AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You know you’re fired,” he growls.
I shrug in reply.
I know Nicoletti wanted to set Mateo up. And that’s enough to destroy any last shred of respect I had for him. He’s a monster. I don’t know that he was working with Blaine on the attack on the courthouse, but I’d be insane to think it’s not possible. He obviously knew this whole trial was a farce. Either way, Nicoletti is someone I never want to be around ever again.
He turns and pushes past everyone standing between him and the exit.
Suddenly, Gina pops into my head, and I feel the slightest bit of sympathy for him. No matter how awful Nicoletti is, I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t let him know Gina was okay.
“Richard,” I call to him.
He slowly turns back to me. He looks incensed that I would address him by his first name. Or maybe that I would dare speak to him again at all.
“I talked to one of Gina’s friends,” I say. “I heard that she is ok—”
“Don’t talk to me about her!” Nicoletti spits back at me. “She’s dead to me!”
He turns, slams the door open with his hand and storms out of the courtroom.
What an asshole. Gina is better off without him. And so am I.
I lean against the wall, taking it all in as I wait for Mateo to get his things. I knew we would get to this moment as soon as he fired Maurizio, but I can’t quite believe it yet. Everything happened so fast.
Finally, when the courtroom is almost empty and Mateo has his envelope of belongings, he turns and sees me.
I wrap my arms around him as soon as he’s close enough, and he hugs me back. I don’t care if anyone sees. I don’t care what anyone thinks. I don’t care what anyone knows. I would have admitted to anything if it meant that Mateo would go free.
“Thank you,” Mateo whispers into my ear.
I nod to him as we pull apart. Then I take his hand and lead him out of the courtroom. As soon as we get outside, we’re surrounded by reporters. We squeeze through them without acknowledging any of their questions or cameras. When we get past the steps, they finally give up.
Riccardo comes to meet us. Mateo stops and looks up at the sky. It’s clear. It’s sunny and dry. It’s just on the edge of hot.
Mateo hands his envelope to Riccardo.
“You take this,” he says. “I think we’re going to walk.” Mateo looks at me and smiles.
“You sure?” Riccardo takes the envelope, hesitant to leave.
“I’m sure,” Mateo says.
I can feel his grip tighten on my hand when he says it.
Mateo and I start to walk toward his home. I keep a tight grip on his hand, assuring him that everything is fine. Reminding him that I’m with him.
“I’m sorry I had to stay away from you,” I say. “It was absolute hell. I never want to do it again.”
Mateo lifts my hand up to his mouth and kisses the back of it. “I’m just relieved you’re still here.”
I rest my head against the side of his arm as we walk. Mateo actually seems to be enjoying walking. He’s more relaxed than I’ve ever felt. I know he hasn’t forgotten about Elio and Tony, but I also know he’s here with me, completely.
“I’m assuming Nicoletti fired you,” Mateo muses.
“He did,” I confirm.
“I didn’t mean for you to lose your job,” he apologizes.
“Well, after what they did, there was no way I was going to stay there anyway.”
