Chapter 98

Chapter Ninety-Eight

The clock neared two in the morning, casting a quiet stillness over the apartment. Matteo was carefully drying the dishes that Gen had just washed, despite his repeated protests. She had insisted that the water would ruin the fresh bandages wrapped around his knuckles, which finally convinced him to let her handle the washing if he could take care of drying and putting everything away. Gen had spent nearly half an hour meticulously cleaning his knuckles, ensuring each bandage was perfectly in place. Throughout the process, Matteo teased her with playful innuendos, gently touching her with his free hand, delighting in how easily he could make her squirm. Setting the last plate down on the counter, he glanced over at her. She was nodding off on the stool where she sat, her eyelids heavy with sleep. He knew it was time to get her to bed. Just then, a sudden, loud banging echoed from the door.

Startled, Gen jolted upright on the stool, fully awake now, while Matteo swiftly opened a drawer to his right and pulled out a handgun. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise at how quickly he disabled the safety and moved deliberately across the apartment.

“Stay,” he commanded firmly.

Holding the gun at his side, Matteo peered through the peephole. His body visibly relaxed when he recognized the visitor outside. Rolling his eyes, he turned to Gen.

“You’ve got company. Hold the fuck on, Jada!” Matteo shouted through the door as he began the slow process of unlocking it.

Gen slid off the stool just as Matteo opened the door and Jada stormed inside, her energy tense and charged. Matteo already anticipated what would come next and headed toward his office.