Chapter 6 - THE TRAITOR UNMASKED
“Matteo! I swear I didn't know!” Bianca shrieked, backing away toward the curtained windows as the armed guards moved in. “It was an accident! The sconce was old!”
“The sconce was inspected yesterday morning,” Matteo said, his voice echoing through the ruined dining room like a tolling bell. “And you were seen speaking to Sergio Valenti’s lieutenant in the village two nights ago.”
Sergio Valenti raised his hands slowly, his confidence completely evaporating. “Moretti, listen to me! This was a misunderstanding! The girl pushed you—she caused the disturbance!”
“The girl saved my life,” Matteo growled, stepping toward Valenti. “While the woman I allowed at my table conspired to murder me in my own home.”
Matteo gestured to his head of security. “Seize the Valenti delegation. Disarm them, strip them of their vehicles, and throw them off my property. If any of them enter northern Italy again, kill them.”
Valenti and his men were dragged out of the dining room screaming cursing curses.
Then Matteo turned back to Bianca.
“Please, Matteo!” she wept, falling to her knees on the stained rug. “I did it because of her! You changed after she arrived! You looked at a laundry maid with more respect than you ever showed me! I wanted her disgraced—I didn't mean for the iron to kill you!”
“You risked my life and tried to frame an innocent woman,” Matteo said coldly. “You leave Lake Como tonight. If you ever approach Clara, or if I hear your name spoken in this province again, my men will not be merciful. Get her out of my house.”
Two guards dragged Bianca away, her pathetic sobs echoing down the long marble corridor until the heavy front doors slammed shut.
The dining room fell completely silent.
Clara stood near the fireplace, trembling slightly as the adrenaline faded from her system. Bruno walked over to her, pressing his large head against her side to comfort her.
Matteo turned around. He walked across the ruined room, stopping inches from Clara.
For the first time since she had arrived at the estate, the formidable Don looked visibly shaken. He reached out, his long fingers gently cupping her chin, forcing her to look into his intense gray eyes.
“You threw yourself into danger to save me,” Matteo whispered, his thumb lightly stroking her lower lip. “A man you’ve known for less than two weeks.”
“I couldn't let them hurt you,” Clara said softly, her heart hammering against her ribs. “You were the first person who made me feel like I was worth protecting.”
Matteo’s dark eyes burned with an overwhelming, consuming emotion. “You are worth far more than protection, Clara Hayes.”
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Leaning down, he pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss was deep, fierce, and filled with a raw intensity that made Clara’s knees go weak. She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her hands in his thick dark hair, completely surrendering to the fire that had been building between them since the moment she fell at his feet in the snow.
