Chapter 7 - When She Called Again
One year later, rain returned to the Vellini mansion.
Nora stood in her reopened studio, paint covering her fingers.
Matteo sat nearby reading documents.
His phone rang.
He ignored it.
Nora looked over.
“Aren't you going to answer?”
“No.”
“It might be important.”
“You're more important.”
She rolled her eyes.
“That's becoming annoying.”
“Good.”
Then Nora suddenly placed her brush down.
Matteo looked up immediately.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
He stood.
“Nora.”
“Sit down.”
“You touched your chest.”
“I stretched.”
“You touched your chest.”
She laughed.
“Matteo.”
He was already beside her.
“Pain?”
“No.”
“Breathing?”
“Perfectly.”
“Dizziness?”
“No.”
“Nausea?”
“No.”
Nora grabbed his face with both hands.
“I am fine.”
Matteo studied her suspiciously.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
He finally relaxed.
Nora smiled.
“You've gone from ignoring me to medically interrogating me.”
“I prefer this problem.”
“So do I.”
He kissed her forehead.
Then his phone rang again.
Matteo sighed.
Nora glanced at the screen.
“Enzo.”
“He'll survive.”
“Answer him.”
“No.”
“Matteo.”
“Nora.”
She pointed toward the phone.
“Answer.”
He obeyed.
“What?”
Enzo's voice came through.
“Boss, we have a situation.”
“Is anyone dying?”
“No.”
“Then call tomorrow.”
Matteo disconnected.
Nora stared at him.
“That was rude.”
“You've ruined me.”
“I improved you.”
“Debatable.”
She returned to her canvas.
Matteo stopped beside it.
It showed the Vellini mansion at night.
Rain fell across the windows.
But unlike her old painting, every window glowed warmly.
Two figures stood together behind the second-floor glass.
Matteo became quiet.
“Is that us?”
“Maybe.”
“You painted me too tall.”
“Artistic license.”
“And more handsome.”
“Definitely artistic license.”
He wrapped his arms around her from behind.
Nora laughed.
A year earlier, the same rain had fallen while she lay alone on a marble floor believing the man she loved would never hear her.
Now Matteo understood something his empire had never taught him.
Protection wasn't guards.
It wasn't money.
It wasn't making enemies afraid.
Sometimes protection was answering the phone.
Sometimes it was believing someone when they said they were scared.
Sometimes it was simply being there.
“Nora?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
She turned in his arms.
“I know.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“That's all?”
Nora smiled.
Then she kissed him.
“I love you too.”
Outside, rain continued falling over the mansion.
Inside, Nora's phone rested on the table.
Matteo's rested beside it.
Neither one needed to ring.
May you like
Because this time, when Nora needed him, Matteo was already there.
THE END
