Chapter 108

Gen had made the misstep of dozing off during the car ride to the box. She jolted awake the moment Matteo swung the door open outside the very house where they had shared their first nights. Before she could react, his hand was already grasping hers, steadying her. Reflexively, she lifted her leg and drove a sharp kick into his chest. He grunted, stumbling back several paces to regain his balance. His eyes widened in surprise as she slid across the leather seat to the far side of the vehicle. Standing with his hands planted firmly on his hips, his gaze fixed and resolute, Matteo suddenly lunged into the car, intent on pulling her out.

When he finally managed to haul her from the car, she went completely limp, nearly causing him to drop her onto the sidewalk. She kicked and screamed, her resistance fueling his frustration as he struggled to drag her across the pavement. Stephen’s warning about the noise barely registered before Matteo hissed through clenched teeth, “I don’t fucking care!” His defiance only stoked her fire.

One well-aimed kick—that was all it took—right between the legs. Matteo exhaled sharply and crumpled to one knee. Seizing the moment, Gen scrambled back inside the car and locked the door behind her. She watched as he paused, still kneeling, gathering himself. Her breath rattled in her chest, her heart pounding fiercely against her ribs as she waited, tense and uncertain, to see what he would do next. Slowly, he rose and turned to glare at the window she was hiding behind. He tried the handle, found it locked.

“I want to go,” she shouted through the glass.

“No,” he mouthed back, his eyes dark and unwavering.

She slumped back into the seat, crossing her arms defiantly. She didn’t care if she looked like a stubborn child—she was standing her ground. Matteo pushed away from the SUV, pacing the sidewalk with wild, emphatic gestures. Though she couldn’t see his lips or catch his words, she knew from the furious energy that he was cursing enough to make a sailor blush. Suddenly, he banged hard on the window, making her jump.

“You can come, but you’re not going into the room with me,” he offered, a reluctant compromise.