Matteo's POV

She seemed to be in a dilemma as I moved closer to her, bridging the distance between us.

"Why are you scared now, do you think I'm going to hurt you?" I rumbled.

"I'm not scared." She replied firmly, letting me see through her gaze that she didn't give a shit about me. That single action of hers challenged something primal inside of me.

"Oh really?" I smirked, lowering my face to hers.

"What are you doing?" She asked with a slight shiver and I felt good knowing that I could draw out such a reaction from her.

I didn't reply but lowered my head closer so that there was just but a little space left before I kissed her.

What was I doing?

I jerked away from her and put a huge distance between us while heading back to my seat. I'd just lectured her on the consequences of trying to seduce me, yet I made the first move.

"You can leave now, I'm done with you." I dismissed her, trying to get my act together.

I was the Capo of the Outfit, I couldn't allow her alluring lips to seduce me.

The next morning while I laid on my bed, I got a call from Francesco that one of the shipments containing some drugs was missing. Initially, I left those kinds of things to him and my enforcer, but I had a feeling that something had gone deeply wrong and I needed to take care of it myself.

I dressed up in a beige suit and headed for the dining room. My nose caught a whiff of omelette with toast and strong black coffee. How did she know the type of coffee I liked?

Missing breakfast was unusual since I liked to sit at the table and have a good conversation with my brother before heading out for work. My brother wasn't deeply involved with the family business, since he was trying to hide his dark side. But like all Made men, we all had darkness lurking in our deepest part.

"Good morning, Matteo. You're up early, got an appointment?" He asked, tearing the omelette apart.

"Yes. Something is wrong with our shipment and I've got a hunch that it isn't just a mistake." I explained and swirled the coffee gently before bringing it closer to my lips.

It tasted so good that I was forced to send for her.

She didn't hesitate in appearing before me with an apron that covered most of her dress. "Good morning, Sir."

"Morning." I paused and stared at her beautiful smoky gray eyes that one could get lost in. "How did you know that I liked black coffee?"

She swallowed and dried her hands on the apron even though it wasn't wet which revealed how nervous she was. "I just took a guess and men with your kind of personality usually prefer something really strong."

I nodded and wiped my lips. "Oh. You can leave." I dismissed her, but deep down I was looking for ways to make sure that we got closer even though it wasn't right.

She was my staff but who said I couldn't do whatever I wanted? She looked innocent and strong-willed but I was ready to break any kind of will she had.

Angelo glanced at me with a smirk on his lips. "I know that look, Matteo. She just got here yesterday so don't go chasing after her." He warned but I shrugged.

"I don't know what you are talking about, Angelo. I like her cooking even if I don't admit it often and she is beautiful."

"There are several women out there that are dying to be in your arms, Matteo. Go to them and leave her alone." He chuckled.

I wiped my hands with the serviette and got up. Time was ticking fast and things would get messier if I didn't find out what was wrong with my shipment.

Drug trafficking was a major part of my business and I never allowed any of my workers to use it because of its addictive nature. But since someone wanted to mess with my business, I'd do the same to him.

My chauffeur stood by the driver's seat and opened the door for me to get in. He revved the engine and began to drive without asking. It was one of the things I liked about him, his competence.

"Stop here." I demanded when we veered into a lonely path. He did as I said and handed the car keys over to me then walked away.

The area was a familiar one as most of my business deals took place here, but I had a feeling that someone was going to die by my hand today.

Francesco was already standing by the gate, awaiting my arrival. The gate opened on its own accord and I drove in, parking my car at the parking lot.

"Have you gotten any more info on what might have happened?" I asked as we both walked into the building.

"Yes." He replied with a cynical smirk. "The traitor is in the torture room."

"Good work, Francesco."

My blood boiled when he told me that he had gotten the infiltrator. How dare he think he could steal from me or sabotage my business.

The torture room was deep down the basement of an uncompleted building that we normally took care of the men that were either disloyal or had leaking mouths. I had an enforcer who could do the dirty job, but the urge to get my hands dirty had become increasingly overwhelming.

At the same time, I wanted to distract myself from whatever almost happened between Aurora and I last night.

We sauntered into the room where the traitor was. I cast a murderous glance at him, causing him to tremble visibly. His lips were gagged and I signalled to one of the guards to untie his mouth.

I wanted to know his motive for betraying me.

He began to plead the moment the cloth was removed from his lips. "I'm so sorry, boss. I didn't mean to do it,"

I chuckled bitterly, my eyes taking note of the blood which oozed out from the cuts in different parts of his body. His chest was bare and smeared.

"That's not a good reason for sabotaging me, Dante."

"The cops had threatened to arrest my family and I if I didn't tell them the truth. I didn't believe them initially but they promised to make my family an accomplice."

"Your excuse isn't convincing, Dante. I've got the head of the cops under my payroll so why will they harm you?" I asked, approaching him slowly with trepidation glaring from his eyes.

He knew that I had caught him so he burst into tears. "Please forgive me and give me another chance. I won't fail you"

"I would have considered that if you didn't try to steal from me, Dante."

Immediately I took a dagger from Francesco's holster and plunged it into his chest. He gasped in shock while I revelled in my action and pulled it out. "That's for stealing from me. Don't worry, your family will be well compensated."

I turned away and passed some information to Francesco then headed home.

Aurora was the first to see me when I got in and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Blood?" She gasped.