Accardi by allison franklin novel

You Were My Favorite Hurt, And My Hardest Goodbye by Ava Knight 80 Summary Gen's assistant, Kaitlin, is eager to know more about Gen's kiss with Matteo, practically squealing with curiosity. Gen manages to get Kaitlin back to work by promising to join her and some girls for lunch, though she has no idea who these girls are. Later, Matteo surprises Gen in her office by kissing her passionately and telling her he has errands and a family meeting, but he mysteriously hints at a surprise for her before leaving. Despite her impatience to see the surprise, Gen waits until the end of her workday.

As she leaves, she meets Leo and his brother Stephen, who teases Gen with flirtatious remarks, leading to a playful exchange. Gen then takes a call from her friends Abigail, Sarah, and Becca, who jokingly inquire about her relationship with Matteo. They discuss whether Gen will return to Boston, but she remains uncertain and evasive about her future plans. When Gen arrives home, she finds a large, beautifully wrapped package in her apartment containing a key and a note from Matteo inviting her to move in with him.

Inside the apartment, she discovers wildflowers, a note with dinner instructions, and a playful text exchange with Matteo, who jokes about surveillance cameras and a hidden item she needs to find. Gen enjoys the freedom and permission to explore the apartment, feeling pleased and amused by Matteo's thoughtful and teasing gestures. Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below Eighty The only person who seemed truly invested in uncovering every detail about Gen's kiss with Matteo was her assistant, Kaitlin.

When Kaitlin trailed Gen into her office afterward, she practically squealed with excitement, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. The only way Gen managed to get Kaitlin to refocus on work was by promising to join her for a "ladies lunch" on Thursday, along with some other girls Kaitlin mentioned. Gen had no clue who these girls were, but she didn't mind-anything to buy herself a few precious minutes to gather her scattered thoughts. A few hours later, Matteo appeared unexpectedly in her office.

By "appeared," she meant he quietly approached from behind, caught her by surprise, slipped his hand around her throat, gently lifted her chin, and kissed her deeply. After returning the passion she had shown earlier, he told her he needed to leave early to run errands and attend a family meeting. When she pressed him about what time he'd be back, he gave the same vague answer. "As soon as I fucking can, Weakness. Enjoy your surprise," he added with a teasing glint before disappearing before she could ask any more questions.

Gen fought every instinct to rush straight to the apartment and discover what he had left for her. Instead, she exercised remarkable self-control and waited until the clock struck 5 p.m. before leaving for the day. With a renewed spring in her step, she confidently strode across the lobby and out through the courtyard. There was nothing quite like a satisfying night and the support of a handsome man to boost your mood. Outside, Leo was waiting by the SUV, accompanied by a younger man who looked oddly familiar. Gen slowed down as she approached and pointed toward the newcomer.

"Stephen, meet Miss Sinclair. Miss Sinclair, Stephen. Frankie's little brother," Leo introduced with a nod. "Ah, that explains it. Nice to meet you," Gen said, extending her hand for a shake. "Nice to meet you too, and don't worry," Stephen said, leaning in slightly over their clasped hands, "I'm way more fun than my brother." Gen pulled her hand back with a smirk. "Hm. So the distasteful personality runs in the family, huh?" "We'll be spending a lot of time together, Miss Sinclair," Stephen said smoothly.

"Just so you know, whatever you need, I'm happy to provide." He lowered his voice, raising his eyebrows suggestively. "Anything." Gen glanced at Leo, whose eyes were fixed on the sky in clear annoyance. "How about I pretend you never insinuated what you just did, and I don't tell your boss-who we both know would happily remove at least one, if not more, of your favored appendages?" Instead of recoiling, Stephen's grin widened. "Frankie was right." "Right about what?" Gen asked, placing her hands firmly on her hips.

Stephen shrugged, hands deep in his pockets, then turned toward the passenger side. "Uh, uh, uh," Leo tsked. "Back seat." Stephen clicked his tongue. "Aw, man." Gen felt a smug satisfaction as she climbed into the passenger seat. Just as the door shut, her phone buzzed. She smiled warmly when she saw Abigail's name pop up. Raising the phone, she asked, "Mind if I take this call?" "If we don't, are you going to tattle on us?" Stephen teased from the back. "Probably," Gen admitted, watching his scowl reflected in the rearview mirror.

"Go ahead," Leo said, shooting a glare at a car that had just cut him off. "Hey!" Gen chirped as she answered and pressed the phone to her ear. "Hey!" "Hi!" "Hey!" came Abigail, Sarah, and Becca's voices all at once. Stephen groaned dramatically and covered his ears in the backseat. "What are you all up to?" Gen asked, settling back and curling her knees. "Oh, you know, it's been a few days since we heard about the Italian sausage. We wanted to know if it's still spicy," Abigail teased. "Well, technically Louise was the one curious about the sausage and made us promise to ask if we called.

We only care about you, but if you want to spill on how good the sex is, we're all ears," Sarah added with a laugh. Gen chuckled softly. "I miss you guys. You all need to come visit soon." "Oh, pleeease do," Stephen added from the backseat, causing the girls to laugh. "Who was that?" Abigail asked. "Are you babysitting a teenage boy now?" "Please, if that were the case, I'd be getting paid," Gen replied with a grin. "So what are you doing then?" Gen glanced around at the two intimidating men flanking her, just in case anyone tried to jump her because she was dating a mob boss.

"Eh, just sharing a taxi." Stephen barked a laugh, and Leo grabbed a full Nalgene bottle beside him, tossing it into the backseat. It hit Stephen square in the stomach, causing him to double over, gasping for air. Gen patted Leo's arm appreciatively. "Ah, I'm pulling up to my apartment now. Hold on. Thanks so much, Sir. Here's a tip," Gen said, winking at Leo. Unfazed, Leo locked the doors and held out his hand. She glared at it, then back up at him. He wiggled his fingers and raised his eyebrows twice.

Rolling her eyes, Gen dug into her purse, found a crumpled five-dollar bill, and tossed it at him. Patiently, Leo unfolded the bill as she climbed out of the SUV. She flicked him off playfully before slamming the door. "Anyway," Gen drawled, pulling her keys out as she approached her apartment door. Hector was waiting there, holding it open for her. She smiled and nodded in thanks as she passed by. "So, what's going on?" "Uh, uh, uh! Sausage!" Abigail demanded from the phone. Gen rolled her eyes. "Sausage has been great.

Just the right mix of spice and sweetness, and it tastes good going down." "Ew... that's... no," Becca said in the background. "Shh, Becc, go on, go on," Sarah encouraged. Gen giggled softly. "Things have been good." "So you worked out... whatever it was between you?" Abigail asked. "Yeah, I mean, things are complicated, that's for sure, but we're both willing to work on it," Gen explained, trying to sound confident. "So does that mean..." "Becca, we promised we wouldn't ask," Abigail whispered urgently. "I just want to know..." "Let her be happy," Sarah agreed.

"Guys," Gen whispered back, "I can still hear you if you whisper next to the phone." A sigh came from either Abigail or Sarah. "Are you coming back to Boston?" Becca asked quietly. Gen's feet froze on the fourth landing. She looked up toward the next floor-the one where she and Matteo lived. She thought about what he had said, how he didn't want her to return to Boston. Had he meant it? Did she want that? "I told you it would dampen the mood!" Abigail hissed. "No," Gen said, shaking her head and forcing her feet to move again. "No, it's okay. That's a good question.

We haven't really talked about it," she lied smoothly. "It's all still so new, and we have a lot left to figure out." "She's not coming back," Becca said softly. "Becc, come on," Abigail said as Gen heard the familiar creak of the floorboards in their beautiful Boston home, signaling someone leaving. Gen stopped in front of her apartment door and leaned back against it. "I really don't know," she admitted. "It's okay," Sarah said gently. "Enjoy yourself. There's still, what? Four more months on your contract?

Plenty of time to figure out what you want to do, right?" Gen's gaze drifted across the hall to the apartment she'd spent the last three nights in. "Yeah, you never know what might happen," she lied again. "Look, guys, I'm at my apartment, and it's been a long day. I need a shower and some food. Can I call you later?" "Yeah, Toots, do your thing," Abigail said warmly. "We'll talk to you later," Sarah added. "Love you guys." "Love you too." "You too." Gen hung up and stared at the door across the hall for a long moment. She sighed deeply and turned to unlock her own door.

As she pushed it open, she froze. Right inside her apartment was a massive collection of packing boxes, bins, tape, packing peanuts, a trolley, and furniture sliders-all wrapped in an extravagant ribbon topped with a huge bow. She stepped inside cautiously, closing the door behind her, afraid that if she looked away, the enormous present might disappear. She approached it slowly and noticed a card tucked beneath the bow. Pulling the envelope free, she opened it. Something small slipped out and clinked softly on the floor.

She bent down carefully and picked up a golden key, her fingers trembling slightly as she unfolded the note attached: Move in with me? -M There was a sticky note on the back with the security code: the day they met. A broad smile spread across her face, a mixture of surprise and delight warming her chest. Without hesitation, she turned and headed toward the door she'd been staring at for several minutes, eager to test her new key. The key slid in smoothly without any resistance. The door clicked open, and she immediately heard the ping of the security system activating.

Glancing around quickly, she spotted the panel just a few feet inside. She opened it and typed in 2.13.25. The system beeped three times before shutting off. She exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and looked around the dimly lit apartment. On the counter sat a large bouquet of wildflowers. Biting her lip, she walked over to them. A second note rested beside the flowers. W, Make yourself at home. Lasagna is in the fridge for dinner. Reheat for thirty minutes. -M Gen pulled out her phone, snapped a picture of the bouquet, and sent it to Matteo.

Gen: Careful, the image you've worked so hard to build as a big, bad, powerful mafia boss is slipping. She watched the little typing bubbles appear on the screen as she lazily wandered around the apartment. Matteo: The only thing that should be slipping is you out of those work clothes. I expect you naked and ready when I get home, Weakness. Gen: How do you know I'm still in my work clothes? Are there cameras in here? Matteo: Only at the front door, activated if someone tries to get in. Matteo: I'm getting this one printed.

An image popped up from two nights earlier, taken right after their first date when she'd dashed across the hall to his apartment. The photo showed her looking up at him with a mischievous smile, the detail so vivid she could almost see the wild desire in her eyes-and the view straight down her dress. Gen: You better not, or you'll have to remove the eyes of whoever's in charge of printing it! Matteo: Better do what I say, then, and get your fine ass in bed. Matteo: By the way, I took the liberty of moving one of your more precious belongings.

Matteo: Your little purple friend is hiding somewhere in our apartment. If you want a chance to use it again, you better find it. Matteo: I'll even give you a hint. Matteo: It's hidden among my favorite things. Gen smiled and shook her head in amusement. She spotted the camera near the door and flicked it off. Matteo: Colder... Gen laughed softly and rolled her eyes as she walked back into the apartment, locking the door just enough so he could still get in.

Then, not because she truly needed her "purple friend," but because the implied permission to explore wherever she pleased thrilled her, she set out to search. After all, she loved to snoop. Conclusion This chapter delicately captures the tender complexity of Gen and Matteo's evolving relationship, weaving moments of playful intimacy with the underlying tension of their uncertain future. Gen's cautious optimism, paired with Matteo's thoughtful gestures, reveals a shared willingness to navigate the challenges ahead, even as questions about their next steps linger quietly in the background.

The warmth of friendship and connection, evident in Gen's call with her friends, further enriches the emotional tapestry, reminding us of the support that sustains her through these changes. Ultimately, the chapter leaves us with a sense of hopeful anticipation, as Gen embraces the new chapter Matteo offers, symbolized by the key and the invitation to make herself at home. The blend of vulnerability and strength she shows in accepting this gesture hints at the deepening bond between them, while the playful banter and subtle mysteries keep the spark alive.

As she navigates this new space-both literally and emotionally-readers can expect moments of tenderness mixed with the ever-present undercurrent of danger that surrounds their lives. At the same time, the presence of new characters like Stephen and the subtle but sharp interactions with Leo suggest that alliances and loyalties may be tested. Gen's connections outside Matteo's world, including her supportive friends, add layers of complexity to her choices and the path she's willing to take.

The balance between personal happiness and the shadows of Matteo's world will likely create compelling conflicts and emotional stakes that keep readers eagerly turning the pages.