LITMIR.BIZ

       CHAPTER EIGHT

      THE FOYER HAD been rapidly dressed with pungent flowers and their scent was so sweet and sickly that it reminded Matteo of impending death.

      He walked into the bar, to cheers, handshakes and backslaps, and they were not just for Malvolio but also for his new prodigy.

      ‘Tonight we drink, we eat and then we...’ Malvolio said. ‘I see that Pino has delivered my message.’

      Matteo glanced over to where Malvolio was looking and his rapidly beating heart was suddenly still.

      Bella was dressed in a small black dress, her tiny bust was jacked up and she had a lot of make-up on. Her thick black hair had been teased and was worn up and he could see her shaking hands as she overfilled a glass.

      As she went to get a cloth to mop up her mess she caught his eye and he saw the fear there, but she pushed out a professional smile.

      She was working for the first time tonight, Matteo realised, and he looked over at Malvolio and saw his leer.

      Gina said something to her and Bella filled two glasses and then handed them both a drink. Instead of taking a seat at his usual table, which was waiting for the guest of honour, Malvolio went behind the bar and checked the CCTV cameras that were in the elevators. They also ran the length of the hotel corridors and out to the foyer and pool, and as he flicked through them he asked for the books to be brought to him.

      ‘I thought we partied tonight,’ Matteo said.

      ‘We shall, but first I want to see how well you have taken care of things.’ Malvolio frowned as he saw that the staff now kept their tips.

      ‘They work harder,’ Matteo said.

      ‘They don’t need money to work harder,’ Malvolio said. ‘You are too soft with them.’

      ‘Look at the return guests,’ Matteo said. ‘Look at—’

      ‘You think you do better than me?’

      Bella glanced over—she could hear the warning in Malvolio’s voice. He would loathe it that Matteo had done better at running the hotel than him. Malvolio would detest it that the hotel was thriving without his stranglehold on the place.

      ‘I don’t see your girlfriend here tonight.’ Malvolio looked around at the bar.

      ‘Tina and I broke up,’ Matteo said. Tina had been a vague constant, an excuse Matteo had kept up so that he could go home at night and a reason he could use not to attend Malvolio’s more twisted parties.

      With Malvolio safely behind bars, Matteo had ended things.

      ‘Good,’ Malvolio said. ‘Tonight, finally we might see Matteo party.’ He snapped his fingers and Bella brought over some more drinks and Matteo knew that he had better think fast.

      ‘I always wanted Bella,’ Matteo said, as she walked off, and he knew she must have heard because he watched her falter for a brief second and her already tense shoulders pull back a touch.

      Malvolio just laughed. ‘Tough.’

      They took their seats and sambuca was brought over. Gina served the drinks.

      ‘I missed you, Malvolio,’ she lied. ‘It’s good to have you back.’

      Tonight she joined the whole of Bordo Del Cielo in lying just to survive.

      * * *

      Bella felt sick. She had since the verdict had come in but now, since Malvolio had walked in, she felt dizzy with fear.

      For close to a year she had dreaded this night. With Malvolio’s arrest she had been brought a reprieve but that had run out.

      That he was here with Matteo, his new right-hand man, hurt terribly too. Her heart ached as to how the man she had adored from afar was turning out.

      Always dark and brooding, some said that Matteo had no emotion. Some said he had been born bad, just like his brother.

      Bella had thought she’d known different.

      She had adored him but on hearing his lewd comment about her to Malvolio she had actually fought with herself not to turn around and give him a sharp-mouthed response.

      She glanced over as Malvolio said something and Matteo did not laugh or smile. Instead, he stood up and walked back in her direction and came over to the bar.

      ‘See that the drinks keep coming.’

      ‘Of course.’

      ‘Mine is at midday,’ Matteo said, and Bella frowned and looked down at the tray as he picked up the drink that was on it and then downed it in one.

      ‘I want to keep a clear head,’ Matteo said as she went to refill it, and he gestured his head towards the iced water. Bella nodded her understanding—she would give him water from now on.

      ‘Bella...’ he said, and he didn’t continue. He just gave her a look, a long slow look that Bella didn’t understand.

      Matteo couldn’t tell her his thoughts and what he was planning but with his eyes he implored her to listen to him, to somehow know that he was on her side.

      She gave a rapid blink she was confused by the looks she was getting tonight and then looked away.

      It was the first time she had heard him say her name.

      It killed that it was tonight.

      The bar noise grew louder.

      Bella, who had never set foot inside one, loathed it. The noise jarred her already shot nerves, the looks from the men she served made her feel ill, but hardest of all were the constant reminders from Gina to smile.

      ‘At least look as if you’re enjoying yourself,’ Gina said.

      ‘Why?’ Bella retorted. ‘Do you think any of them care if I am?’

      ‘Lose the smart mouth, Bella,’ Gina warned. ‘Take them over another tray of drinks and tell them that the food is on its way. Given how he was starved in prison, strange he didn’t lose any weight,’ Gina scoffed, and even Bella managed a small laugh.

      She poured the tray of drinks and took them over. Matteo took the prearranged drink but as soon as he replaced his glass Malvolio handed him another.

      ‘Here,’ said Malvolio, and without missing a beat Matteo took it.

      Malvolio was testing him, Bella was sure.

      ‘Suddenly I’m hungry,’ Malvolio said, with his eyes on Bella as she bent over to retrieve the tray.

      ‘And me,’ Matteo said, and Bella froze as his hand slid over her bottom.

      Please let it be an accident, she thought, but his hand did not lift and she felt his fingers dig in.

      Her instinct was to turn and slap him. She had been as prepared as she could be to take it from Malvolio but to have Matteo treat her like this had temper rather than repulsion building in her.

      ‘No, no,’ Malvolio said. ‘She’s for me, aren’t you, Bella?’

      She pushed out that smile. ‘I hope so...’

      ‘So where are the perks?’ Matteo asked, and not just his words had Bella’s heart sink but the feel of his hand now running up the inside of her skirt. She closed her eyes but his hand went

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