Accardi by allison franklin novel

You Were My Favorite Hurt, And My Hardest Goodbye by Ava Knight 145 Summary Matteo carefully climbs a fire escape and enters an apartment through an unlocked window. Inside, he finds two people asleep in a bed: a woman and a prison guard. Matteo uses a sedative on the woman to keep her unconscious and then confronts the guard. After a tense moment, he swiftly kills the guard, sparing the woman. Blood covers Matteo as he reflects on the consequences of his violent actions, vowing to be more cautious in the future.

After leaving the scene, Matteo returns home to find his wife, Genevieve, asleep. He gently kisses her forehead and takes a hot shower to wash away the blood and the weight of the night's events. Genevieve joins him in the shower, easing his tension with her touch. They share a tender moment, reaffirming their love and discussing plans for a real honeymoon after the baby is born. As Matteo begins to drift off to sleep in Genevieve's arms, his phone rings unexpectedly.

Reluctantly, he answers to hear a threatening message from Sergei Vasiliev, who accuses Matteo's second-in-command, Frankie Donati, of attacking his safehouse, killing many men, and kidnapping his fiancée. The call signals the start of a dangerous conflict, leaving Matteo and Genevieve facing an uncertain future. Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Five Matteo climbed the fire escape with deliberate care, his fingers gripping the cold metal rungs as he ascended to the top.

Reaching the final step, he settled beside the bedroom window, his breath steady despite the tension coiling in his chest. He tested the lock with a cautious shake of his head when he found it hanging unlatched. Foolish. After hearing about the others, he had hoped this one might be more secure, smarter, but no such luck. This errand promised to be just as tedious as the rest. Sliding his lock-picking kit back into his pocket, he eased the window open with slow, practiced movements.

Stepping inside, Matteo cautiously placed his toes on the desk beneath the window, measuring his weight before fully entering the room. Two figures lay beneath the heavy blankets of the queen-sized bed, their breathing steady in the quiet darkness. He exhaled softly and rested his hands on his hips, considering how to approach the second occupant without waking them. Retrieving his secondary kit, stocked with first-aid supplies and syringes designed for less-than-healing purposes, he selected one filled with a powerful sedative.

Silently, he tiptoed across the room to the far side of the bed, where his true target lay. The woman's eyes snapped open the instant the needle pierced her arm. Matteo had anticipated this reaction. Her small, startled cry was muffled instantly by his palm, his fingers pressing firmly but gently over her mouth. Her lashes fluttered closed again, surrendering to the drug's pull. Releasing her with a quiet sigh, Matteo mouthed a silent apology, fully aware that the memories she would wake to the next morning might haunt her for years.

But he had a score to settle, and the presence of a witness would not deter him. Crossing to the other side of the bed, Matteo leaned over, covering the man's mouth and his broad, pig-like nose with his hand. The prison guard's eyes flew open, panic flashing within them as he began to thrash wildly. Matteo let him struggle briefly, allowing the man a fleeting hope of survival. His gaze darted toward the woman, searching for any sign of recognition, but Matteo kept his own head still, denying him that final clarity. "My problem isn't with her," Matteo said quietly.

"She won't die." Six months ago, he would have left the guard alive just long enough for the realization to settle in-to know why death was coming. But now, something softer had crept into him. He needed to offer reassurance. As if those words alone were enough, as if the man could trust him, the guard's struggling ceased. A single nod acknowledged his fate. Then, with a swift flick, Matteo's knife cut across the guard's throat-quick, clean, merciful. Blood sprayed onto Matteo's face and neck, soaking his shirt and coating the fine hairs on his arm in a mist of deep red.

The guard gurgled once before his eyes glazed over and life fled from them. Matteo withdrew his hand and sank back on his heels. His gaze drifted to the bedroom wall, where photographs hung in neat frames. No children, thankfully. That was a relief. For the sixth time that week, he vowed never to cross anyone without just cause. He swore to himself that no man would ever sit like this in his bedroom, drenched in blood, reflecting silently on the consequences. Shaking off the weight of the moment, Matteo descended the fire escape.

Waiting at the curb, Leo sat behind the wheel of the SUV, engine humming and ready. They sped away from the crumbling apartment building, heading back home. The car was filled with heavy silence; Leo understood Matteo's need for quiet. This was business-fulfilling a promise, tying up loose ends, and sending a clear message: nobody messed with Matteo Accardi without consequence. Leo dropped Matteo off with a simple nod and drove away. Matteo climbed the five flights of stairs, the familiar creak beneath his boots grounding him.

Instead of turning left toward his apartment, he went right, unlocking the door to the second unit on the floor. Walking through the space, he noted the progress of the renovation. After Genevieve's surprise with the greenhouse renovation upstairs, he felt compelled to return the favor. He had already arranged with a contractor to renovate the second apartment, connecting it to his own to create a sprawling living area spanning the entire fifth floor. He moved through the rooms, nodding approvingly at how much had been accomplished in just a few days.

The kitchen had been stripped bare, several walls torn down, and new ones beginning to take shape. Walking down the hallway, he entered the bedroom destined to become the nursery. Leaning against the doorframe, he let his mind paint a picture of what the room would soon become. He glanced at the wall, knowing his wife was asleep just beyond it. That thought pushed him away from the doorframe and back toward the apartment that wasn't yet a construction zone. After reengaging all the locks and resetting the security system, Matteo moved quietly through the apartment.

As he had suspected, Gen was already in bed. She had promised to stay awake, but he knew better. The baby demanded much of its mother's rest. He bent down to kiss her forehead tenderly before heading to the bathroom. Stepping into the scalding hot shower, he let his head fall forward, water soaking his hair. The clear water turned crimson as it washed away the blood. Grabbing the scrub brush from the ledge, he began scrubbing beneath his nails, trying to remove every trace of the night's violence. Closing his eyes, the images of the evening-and the previous five nights-flooded his mind.

His scrubbing grew more vigorous, as if washing away the blood could also cleanse the sins weighing on his soul. Suddenly, soft hands slid up his back, and he exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Genevieve's fingers worked expertly into the knots and tight muscles of his shoulders. "Hand me the soap, please," she murmured. Matteo passed the bar over his shoulder. Moments later, her hands returned, gliding more smoothly over his skin thanks to the suds.

She found a spot that sent a jolt through him, and he let his head fall back as she continued to ease the tension from his body with nothing but her touch. Leaning forward, he braced himself against the tile with his palms to stay upright. After a few minutes, her arms wrapped around his waist, and she rested her cheek against his spine. "Is it over? Are you done?" she asked softly. Matteo sighed, turning to hold her close. He tipped her chin up and claimed her mouth, drawing a moan from her as she melted into the kiss.

Pulling back, he used his thumb to brush away stray droplets of water from her face. "It's over," he confirmed. "I'm done." "Good," she whispered, her eyelids heavy. "Take me to bed, Matteo." He shut off the water and toweled her dry, then used the same towel on himself. Lifting her gently, he carried her to bed. She sighed contentedly as she lay down, beckoning him to join her. Matteo rested his head against her stomach, pressing a kiss where a second heartbeat pulsed. Her fingers tangled in his hair, and he wrapped his arms around her back.

"Do you want to tell me about it?" she asked quietly. "No." "Are you hurt?" "No, Weakness. I'm not hurt," he whispered, gripping the wrist of the hand threading through his hair and kissing the center of her palm. "I spoke with Liam Phelan today. We set up a meeting for next week," she said. "Next week won't work," Matteo replied, closing his eyes as the steady rhythm of her heartbeat began to lull him toward sleep. "Why not?

I checked your schedule-it's completely open." "There's a reason for that." "And that reason is..." "Our honeymoon." Gen tugged at his hair until he opened his eyes and tilted his head back to look at her properly. One eyebrow arched in curiosity. "Our honeymoon? You do remember we already had one, right?" Matteo scoffed softly. "That wasn't a honeymoon. That was a break from chaos. I told you I'd take you on a real honeymoon after everything was over. After tonight, everything is over, so..." Gen fought to suppress a smile, biting her lip, but the right corner of her mouth still lifted.

"Matteo... I'm not sure now is the best time for a..." "I know, you can't drink or anything." He settled his head back against her stomach. "We'll just have to go on a third once the baby is born and done breastfeeding." "Matteo Accardi..." "Hmmm?" He looked up at her after a pause. She smiled down at him, a tear threatening to spill, whether from pregnancy hormones or something deeper, she would claim if he asked. "I love you." He returned her smile with a wink before burrowing back into her warmth.

"I love you too, Weakness." Minutes later, as Gen's fingers slowed in his hair and Matteo drifted closer to sleep in her arms, his phone rang sharply. Gen startled, her fingers frozen as if on autopilot, the noise pulling her from rest. Matteo lifted his head, squinting at the nightstand. The screen went dark, and he lowered his head again. Then the ringing started anew. "Matteo... please," Gen pleaded, trying to roll away from the sound but unable to because of his weight pressing down on her. "Fine," he grumbled, pushing up on his elbows to grab the phone.

"Keep rubbing, though." She laughed softly, her fingers returning to his scalp. "This better be fucking important," Matteo growled into the phone without glancing at the caller ID. "Matteo Accardi?" a heavily accented Russian voice asked. Matteo pulled the phone away to check the number-an unknown caller. "Yes?" "My name is Sergei Vasiliev. I understand Frankie Donati is your second-in-command?" Matteo sat back on his heels, raising an eyebrow at Gen's curious look. He put the phone on speaker and held it out so she could hear. "Yes, Frankie is my second.

Is there a problem?" "You have five seconds to explain why the fuck your second-in-command just infiltrated my safehouse, killed fifty-six of my men, and kidnapped my fiancée before I declare open war against the three families of yours," Sergei declared, his tone deadly serious. Damn it, Frankie. Here we go. THE END Conclusion This chapter delicately captures the heavy toll Matteo carries as he confronts the darkness that shadows his world. His actions, though ruthless, are tempered by a newfound softness-a desire to protect, to preserve what little innocence remains in the midst of chaos.

The tender moments with Genevieve, their shared warmth and whispered promises, offer a sanctuary from the violence and pain, reminding us of the enduring power of love even in the bleakest circumstances. As the chapter closes, the fragile peace is shattered by a chilling call, signaling that the battles are far from over. Matteo's world, intertwined with loyalty and danger, stands on the precipice of new conflict.

The tension between loyalty and survival will be put to the ultimate test, forcing Matteo and those closest to him to confront threats that reach far beyond their immediate circle. Emotionally, the calm intimacy Matteo shares with Genevieve will be challenged by the looming chaos, threatening to unravel the fragile peace they've fought so hard to build. As past sins and present dangers collide, readers will be drawn into a gripping exploration of trust, sacrifice, and the heavy price of vengeance.