MATEO

by K. L. Savage

  My favorite.

  “This is my Papa. Mateo Moretti. These are my new friends. Libby, Cora, Faye, Alice, and the birthday girl, Nora,” Natalia points to each of us.

  The man doesn’t look a day over thirty, but I know that can’t be the case. He has to be forty or older to have a grown daughter. I want to ask, but I know it’s rude to ask how old someone is. His skin is flawless, and his hair is black and thick, with a slight wave to it that has my fingers itching to touch. His lashes are long, framing the shape of his intense eyes, and his lips are a reddish brown, wet from his tongue.

  “Nora,” he repeats my name as he brings my hand to his mouth. “Tanti auguri a te,” he says, pressing a kiss against my knuckles, stealing my breath.

  “W-what’s that mean?” I stammer.

  “Many good wishes to you, for your birthday,” he smiles, his dark eyes crinkling. I swear, my whole body just melts.

  If I were to go home right now, I’d still think this night was the best night of my life. I’ve never seen a man so elegant and handsome all at once.

  Swallowing liquor only tonight.

  I need to make it a bright neon sign on my forehead. Maybe then I’ll get the picture, because Mr. Moretti is making me throw caution to the wind.

  Isn’t this a pleasant surprise? The birthday girl is exquisite. She has brown hair with golden hues that shimmer in the light of the hotel. Her skin is the color of ivory, and her eyes shine like ocean sapphires on a bright summer’s day. She has true beauty, the kind that’s real and stands the test of time. There are no fillers, no breast implants, no fake lips. Just her natural fucking body, which I want to caress and treasure.

  Do I believe in love at first sight? No.

  Lust? Fuck yes.

  And I want Nora.

  “I hope you all have a good time tonight,” I say to the group, but I’m looking at Nora. It’s impossible for me not to look at her. She keeps looking away from me though, breaking our gazes. I don’t fucking like it. I want her attention on me.

  A gust of wind causes her hair to dance in the air and her scent makes its way to me. I inhale, my eyes closing as a hint of champagne and strawberries spark against my tastebuds.

  “Bellissima,” I say in my native tongue.

  “Papa,” Natalia gives me the familiar warning tone as she says my name.

  Nora blushes and ducks her head. Libby’s hand reaches out for hers, and I want to knock it away and take Nora up to the penthouse suite.

  I want to fucking rip that red dress off and eat her like a birthday cake, drink her frosting down, and light her fucking candle until I blow her out.

  Mmm. Sounds delightful.

  As the group of women walk away from me, I watch Nora, never taking my sight off her backside. Slender, short, petite, and I can imagine flipping her around, manhandling her in bed. Easily. Fuck me, just thinking about throwing her against the wall, bending her over in bed, and sliding my cock in and out of her tight cunt has my vision doubling like I’ve had a few too many negronis.

  Nora turns her delicate chin over the slender curve of her shoulder, taking one last peek at me before disappearing inside.

  “Dante.” I snap my finger to one of the new guards. “Keep an eye on them. If anything happens to them and I am not made aware, I’ll fucking slit your throat.”

  “Yes, Mr. Moretti. Understood.” He follows in behind them, eager and willing to please me.

  I grip his elbow before he can get too far. “No one touches the woman in red. If anyone dares, bring them to me.”

  The young man swallows and nods, then lifts his head high and thrusts his shoulders back as if he owns the place before walking inside. The automatic doors open, revealing the marble inside of the lobby. The chandelier is huge, the crystal ends shining in the white light. The reflections glitter on the gold streaks in the stone of the marble.

  Maximo is a horrible man, but I’ll say this: he has impeccable taste. The hotel and casino are perfect, minus the illegal fighting ring below. I’ll be closing that down. I won’t be so irresponsible by having dead bodies pile up around me.

  If I have a fighting ring, it will be legal.

  Now… if people want to place illegal bets, that’s on them.

  I rub a hand down the front of my suit as I wait impatiently for my erection to subside. I haven’t had a reaction like that in far too long. I take a deep breath of the night air, gather myself, and enter my hotel and casino. The slots are singing, people are cheering, and drinks are flowing.

  And a woman in red is calling my name. Or she will be, if I have any say in it.

  I take a right, going in the opposite direction of Nora, yet I can see her out of the corner of my eye. The bright crimson is hard to miss and she’s drawing attention, turning heads with every step she takes. I glance down at my watch, the silver Rolex glimmering, and notice they are going to eat before the show I set up for them.

  It’s more of an erotic show, something I constantly want to bring to the hotel and casino. I want to change it up here. It’s too… bright. I want sex, passion, pleasure, and lust.

  Lussuria.

  Oh, now there is an idea.

  I believe I just came up with the name of my business. I snap my fingers and Luca is standing next to me in a flash. Black suit, shirt, and a scowl that tells me his takes his business seriously. “I want every sign in this establishment to say Lussuria Resort and Casino. The sign out front will only say Lussuria in a dark blue, cursive writing, and it will glow.”

  “It’s late, Mr.—”

  “I don’t give a fuck what time it is. I want it done now. Right now. Fuck it, find me a designer and contractor. I’ll handle it myself.”

  “Do you want the same contractor—”

  I slam Luca against the wall and hold onto his jacket. “I want nothing my brother used, and if you speak his name or even think about speaking his name, I’ll kill you too.”

  “Papa.”

  Cazzo.

  I let go of Luca. “Go. Now.”

  I turn around and when I only see Natalia, I’m relieved. I don’t want Nora to see me when I have to be the bad guy. “Si, Natalia?”

  “What was that about?”

  “Nothing.”

  She doesn’t believe me, but she lets it go. “Why is Dante following us?” she asks, annoyed. “I want this night to be fun, Papa. These girls went out of their way to invite me tonight when they noticed I was having a bad day. I don’t need you hovering.”

  “I’m not going to hover, I promise.” At least, not over her. “Go. You’re going to be late for the show. It’s their last night here for a while.” I glance down the hall to see the group of young women waiting for her and once again, Nora catches my eyes.

  She tucks her hair behind her ear. Even from here, I notice her gorgeous earlobes are bare. She needs earrings for her birthday, something I can fix quickly since there is a jewelry store in the Lussuria.

  “Actually, let me walk you. I have cash to give all of you anyway. We can talk as we walk.” One of the waitresses stops in front of the group with an array of drinks on the tray. “You already ordered drinks? On the house, of course, since she’s the birthday girl.”

  Natalia’s heels click against the floor as we walk toward her friends. I place my hand in the middle of her back, needing to make sure she is safe. I don’t want anyone taking her from me again. I won’t be able to handle it. It’s why Zio is now in charge of security, just like he wanted.

  The family business is finally getting back on track.

  “We haven’t ordered drinks. We were going to order when we took our seats for the show in our private box.”

  My knuckles pop as I clench my fists together at my sides. Someone has noticed Nora already, buying her a drink. I’m more upset about her than I am someone buying my daughter a drink, and that is a fucked-up problem to have. I’m jealous.

  “These are from the gentlemen over there,” I overhear the waitress say as she hands the d
rinks to the ladies.

  Like a real fucking control freak, I take the one out of Nora’s hand and put it back on the tray. “She does not want a strawberry daiquiri,” I state, disgusted a man would buy a woman such a low-quality drink.

  “Papa, you’re doing the thing.”

  “I’m only looking out for the birthday girl. She deserves the best tonight, no? Why don’t you all go up to the box suite. I’ll bring Nora there after I get her a better drink.”

  “I don’t know. We said we wouldn’t split up tonight. It’s all about her. She never goes out. I had to bribe her to come here.” Libby, if I remember correctly, sips on her daiquiri.

  The men couldn’t even think of different drinks to get these ladies?

  Pathetic.

  “Is Lussuria not open to your liking, Nora?” I ask playfully, wanting to reach out and outline the feminine line of her collarbone. I hold myself back.

  “What? No. I… I…” she sputters, blue eyes wide with uncertainty. “Gobbledygook: mumbo jumbo, humbug, nonsense or gibberish.” She slaps her hand over her mouth, and if I’m not mistaken, I see her eyes turn glassy.

  “Oh no,” Libby mutters. “We’ll meet everyone inside.”

  “I said I will bring Nora in there after I get her a drink,” I snap, wanting to get some form of alone time with the unique woman. Why did she rattle off a definition to me? Do I make her nervous? What other words could I make her define?

  “And I say take a fucking hike, Mister,” Faye steps in front of Nora and grabs her by the elbow, gesturing her to the entrance of the theater where the show is.

  My brows lift to my hairline. No one speaks to me in that manner. Natalia gives me a dirty look, one that tells me we will be talking about this later. She grabs the daiquiri from the tray while holding her own, and heads in the direction Faye and Nora went.

  “Listen,” Libby sighs, crossing her arms. She’s a pretty girl. Green eyes, tall and lean, all legs, natural blonde hair with a button nose. Still, she does nothing for me. She’s wearing a shimmery gold dress that sparkles in the bright lights of the resort, and as she exhales, the material shifts. “Nora isn’t the kind of woman you can flirt with and have a one night-stand with. I can tell with how you are looking at her that you want her. I’ll tell you right now, it’s never going to happen. I had to promise her that I wouldn’t drag her to parties for the rest of the semester just to get her out tonight. She seriously would rather be studying right now. She doesn’t go out. She’s a homebody. She sticks her nose in textbooks, not even real books, but textbooks. She’s a nerd. She’s my best friend. And when she gets nervous, she rattles off definitions. I can tell by looking at you that you’re a ‘take no shit’ kind of man. I appreciate that. You can get any woman you want, but you won’t and can’t have Nora. I won’t allow her to be one of your conquests. She’s a good girl who deserves good things. And you, do not promise good things. Thank you for having us here tonight, but please, stay away from her. We just want to have fun. She deserves that.” Libby, Alice, and Cora give me half smiles before following their leader.

  I’m impressed. And pissed off.

  I might not promise good things, but I can promise the bad things won’t outweigh the great.

  Alice backtracks and lays her hand on my forearm. I lift a brow at her. A bold move to touch a man she doesn’t know. “Don’t take it personally. We are looking out for her. You’re used to a different kind of woman and Nora… she isn’t it.” Alice leaves me standing in the middle of the hallway, frazzled and discombobulated.

  These young women just put me in my place, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Nora isn’t a challenge. She’s someone different. I don’t know what, but I’m intrigued by her.

  I want her.

  And I will have her.

  I don’t care what I have to do to get my fucking way.

  Did those ladies think for one second that maybe I need someone better than the wretched soul that I am? My insides are black and rotted to the core. I’ve done things, I am doing things, that are beyond cruel. They don’t think I know that I don’t deserve to touch someone as pure and naïve as Nora? I’ll probably taint her soul too, by mixing in my toxin and slowly poisoning the goodness of her spirit.

  I want the light she carries to illuminate my darkness.

  Her friends might have warned me away, but that doesn’t mean I have to listen.

  My phone buzzes and I dig it out of my pocket to see Natalia texting me.

  No.

  That’s all the text says, but even without her explanation, I know what she means.

  “Too bad,” I mutter to myself, tucking my phone in my pocket.

  Now that Nora is forbidden, it only makes me want her more.

  I am so stupid.

  The man asks me a simple question and I can’t even answer it. It’s fine. After tonight, I never have to see him again. In fact, I am never going to come to the Strip again. I’m only ever going to go to class and work and read my physics textbook. It’s light reading. A nice change of pace from the norm.

  We enter a gold elevator and Natalia presses a button that says ‘B’ and the doors slide shut.

  “I’m sorry for my Papa. He can be an intimidating man. He has a good heart. I hope you know,” Natalia tries to reassure me, mistaking my silence for fear.

  But I’m not afraid. I’m burning up. One look from the man and my skin is on fire, my tongue is tied, and my heart is racing.

  “It’s okay. I’m not good with people, that’s all.” I’m not good with men who are tall, dark, and handsome and have a bubble of power surrounding them.

  The elevator dings, bringing us to the balcony level and Natalia takes a left, as if she’s been here a hundred times. “Our box has its own bar. Papa likes his privacy. I know it’s hard to believe, considering he owns this casino, but it’s true. The one thing he hates most is having to walk the floor, but he does because he cares about what happens here. It wasn’t always like that, though. Especially lately.”

  “What do you mean?” I question, nearly running her over when she stops at a big wooden door to the right. In black iron letters, it spells ‘Moretti.’

  Natalia opens the door and I’m met with a view I’ve only seen in movies. “Wow,” I whisper in awe. The theater is huge. Rows upon rows of seats incline to the top. The ceiling is dome-shaped and another oversized chandelier hangs from the middle of the room, signifying wealth and power.

  “Papa has been through a lot recently, that’s all,” Natalia answers, keeping her statement vague without emphasizing. I’m only more curious now.

  Her father seems like the kind of man to slay a dragon. What could possibly send a man of his stature to his knees? It isn’t my business.

  And I’m smart enough to know, men as good looking as her father promise nothing but trouble. Plus, I wouldn’t know what to do with someone like him.

  I mean, look at me and look at him.

  He’s expensive suits and money.

  I’m thrift store bargains and plaid.

  The two are as unrealistic as a criminal never committing a crime again.

  Sure, I’m in a nice dress now, but this isn’t who I am. This woman doesn’t exist, not really, and the last thing I want to do is to pretend to be something I’m not for someone else.

  I lean against the rail of the balcony and hold in a laugh. I’m talking as if I have a chance with him.

  One night of fun. That’s what I promised myself.

  Not him.

  I twist my hands together and let out a heavy breath as I watch people trickle in below us. They fill the sea of red seats and another pop of a cork sounds from behind me, causing me to jump.

  “Scusi.”

  I slowly spin around when I hear the thunder-stricken voice again. I thought Natalia said he would leave us alone. Not that I want him to.

  But I want him to.

  I can’t focus when he is around.

  He is standing behind the bar, dev
ilishly handsome in his suit as he pours an extremely expensive-looking bottle of prosecco into tall champagne flutes. I bet they are made of crystal.

  “Papa, what are you doing here?”

  “I want to enjoy the show. After this, I swear, I will leave you alone, but I thought it would be good for us to celebrate our friend Nora turning 21. It’s Casanova, Natalia. Your favorite.”

  “I’m down,” Faye sings, climbing over her seat to get to the bar.

  “Let’s drink, baby!” Alice lifts her arms in the air, celebrating.

  “Thanks, Mr. Moretti,” Libby smiles, taking the flute from his outstretched hand.

  “Please, call me Mateo.”

  Mateo.

  Of course that’s his name. It couldn’t be Garfield or Ulysses. Something old and grandpa sounding. It has to be a hot, sexy name.

  “Nora.” My name is whispered from the shadows he stands in, the glow of the lamp shining against his cheek. His Italian lilt curls over the ‘r’ and I shiver again.

  I take a few steps in his direction and he somehow brings me closer by baiting me with the flute glass. Every step, I inhale, and his cologne invades my senses. He smells of cedar and ocean, much lighter than the dark power he has swirling around him.

  “Happy birthday, Nora! We are going to drink so much tonight and remember what you’re swallowing!” Faye shouts and all the girls laugh at the inside joke.

  Everyone sips the expensive sparkling wine. But not me. I guzzle it.

  It’s going to be a long night if Mateo sticks around. I don’t lift my eyes from the empty glass. I hand it back to him and without question, he takes it from me. His fingers brush over mine, and my breath hitches from the simple, innocent touch.

  I won’t look at him. I can’t. The last thing I want to do is spew a definition from Webster’s dictionary again. That has to be my worst quality. Who does that?

  “Here you are, Nora,” he states, smooth, confident, and effortless as he slides the glass in my hand.

  As much as I want to chug it, I don’t. It’s luxurious, expensive, and I want Mateo to see I’m savoring the treatment and not taking advantage of his kindness.