Page 94 of The Don's Enemy Within

Matteo's response was grim. "You can use your imagination, but it wasn't a peaceful conversation."

I swallowed hard, my stomach churning at the implications. "And this conflict with your uncle... You said you've been building your force. What do you plan to do?"

Matteo's voice took on a chilling tone. "At first, I intended to take back my rightful position as the Don and let my uncle roam wherever he pleased, but after learning the truth about my father's death..."

He didn't need to finish the sentence. The darkness in his eyes said it all.

I let out a shaky exhale. "I didn't sign up for this," I stated, trembling.

Matteo's gaze intensified momentarily before he calmly replied, "No one ever does, Sophia."

But then, in my anxiety, I let something slip that I hadn't intended to reveal. "I should have run away when I saw you... when I saw you kill someone." My words hung heavy in the air, and I froze wide-eyed.

To my astonishment, Matteo didn't show any surprise. Instead, he nodded somberly. "I've known you witnessed that, Sophia."

My eyes widened in shock. "You... you knew?"

He met my gaze, his expression unwavering. "Yes, I did."

I couldn't contain my curiosity and concern. "How did you know?"

Matteo sighed, his eyes dropping to the floor before returning to mine. "One of my connections in the police force found your purse near the scene," he began. "After that, you became distant, avoiding me, and I put two and two together."

I felt a shiver run down my spine, realizing he had been aware of my secret for some time. Fear and confusion swirled within me.

If he had known about my witness to murder all along, did that mean he was going to... silence me? But why hadn't he done anything sooner if that was the case?

My voice trembled as I asked, "If you knew, why didn't you... do anything?"

Matteo's frustration was palpable, and I could see it in how his brow furrowed, and his fingers tapped impatiently on his thigh.

He let out a sigh of annoyance and exasperation, and then he spoke, his voice tinged with irritation. "Sophia, if I had any intentions of harming you, I would have done so long ago. I had my reasons for not revealing the truth sooner. I needed to be certain that you weren't sent by my uncle."

His words hit me like a jolt of electricity, and my confusion deepened. "Sent by your uncle?"

Matteo nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed on me. "My uncle has a history of using people close to me to gather information or gain an advantage. I couldn't take any risks. I had to be sure you were here because you genuinely wanted to be, not because you were sent to spy on me."

The revelation sent a chill down my spine. It was becoming increasingly clear that Matteo's world was a tangled web of secrets, danger, and suspicion, far beyond anything I had ever imagined.

Our conversation hung in the air like a fragile thread, both of us aware of the weight of the decisions we were facing.

"What would you have done if I had been sent by your uncle?" Sophia finally asked, breaking the tense silence.

Matteo's eyes met mine; his expression was unwavering. "I wouldn't have killed you," he stated firmly. "I would have sent you away."

I couldn't help but make a face at that revelation, my confusion and fear bubbling to the surface.

"I can't handle all of this, Matteo," I admitted with a heavy sigh. "I didn't sign up for a life filled with mafia craziness. I can't bring our baby into such a volatile environment."

Matteo reached out and gently took my hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "Sophia, I promise you, everything will be sorted out before our child is born. I'll make sure of it," he said earnestly, his gaze locked onto mine.

But despite his words, I couldn't shake the unease that gnawed at me. The uncertainty of it all weighed heavily on my shoulders.

Matteo's voice turned softer, more vulnerable as he continued. "You need to know something, Sophia. I didn't have to pay attention to you. But from the moment we met, you captured my attention in a way I can't fully explain. Even when you disappeared that night at the hotel, I searched for you relentlessly. I wanted you, even if I didn't fully understand my emotions."

I looked at him, his confession stirring a swirl of emotions. The complexity of our situation, his honesty, and the depth of his feelings left me torn.

He concluded, his voice filled with sincerity, "I don't know what I'll do if you leave with our child. Please, Sophia."

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