She was working for the first time tonight, Matteo realised, and he looked over at Malvolio and saw his leer.
Gina said something to her and Bella filled two glasses and then handed them both a drink. Instead of taking a seat at his usual table, which was waiting for the guest of honour, Malvolio went behind the bar and checked the CCTV cameras that were in the elevators. They also ran the length of the hotel corridors and out to the foyer and pool, and as he flicked through them he asked for the books to be brought to him.
‘I thought we partied tonight,’ Matteo said.
‘We shall, but first I want to see how well you have taken care of things.’ Malvolio frowned as he saw that the staff now kept their tips.
‘They work harder,’ Matteo said.
‘They don’t need money to work harder,’ Malvolio said. ‘You are too soft with them.’
‘Look at the return guests,’ Matteo said. ‘Look at—’
‘You think you do better than me?’
Bella glanced over—she could hear the warning in Malvolio’s voice. He would loathe it that Matteo had done better at running the hotel than him. Malvolio would detest it that the hotel was thriving without his stranglehold on the place.
‘I don’t see your girlfriend here tonight.’ Malvolio looked around at the bar.
‘Tina and I broke up,’ Matteo said. Tina had been a vague constant, an excuse Matteo had kept up so that he could go home at night and a reason he could use not to attend Malvolio’s more twisted parties.
With Malvolio safely behind bars, Matteo had ended things.
‘Good,’ Malvolio said. ‘Tonight, finally we might see Matteo party.’ He snapped his fingers and Bella brought over some more drinks and Matteo knew that he had better think fast.
‘I always wanted Bella,’ Matteo said, as she walked off, and he knew she must have heard because he watched her falter for a brief second and her already tense shoulders pull back a touch.
Malvolio just laughed. ‘Tough.’
They took their seats and sambuca was brought over. Gina served the drinks.
‘I missed you, Malvolio,’ she lied. ‘It’s good to have you back.’
Tonight she joined the whole of Bordo Del Cielo in lying just to survive.
* * *
Bella felt sick. She had since the verdict had come in but now, since Malvolio had walked in, she felt dizzy with fear.
For close to a year she had dreaded this night. With Malvolio’s arrest she had been brought a reprieve but that had run out.
That he was here with Matteo, his new right-hand man, hurt terribly too. Her heart ached as to how the man she had adored from afar was turning out.
Always dark and brooding, some said that Matteo had no emotion. Some said he had been born bad, just like his brother.
Bella had thought she’d known different.
She had adored him but on hearing his lewd comment about her to Malvolio she had actually fought with herself not to turn around and give him a sharp-mouthed response.
She glanced over as Malvolio said something and Matteo did not laugh or smile. Instead, he stood up and walked back in her direction and came over to the bar.
‘See that the drinks keep coming.’
‘Of course.’
‘Mine is at midday,’ Matteo said, and Bella frowned and looked down at the tray as he picked up the drink that was on it and then downed it in one.
‘I want to keep a clear head,’ Matteo said as she went to refill it, and he gestured his head towards the iced water. Bella nodded her understanding—she would give him water from now on.
‘Bella...’ he said, and he didn’t continue. He just gave her a look, a long slow look that Bella didn’t understand.
Matteo couldn’t tell her his thoughts and what he was planning but with his eyes he implored her to listen to him, to somehow know that he was on her side.
She gave a rapid blink she was confused by the looks she was getting tonight and then looked away.
It was the first time she had heard him say her name.
It killed that it was tonight.
The bar noise grew louder.
Bella, who had never set foot inside one, loathed it. The noise jarred her already shot nerves, the looks from the men she served made her feel ill, but hardest of all were the constant reminders from Gina to smile.
‘At least look as if you’re enjoying yourself,’ Gina said.
‘Why?’ Bella retorted. ‘Do you think any of them care if I am?’
‘Lose the smart mouth, Bella,’ Gina warned. ‘Take them over another tray of drinks and tell them that the food is on its way. Given how he was starved in prison, strange he didn’t lose any weight,’ Gina scoffed, and even Bella managed a small laugh.
She poured the tray of drinks and took them over. Matteo took the prearranged drink but as soon as he replaced his glass Malvolio handed him another.
‘Here,’ said Malvolio, and without missing a beat Matteo took it.
Malvolio was testing him, Bella was sure.
‘Suddenly I’m hungry,’ Malvolio said, with his eyes on Bella as she bent over to retrieve the tray.
‘And me,’ Matteo said, and Bella froze as his hand slid over her bottom.
Please let it be an accident, she thought, but his hand did not lift and she felt his fingers dig in.
Her instinct was to turn and slap him. She had been as prepared as she could be to take it from Malvolio but to have Matteo treat her like this had temper rather than repulsion building in her.
‘No, no,’ Malvolio said. ‘She’s for me, aren’t you, Bella?’
She pushed out that smile. ‘I hope so...’
‘So where are the perks?’ Matteo asked, and not just his words had Bella’s heart sink but the feel of his hand now running up the inside of her skirt. She closed her eyes but his hand went no higher than the top of her stocking, just hovered at the lace on her thigh.
Malvolio looked at Matteo, the one man who had dared to tell him he expected perks and be treated better than the rest.
Gina placed a huge plate of food in front of him—shrimp, fried cheese, steak and chicken wings.
‘You know what I like,’ Malvolio said, licking his lips, and then he looked from Gina to Bella.
He could not be bothered with drama and fear tonight, he was tired, he wanted the familiar, not that he would ever admit it.
‘Take her now,’ Malvolio said to Matteo. ‘Now, before I change my mind...’ He picked up his fork and Matteo removed his hand from up Bella’s skirt and stood.
Not Matteo, she silently pleaded as he took her arm.
Not like this.
He was leading her out of the bar, towards the back exit and the stinking alley, and then she heard Malvolio call to him. ‘Where are you going?’
‘Out the back...’ Matteo said.
‘You are my second man.’ He snapped his fingers to Gina and she nodded for them to come to her and she handed Matteo a room card.
‘No.’ It was the first time Bella had said it but it fell on deaf ears. Without a word Matteo led her out of the bar and through the foyer and into the elevator.
‘Matteo, no...’
It was like the worst nightmare colliding with the best dream; it was worse than anything she had imagined, because it was a man she had cared about who was treating her like this.
‘Bella, just go with it,’ Matteo said. ‘I’ll explain soon. You’re going to have to trust me for now.’
‘Never.’
Malvolio came to the bar and watched the CCTV and saw Bella dragging her feet, and at one point she broke free and ran...
‘Bella!’ Matteo grabbed her and she fought him.
She swore at him.
Matteo knew, he was positive, in fact, that they were being watched, and so he laughed and sneered at her.
He kissed her hard against the wall, he muffled her cries and ran his hand again over her skirt, and she fought him but there was no chance against his strength.
He dragged her down the hall and into the elevators and Bella went to bite him in the hope of running again, but Matteo slapped her cheek.
It was a stinging slap, a hard slap that left her shocked and stunned that he could ever do this. Not just to her. That the man she had held a torch for could turn into a monster before her eyes. He was nothing like she had imagined.
Tears rose in her eyes and she let out a silent sob as they spilled out. Not that he cared, his rough kisses took her all the way up to the top floor.
‘Good boy,’ Malvolio said, and then headed back to his steak and shrimp. ‘You know, I always thought he was a bit soft. It would seem that I had him wrong.’
Bella, as Matteo pushed her into the hotel room, was thinking exactly the same.
CHAPTER NINE
‘IT’S OKAY...’
She was still fighting him but he pulled her right into him the moment the door closed on them, just so she wouldn’t run.
‘We’re alone now.’
His words did not soothe Bella.
She had dreamt of being alone with Matteo, only it had never, ever been anything like this.
Her cheek was stinging from his slap, her arm was sore where he had grabbed her roughly, and now he was trying to calm her.
‘I thought better of you...!’ Bella shouted, trying to push him off.
‘We’re not going to do anything,’ Matteo said. ‘I knew that Malvolio would be watching on the cameras so I had to be rough, but I’m telling you now that I’m not going to hurt you, Bella, I’m not going to touch you.’
He was rough for the last time with her. He practically peeled a raging Bella off him and pushed her onto the bed, where she sat for a long moment.