you notice?”
“No.”
“He clearly remains unfamiliar with marriage.”
Ayla closed her laptop.
“Last night I woke at 3:00. He was standing at the window talking quietly to Kyle. When he came back to bed, he pretended he had only gotten water.”
“What did you do?”
“I pretended to believe him.”
Kitty frowned.
“That is not healthy.”
“I know.”
Ayla rubbed her stomach.
“I am trying to give him room to handle his world without demanding every detail.”
“You are his wife. You are already inside his world.”
Before Ayla could answer, the office door opened.
Clara appeared nervous.
“Mrs. Cipriani?”
“Yes?”
“There is a woman asking to see you.”
“Appointment?”
“No.”
“Name?”
Clara hesitated.
“Bianca Romano.”
Ayla had never heard the name.
Kitty apparently had.
Her expression changed.
“What?”
Ayla looked at her.
“You know her?”
Kitty immediately reached for her telephone.
“I know the name because I researched your husband before giving temporary approval.”
“Kitty.”
“What?”
“Who is she?”
Kitty grimaced.
“Matteo’s former girlfriend.”
Ayla became very still.
“How former?”
“Approximately 4 years ago.”
“How serious?”
“Most articles described her as the closest he came to a public relationship before you.”
Something unpleasant twisted inside Ayla.
She hated it immediately.
Jealousy felt childish.
Matteo had a life before meeting her.
She had known that.
He had never lied about previous relationships.
Still, the idea that the woman waiting outside had once occupied a place beside him created an instinctive resistance.
“Send her in,” Ayla told Clara.
Kitty stood.
“I am staying.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Kitty.”
“If this beautiful ex-mafia girlfriend attempts anything dramatic, I want a front-row seat.”
“Please.”
Kitty sighed.
“Fine. I will be outside.”
She walked toward the door, then turned.
“Remember. He married you.”
“I know.”
“He cooks carbonara for you.”
“I know.”
“He speaks about you like civilization was invented specifically to produce one Ayla Morris.”
“Leave.”
Kitty disappeared.
Bianca Romano entered.
She was beautiful.
Not conventionally attractive.
Not merely elegant.
Beautiful in the polished, controlled manner of women who had never entered a room without knowing exactly how much attention they commanded.
Dark hair fell to her shoulders.
Her black dress was simple but obviously expensive.
She wore no wedding ring.
Her gaze moved briefly toward Ayla’s pregnancy before returning to her face.
“So.”
Bianca’s voice held an Italian accent.
“You are Ayla.”
Ayla stood.
“And you are Bianca.”
A faint smile appeared.
“He told you about me.”
“No.”
The smile weakened slightly.
“My friend did.”
“That sounds more like Matteo.”
Bianca looked around the office.
“He never discusses his past unless forced.”
“What do you want?”
Ayla did not offer coffee.
She did not offer a seat.
Bianca noticed.
“I came because your family is in danger.”
Jealousy disappeared immediately.
“What do you know?”
“More than Matteo.”
Ayla reached for her telephone.
Bianca raised one hand.
“If you call him now, he will have me removed before I explain.”
“Why?”
“Because he hates me.”
“That seems dramatic.”
“It is accurate.”
Bianca finally sat without invitation.
“Four years ago, Matteo and I were together for approximately 7 months.”
Ayla remained standing.
“I know.”
“No. You know what newspapers reported.”
Bianca looked directly at her.
“You need the rest.”
Ayla crossed her arms.
“Speak.”
“My father, Vittorio Romano, controlled shipping routes between Sicily and the eastern United States. He believed a marriage between me and Matteo would unite 2 powerful families.”
Ayla’s stomach tightened.
“Matteo refused?”
“At first, no.”
That answer hurt more than it should have.
Bianca saw it.
“He cared for me. In his own way.”
Ayla’s voice remained controlled.
“Continue.”
“We were not in love.”
Bianca’s expression became unexpectedly sad.
“We were 2 people raised to understand that personal feelings were secondary to family strategy.”
“What happened?”
“My father attempted to use our relationship to gain information about Cipriani operations.”
Ayla understood.
“You helped him.”
“Yes.”
The word came without excuse.
“I betrayed Matteo.”
Ayla moved slowly toward her desk.
“What information?”
“Routes. Meetings. Financial structures.”
“Did anyone die?”
Bianca looked down.
“One man.”
Ayla felt cold.
“He was not supposed to.”
“That does not matter.”
“I know.”
Bianca’s voice hardened with self-contempt.
“When Matteo discovered what I had done, he ended everything. He could have killed me according to the rules of our world.”
“But he did not.”
“No.”
Bianca smiled faintly.
“That is the difference between the man people describe and the man he actually is.”
Ayla knew that difference well.
“He sent me to Italy and told my father that if either of us approached his family again, mercy would not happen twice.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because my father died 8 months ago.”
“And?”
“My brother took control.”
Ayla’s pulse accelerated.
“Name?”
“Dante Romano.”
The name meant nothing to Ayla.
Bianca’s next words did.
“He hates Matteo.”
“Why?”
“Because Dante believes our family lost power because Matteo rejected the marriage alliance and later destroyed several of our American operations after my betrayal.”
Ayla stared at her.
“You think your brother sent the photographs.”
“I know he did.”
Silence filled the room.
“How?”
Bianca opened her handbag slowly.
Ayla’s hand moved instinctively toward the silent alarm Matteo had installed beneath her desk.
Bianca noticed.
“I am not armed.”
She removed a small flash drive.
“This contains copies of messages Dante sent to several men he hired in New York.”
Ayla did not touch it.
“Why bring this to me instead of Matteo?”
Bianca’s expression became complicated.
“Because Matteo will see me and remember betrayal.”
“And I will not?”
“You will see information.”
Bianca leaned forward.
“You are different from us.”
“I am not sure whether that is a compliment.”
“It is.”
For the first time, her controlled exterior cracked.
“I grew up believing power required cruelty. Matteo grew up believing power required control.”
She looked toward Ayla’s stomach.
“You apparently taught him that power can also protect something gentle without destroying it.”
Ayla was silent.
Bianca continued.
“My brother wants Matteo emotionally unstable.”
“Why?”
“Because Matteo has refused to sell several Atlantic City properties Dante needs for money laundering operations.”
“Matteo would never agree.”
“Exactly. Dante cannot beat him commercially.”
Bianca’s eyes became serious.
“So he intends to attack his judgment.”
“The photographs.”
“Yes.”
“He wants Matteo to become reckless.”
“Yes.”
Ayla finally sat.
“What is the actual plan?”
“I do not know completely.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I expect nothing.”
Bianca pushed the drive closer.
“I know only that Dante said the child will create the final opening.”
Ayla’s hand moved over her stomach.
“What does that mean?”
“I do not know.”
“Then find out.”
Bianca blinked.
Ayla surprised herself with the command.
“You came here because you feel guilty about what happened 4 years ago.”
“Yes.”
“Guilt is useless unless it changes behavior.”
Bianca stared at her.
“You sound like Matteo.”
“No.”
Ayla’s voice remained quiet.
“He sounds like me more every day.”
Something almost like amusement touched Bianca’s face.
“I understand why he married you.”
At that moment, the office door opened violently.
Matteo entered with Kyle directly behind him.
His eyes found Bianca.
Everything in him changed.
“No.”
The single word contained years of history.
Bianca stood.
“Matteo.”
“Get out.”
“Boss,” Kyle said quietly, “perhaps—”
“Out.”
Ayla rose.
“Matteo.”
His eyes moved toward her.
“Why is she here?”
“She brought information.”
“She brought betrayal the last time she entered my life.”
Bianca flinched.
Ayla walked around the desk.
“She believes her brother sent the photographs.”
Matteo’s attention snapped back.
“Dante.”
Bianca nodded.
“He is in New York.”
“Where?”
“I do not know.”
Matteo laughed once without humor.
“Of course you do not.”
“I brought evidence.”
“A flash drive?”
His contempt was immediate.
“How original.”
Bianca’s face hardened.
“I deserved that.”
“You deserve considerably more.”
Ayla touched Matteo’s arm.
He looked down at her hand.
“Listen.”
“I will listen after she leaves.”
“No.”
His eyes narrowed.
“No?”
“No.”
Ayla moved in front of him.
“She came knowing you might hate her. She gave us a name.”
“She may be creating another trap.”
“Then investigate the evidence.”
He looked toward Kyle.
Kyle lifted the drive.
“I already made a copy on an isolated system. No malware. There are messages.”
Matteo stared at Bianca.
“You planned this with Kyle?”
Ayla answered.
“I called him while Bianca was speaking.”
Matteo looked offended.
“My wife and my capo are forming an independent government.”
“Only when necessary.”
Kyle wisely avoided smiling.
Bianca spoke.
“Dante wants you furious.”
Matteo turned.
“He succeeded.”
“That is exactly the point.”
“You do not speak to me about my temper.”
“Then listen to your wife.”
Bianca’s gaze moved to Ayla.
“She understands what he is doing.”
Matteo’s jaw tightened.
Ayla took his hand.
“She is right.”
“That sentence is deeply unpleasant.”
“I know.”
She stepped closer.
“If Dante wants you reckless, then the worst thing you can do is become reckless.”
“I have no intention of becoming reckless.”
“Ten minutes ago, you threatened to purchase a hospital because they delayed my appointment by 20 minutes.”
“That was different.”
“It was not.”
Kyle looked at the ceiling.
Bianca almost smiled.
Matteo saw both of them.
“This room has become disrespectful.”
Ayla placed his palm against her belly.
“Focus.”
Their daughter moved.
The effect was immediate.
Matteo exhaled.
“Fine.”
He looked at Bianca.
“You have 10 minutes.”
“Twenty.”
“Ten.”
“Fifteen.”
Ayla turned toward him.
“You negotiate exactly like this with me.”
“I dislike everyone in this room.”
Kyle folded his arms.
“Love you too, boss.”
For the next 15 minutes, Bianca explained what she knew.
Dante had entered the United States under another identity.
He had hired private surveillance specialists.
He had obtained Ayla’s schedule through an unknown person with access to security logistics.
Most importantly, he intended to make Matteo believe danger could appear anywhere.
“He will not attack immediately,” Bianca said.
“He wants exhaustion first.”
Ayla looked at Matteo.
The sleepless nights.
The constant calls.
The escalating security.
Dante was already succeeding.
Bianca continued.
“He wants you suspicious of your own people.”
“Perhaps I should be.”
Matteo’s voice became hard.
“Someone leaked medical information.”
Kyle nodded.
“We are reviewing internal access.”
Bianca stood.
“My brother’s greatest weakness is arrogance. He believes emotional attachment makes powerful men predictable.”
She looked at Ayla.
“He believes you are Matteo’s weakness.”
Ayla’s voice remained calm.
“Then he does not understand marriage.”
Bianca studied her.
“No.”
For the first time, she smiled genuinely.
“He does not.”
Matteo stepped toward Bianca.
“If this information is false—”
“You will find me.”
“Yes.”
“I know.”
She walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she stopped beside Ayla.
“There is one additional thing.”
“What?”
“Do not allow him to send you away.”
Matteo’s expression darkened.
“I was considering Italy.”
Bianca looked at him.
“Exactly.”
Then she addressed Ayla.
“Dante expects that. Separating you makes communication harder and fear greater.”
Ayla nodded slowly.
“We stay together.”
Matteo opened his mouth.
“No.”
Ayla looked at him.
“No?”
“No.”
“You object?”
“Absolutely.”
“To remaining with your wife?”
“To keeping my pregnant wife near an active conflict.”
Ayla crossed her arms.
“Then the conflict can move.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we stop waiting for Dante to decide the next move.”
Matteo stared at her.
Kyle stared too.
Bianca looked almost impressed.
Ayla moved toward the large screen on her office wall.
“Dante needs the Atlantic City properties.”
“Yes,” Matteo said cautiously.
“He needs you emotionally unstable because he cannot force you commercially.”
“Yes.”
“Then we give him a commercial reason to reveal himself.”
Matteo’s expression shifted.
Ayla continued.
“We publicly announce that Laurent Cipriani Group is evaluating redevelopment of those properties.”
“You want to provoke him.”
“I want him to move where we can see him.”
Matteo studied his wife in silence.
Bianca finally said what everyone was thinking.
“She is dangerous.”
Matteo’s mouth curved faintly.
“Yes.”
Pride replaced some of his anger.
“My wife is exceptionally dangerous.”
Ayla looked toward Bianca.
“Can you get a message to Dante?”
“Yes.”
“Tell him the properties will be sold.”
Matteo’s gaze sharpened.
“To whom?”
Ayla smiled.
“To a buyer he will believe he can control.”
Kyle began smiling too.
Bianca understood last.
“You want to create a false auction.”
“Exactly.”
Matteo walked toward Ayla.
“You developed this in approximately 30 seconds.”
“I learned from you.”
“That should concern me.”
“It probably should.”
He wrapped one arm around her waist.
Then his attention returned to Bianca.
“You will help us.”
It was no longer a request.
Bianca nodded.
“I came for that reason.”
“Do not betray me again.”
Pain moved across her face.
“I will not.”
Matteo’s answer was cold.
“You only receive one opportunity to prove it.”
After Bianca left, Ayla looked at him.
“You were harsh.”
“She caused the death of someone who trusted me.”
Ayla immediately understood.
“I am sorry.”
“I spared her because I knew she had acted under her father’s pressure.”
His gaze moved toward the closed door.
“But forgiveness and trust are different things.”
Ayla touched his chest.
“I know.”
He lowered his eyes toward her.
“And you.”
“What about me?”
“You met my former girlfriend without telling me.”
“She arrived unexpectedly.”
“You formed an anti-Dante strategy with her.”
“That happened naturally.”
“You have become terrifying.”
Ayla smiled.
“You married me.”
“Yes.”
His arms tightened around her.
“And despite everything happening around us, I would make that decision again every single day.”
He kissed her forehead.
Then her daughter kicked beneath his hand.
Matteo smiled.
“Our little girl agrees.”
Ayla looked toward the city.
Somewhere inside it, Dante Romano believed fear had begun to weaken the Cipriani family.
May you like
Instead, he had accomplished something else.
He had given Ayla a target.
