A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Chapter 13

Alena

When I got back to the estate, it was already late because I made a trip to the grocery store. A few black SUVS were parked outside, and the front door was wide open which made me wonder if we had visitors. They cars were parked in different directions, as if they came to stop in a hurry or they were running after something

After I have parked my car in the garage, I walked inside the house.

My eyebrows frowned at the sounds of grunting and groaning. They came all the way from the living room-not just that, they were figures of unknown men in black suits.

Some of them were lying on the ground, someone trying to help them. Their black clothes were stained with blood as it left marks on the marble floor. That was going to need a deep clean to remove.

I was surprised to find around ten men in the living room but there was no sign of Matteo.

There were only four injured men. Someone, 1 assumed was the doctor kept trying to help them, removing bullets, and stitching their wounds. I remained still at my spot as I watched everything in front of me. These were Italian men and they belonged to Matteo. They were in the mafia, it was obvious. They had the build and some of them were bleeding, for god's sake.

L

"Mrs. Lerclerc.. we thought you weren't going to be home tonight," Someone spoke, gesturing for me to leave the living room-as if I feared the blood.

They were wrong. I was never scared of blood or injuries, but I never liked the violence that caused them. Especially when I knew these men were in the mafia and they were probably running from a shooting scene. I always wanted to help people, but they put themselves in these situations.

"What happened?" I asked, heading to one of the men on the ground.

He was passed out and only let out a few groans when I touched his arm. My hand was stained with blood, and 1 immediately noticed he was shot there.

"We were attacked and some of our men got injured."

I frowned, "Where's Matteo

My heartbeat could somehow thump out of my chest as soon as another figure stepped inside the house. Matteo was being held around the waist and arm as he kept groaning in pain. His free hand was holding onto the side of his body, trying to prevent himself from losing too much blood-even when he was already losing too much blood.

There were a few cuts on me, our eyes met.

his face across his cheek and forehead His hands were red from the blood and as soon as he saw

One of his men carefully help him on the couch as he leaned back, clenching his jaw.

"Someone take her out of her." He muttered through gritted teeth, still pressing hard onto the side of his body.

No.

-"I stuttered, "Let me take a look."

"I have my doctor, Alena This is nothing you should concern yourself with. Please, let us be."

"You got shot, Matteo!"

He tried to push me away as I reached out to touch his face, but was stubborn, We weren't in good terms for months, yet I

1/7

75%

20-38 Wed, Uc

Chapter 13

could forgive and forget for a little while. He needed tending as soon as possible and I could never ignore that.

"Mrs. Leclerc "

I cut someone off, "I'm a doctor. I know what to do,"

He turned to look at Matteo, somehow waiting for his approval or order but when Matteo nodded his head, he let me be

"Take me into my office."

Two of his men helped him up as they made their way to his office. I followed behind them closely and watched their every move. When we got inside. I was hesitating at first because I remembered when he told me, I wasn't allowed to be in here. I wasn't allowed to be in his room and his office.

But he didn't seem to bother at the moment. He did ask his men to bring him to his office, so I stepped inside and made my way towards him, who was sitting on the sofa and groaning lightly in pain.

"Bring her the things she needs and leave us.

Within minutes, they placed medical tools and a first-aid kit beside me before leaving the office.

I was left alone with Matteo

I was staring at him for a few seconds, seeing he was indeed in pain. His lips were red and slightly busted-maybe, he was punched on the face a few times before he got shot. He looked rough and I had never seen him like that before. Whenever we ran into each other for the past months, he always looked in a hurry and busy.

"I'll cut your shirt off."

He nodded, leaning back as I run the scissors to cut his shirt. Once I cut them, he was sitting in front of me t***ss. If we were in a different situation, I was probably going to take my time and stare at him because the man in front of me was looking like a Greek god, but he was hurt.

He was injured. I had no right to stare, anyway.

I frowned at the gunshot wound and sighed in relief when I was that it wasn't too deep. It was a graze, and it missed any important **o*ns-he was going to heal just fine. All he needed was enough rest.

I kept quiet, disinfecting the area properly before beginning to remove the bullet. He did groan and grunt a few times, but he managed it well by staying still, only gripping tightly onto his torn-up shirt. "You can ask me. You look curious," he said slowly.

I cleared my throat, "Who attacked you?"

"We were just transporting drugs when we got attacked. Angelo will try to figure out who it was because everything happened too quickly. I couldn't see who it was and then I got shot."

"Is this a normal

reoccurrence for you?"

"Very much so. This isn't

""You've been shot before?"

survived

leave me as a

0875%0 20.38

Chapter 13

him or his stare. I was paying attention to his wound even though he was looking at nothing else but me. It had been a while since I saw him smile,

me, Alena. It's

get to you one day. They'll probably come after me, too. If they don't come after me, I'm left with your debts to

care of. You wouldn't have to

"Do you t

think about it. Matteo!"

"About dying?"

getting

the bullet out but when he felt the relief, he

spoke again as he kept watching

be able to look away. His beautiful eyes were always tempting, and I was

couldn't hypnotize?

you I'm lucky." He breathed, "Besides, it's

"What do you mean?"

can't always risk my life. I have to

is that?"

""What is

"You"

his gaze, but he seemed to surprise me whenever I least expected. I swear to God, I wanted nothing but to

want me to

I like knowing you have

it gave butterflies

longer. Both of his hands were resting on his sides, so it took me by surprise

and all he needed was

asked, trying to ignore the rhythm of my heartbeat and the butterflies in my

his head, "I

"Don't don't do that."

-

3/7

20:38 Wed, Oct

Chapter 13

"Do what?"

things to me. We both know we'll be back to ignoring each other tomorrow. We've been doing that for months." I

"I didn't mean to."

"Then, why did you?"

"It's complicated"

because I was being on my knees for too

Matteo didn't get a response from me, he continued to talk. "Why didn't you

across my cheeks-they weren't too visible, but they

until he decided he wanted to break my

"What did he do?"

was curious, but I appreciated the gentleness in

found him having sex with his colleague in our apartment. I continued to speak, "We were in love for four years or I thought we were. Maybe, it was just me. So, when he was busy kissing and sleeping with someone else, I made it clear to

try to get you back

gave me all the cliche answers whenever I asked him. I wasn't a kid, Matteo. I knew he was a big fat liar and couldn't keep his

he really

told myself that many times whenever I felt

"You felt lonely?"

course. Anyone would feel lonely when

gentle gesture even though it was quick, but it made my heart skipped a beat. Our eyes were staring into one another as

he leaned in to kiss

lips were

opened my eyes

you for helping me,

I was

yourself too hard. There are painkillers in

stepped inside.

shot, I might ask for immediate scans to check

4/7

Chapter 13

him in Italian, and I knew

you're

face, but I didn't want to

"Wait, Alena."

at him. He was already standing up as he spoke to Angelo in Italian. Once they were done, Angelo

something wrong?"

there's nothing wrong. They were just

guess

can you please help me

I was allowed to be in his office and his bedroom. He was literally asking me to help him into his room which he made very clear, he didn't want me anywhere near it. He even said the word

getting shot change him or

help you

slowly walk with him out of the office. He wasn't putting his whole weight on me because he knew he was going to crush me, but

was talking to them in Italian as they closed the

When we got inside, I slowly help him towards the bed, but he didn't completely let go of me. I stole a few glances around his room and there wasn't anything weird-it was a

spacious, bigger than mine. It was clean,