Accardi by allison franklin novel

You Were My Favorite Hurt, And My Hardest Goodbye by Ava Knight 98 Summary In the quiet early hours of the morning, Matteo and Gen share a tender moment as she carefully tends to his injured knuckles while he dries the dishes. Their playful interaction is interrupted by a sudden banging at the door, prompting Matteo to grab a gun and cautiously check who is outside. Relieved to see Jada, Matteo lets her in despite the tension that quickly fills the apartment. Jada bursts in, announcing her intention to divorce Louis, her husband, and immediately starts searching for alcohol.

She vents her frustration about Louis's gambling problem and her distrust of his ability to manage money, especially after losing six thousand dollars in bets. The argument escalates as Jada reveals she plans to cut out her tracker to escape Louis's control, but Matteo and Gen try to calm the situation, with Matteo secretly alerting Louis to Jada's presence. Louis arrives angrily, leading to a heated confrontation between him, Jada, Matteo, and Gen. The conflict centers around Louis's gambling, Jada's defiance, and the strained relationships between them.

Matteo asserts his authority, declaring his home a private place and giving Jada the key to a spare apartment with a sharp warning to leave. Jada departs with a smirk, followed by Louis, leaving Matteo and Gen alone again. As the tension settles, Matteo shifts the mood, informing Gen about an upcoming event called the Royale, a gathering of high-level criminals. He insists she attend as part of her "punishment," challenging her to prove she can handle the dangerous world he inhabits.

Their flirtatious exchange ends with Matteo teasingly threatening dire consequences if she fails, underscoring the high stakes of their lives. Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below 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. "I'm divorcing him!" Jada announced loudly, making a beeline for the kitchen. "Uh... hello?" Gen greeted, raising an eyebrow as Jada started rummaging through the drawers. "Hey. Where's the booze?" Jada demanded. Matteo returned from his office, holding out a glass decanter. "Thanks," she said, uncorking it and pouring a generous amount into her own glass.

She downed it in one gulp, wincing at the harsh taste. "So... what's going on?" Gen asked, leaning casually against the counter opposite Jada. Jada threw her head back in frustration. "I didn't want him working at the club. He has a gambling problem-I didn't think it was smart to have a gambling addict working at a place with gambling," she explained, shooting a pointed glare at Matteo. "You didn't want him working in the field with me either," Matteo reminded her.

"Or leaving New York to work somewhere else..." "I'm not talking to you," Jada snapped, causing Matteo to raise his hands in surrender and turn away. "You're lucky I'm in love with your sister," Matteo muttered under his breath, pulling out his phone. Gen smiled at him, a warmth filling his chest. "So, you're mad he gambled tonight?" Gen asked quietly. "Six thousand dollars, Gen! He bet with two different people and lost six grand!" Jada yelled, her voice rising. Matteo was taken aback. Louis hadn't bet in a long time; he'd been doing better lately.

"Jesus, I don't know who he bet with-they usually know not to take his money at the betting booth," Matteo said, scrolling through his phone to find Louis' contact. "Um, about that..." Gen began hesitantly. Matteo looked up, studying her expression. "You?" he asked. "You!?" Jada screamed in disbelief. "Yikes, Jade, maybe lower the volume a bit. Yeah, we had a bet and he lost," Gen admitted. "What was the bet?" Matteo asked, intrigued. Gen glanced at him and smirked. "Oh," Matteo responded with an eye roll before returning to his phone. "Oh, what?" Jada pressed.

"Nothing, it's not important," Gen said quickly. "It is to me!" Jada insisted. "It's only six thousand. I know what he makes, and he can afford to lose that much," Matteo interjected calmly. "Is that so? How much money do you have in your account, Accardi? How many backup funds?" Jada continued rifling through the drawers. "What's six thousand every week, huh? That's 312,000 a year! What if something happens and we need a quick escape? What if I get pregnant and we have to move?

What if..." "Jada, what on earth are you looking for now?" Gen asked, wincing as Jada noisily rummaged through the cutlery drawer. Jada held up one of their sharpest steak knives. "I'm cutting out my tracker." "Don't do that," Matteo said with a heavy sigh. "Why not? I hate feeling lowjacked. I might just leave this apartment and go somewhere he'll never find me..." "He's already here," Matteo said, placing a reassuring hand on the back of Gen's stool. "What?!" Jada screamed again, making Gen flinch. "I texted him the second you walked in," Matteo said with a shrug.

"Matteo," Gen said, disapproving. "We shouldn't get involved." "He'd do the same for me." He leaned down so their faces were inches apart. "Do you hear that?" Gen rolled her eyes and pushed him away just as the apartment door swung open and Louis strode inside. "What the fuck, Jada?! You can't just walk out on us talking and steal my fucking car!" Louis shouted. "Oh, I see, so you can steal my money but I can't take your car?" Jada shot back. "It's not your money, it's my..." Louis snapped his mouth shut. "Oh, hell no. Gen, give me the key to the old apartment," Jada demanded.

"Gen, don't," Louis ordered, though Gen remained still. "We're going home. Now," Louis said firmly. "Fuck you. Why don't you go stay with your sister since you two are buddy-buddy now anyway?" Jada retorted. "You see what you've done?" Louis asked Matteo, his voice sharp. "What have you done?" Gen asked, looking up at Matteo. Before Matteo could respond, Jada cut in. "He told Louis to take Mallory to the Royale instead of taking his one fucking wife!" "Dante's family will be there, Jada. I don't think..." Matteo began. "I can handle those fucking..." Jada snapped.

"Oh, for Christ's sake!" Matteo slammed his fist down on the marble countertop, the sound echoing through the kitchen. He pushed off the counter and strode toward the door. "This is my fucking house. My private residence. I'm a Don for fuck's sake, not a fucking therapist." He turned back to Jada and handed her the key to the spare apartment. "Code is: Get the fuck out." "Thanks," Jada said with a proud smirk as she walked away, passing her husband without a glance. Louis spun on his heel and followed her out. The shouting resumed before Matteo even slammed the door shut.

He muttered under his breath as he secured the locks and activated the security system, all while Gen watched him from her stool, clearly entertained. He returned to her side and extended his hand. "So, tell me about this 'Royale' Jada mentioned," Gen said as they walked hand in hand through the apartment. "It's an event we're attending on Friday," Matteo answered. Gen tugged on his hand, stopping them in the hallway. "Oh, is it?" Matteo pressed his palm against the wall, gently pinning her until she was trapped between him and the wall. "Mhmm, a charity thing I have to go to every year.

You're coming with me this time." "I don't remember you asking me to go," she said, raising an eyebrow with mock irritation. "That's part of your punishment." "Is that so?" "Mhmm. See, it's not really a charity event. It's more like a gathering where every upper-class criminal gets together to... discuss business," he explained, leaving out a lot of the details. "I decided your punishment is going to be showing up blind." "And why's that?" He shrugged. "I want to see how you handle it. See if you've got what it takes." "To be your girl?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.

He lowered his head until their lips were almost touching. "To be my Donna." "And if I fail? What then?" He paused thoughtfully, searching for the best response to throw her off. "I guess I'll have to kill you. And him." Accardi Conclusion The chapter closes with a tense yet intimate moment between Matteo and Gen, highlighting the deep bond they share amidst the chaos surrounding them. Their playful banter and mutual care offer a tender contrast to the storm brewing with Jada and Louis, whose volatile relationship threatens to unravel everything.

Matteo's cryptic warning about the stakes involved adds a layer of danger and intrigue, setting the stage for revelations that could redefine their relationship and the balance of power around them. Prepare for a chapter where the lines between love, loyalty, and survival blur, leaving readers eager to see who will emerge unscathed.