Page 37 of Dangerous Games

Alessio and I grunt in agreement. If some slimy ass motherfucker even thought about trying this shit with Vivi, he would be six feet under before he could blink.

“What’s the other option?” Alessio asks.

“If Dennis didn’t give up his daughter, then it’s highly likely Dimitri sent Brian to collect Bronwyn or at least scare the shit out of her for something.” My fists clench as Matteo continues. I can’t stop thinking about what would have happened if I hadn’t seen him lurking on the camera. He could have tried to hurt her or, worse, kill her. “Which brings me to my next point.” Matteo pauses as he looks at Alessio and me both in the eye, his eyes hard. “He knew where Bronwyn lived when he sent Brian. He knew she lived above the pizzeria. I want to know why he thought it was okay for him to send someone right to our fucking building to pull some shit like that.”

My thoughts exactly.

“I say it’s about time we call a meeting with him because he has to know that doing something like that isn’t going to fly with us,” Alessio adds.

“Did he say anything that seemed off to you last night?” Matteo asks me.

I shake my head. “No. He was acting as if we were long-lost friends, and he was happy to see me. He did ask if you two, Enzo and Aldo, were joining me.”

A funny look crosses Matteo’s face. “But there was only one open seat.”

“Is it possible he knew I would come looking for Dennis?”

“I don’t know if he’s that smart,” Matteo says. “If anything, he was probably trying to cover his ass because he knew we wouldn’t take what he did lightly.”

“I asked Wiz to look into Brian.”

“Good. Let me know what he says, and we’ll go from there,” Matteo says.

I nod as I stand up. “Will do. I’m going to head out. I want to check on Bronwyn. She handled seeing a dead body like a champ, but I want to make sure it’s staying that way.”

“Gio,” Matteo calls after me, the warning he gave me from the first incident lingering in his voice.

“Yeah?” I ask as I pause and turn around.

“I want you to hear it from me, but I paid Bronwyn a visit at her work today.”

What the fuck?

“Why?” I ask, unable to keep the anger out of my voice.

Matteo ignores it. “I wanted to make sure what she told you about Brian was the truth.”

“Are you saying you don’t trust me to be the judge of that?”

“I’m saying I think you’ve ignored my warning about not fucking her and have blinders on. I want to make sure we get all the facts without your vision being clouded by some pussy.”

“I haven’t fucked her,” I growl. “I haven’t ignored your warning, and it’s fucked up you went behind my back because you didn’t trust my judgement.”

“I’m going to butt in and play devil’s advocate here. I don’t think he meant any offense, Gio. He’s only looking out for your best interest,” Alessio says in an effort to keep the peace, but it’s too late. Tension is coming off my body in waves.

“How about I be the judge of that, yeah?” I say, my tone laced with anger, as I turn to leave. When I’m near the front door, I call over my shoulder, “Next time you feel the need to question my woman, you come to me first.”

The front door of Matteo’s house slams shut behind me as I prowl to my car.

He crossed the line today.

A line he would lose his ever-loving mind over if I pulled the same shit with Wren.

I don’t need him questioning my judgement. I know exactly what I have with Bronwyn and what it’s going to be. So, fuck him and his order to stay away. If he can do whatever the hell he pleases, then so can I.

During the drive across the city to her apartment, my phone rings. Looking at the monitor in my car, I see it’s Wiz calling.

About damn time.