Chapter 2 Familiar Shadows

The aroma of fresh flowers and the golden tones of the early evening light coming through the stained glass windows conveyed the wedding vows into the air. But I became distracted. Matteo, a living ghost dressed in a fancy suit, was sitting a few seats ahead, and I couldn't take my eyes off of him. Every statement made by the pair pierced my heart more deeply, revealing wounds I had previously believed to have healed.

Alessandro was sitting next to me, leaning back in his chair, watching everything with a peculiar kind of delight. His gaze shifted from me to Matteo and then back to the bride and groom. Since our conversation outdoors, he had been silent, but it seemed deliberate, calculated rather than coincidental.

Everyone in the audience started applauding as soon as the officiant announced the couple's marriage. As Alessandro murmured in my ear, "Do you believe in happy endings, Anita?" I clapped along, my hands moving automatically.

The query seemed like a test. I turned to face him, feeling my heart race at his closeness. I whispered back, "I believe that happy endings are a luxury that very few people can afford." I used to believe in fairy tales and the idea that love could overcome any obstacles. But those fantasies had been dashed by reality, leaving only shards of hope.

Alessandro smiled slowly, his lips curling. "Spoken as if they were familiar with disappointment."

I didn't have time to reply. Everyone rose as the bride and groom started their joyous walk down the aisle, and their applause overpowered any further discussion. When Alessandro extended his arm to me once more, his hold firm and warm, I felt Matteo's eyes pierce the back of my neck. Something within me twisted as I realized he was watching, but I didn't turn around.

Instead, I concentrated on Alessandro as he ushered me into the reception hall, a magnificent area that had been turned into a realm of crystal chandeliers and tables covered in silk. The sounds of a live jazz band blended with the laughing and talk of the guests as they poured in. Even though everything seemed to be ideal, there was a lot of tension between the three of us.

"Drinks?" Pointing me in the direction of the bar, Alessandro inquired.

Indeed, I replied too hastily. "Please."

Wearing a bowtie and a clean black waistcoat, the bartender accepted our orders. Alessandro went with a scotch on the rocks, while I went with a traditional martini in the hopes that the burn of the alcohol would calm me down. He studied me with the same contemplative look he had before while we waited.

"What made you accept my date offer?" Eventually, Alessandro inquired. His query seemed like an interrogation, despite his friendly tone.

I was hesitant. I had agreed, but why? The attraction of Alessandro's charisma and his mysterious grin wasn't the only thing. A part of me had craved a change of pace, anything to shake up the routine of my existence since Matteo's departure. Adhering to a guy who radiated danger in the most alluring manner was exciting, if I was being really honest with myself.

The bartender placed my martini down in front of me, and I swirled it in response, saying, "Maybe I was curious." I like the way the glass felt cold on my fingers. "Or perhaps I simply desired adventure."

He lifted his glass, allowing the light to capture the golden liquid. With amused eyes, he continued, "To adventures, then."

We exchanged glasses, and I sipped slowly, allowing the vodka and vermouth to dispel any last uncertainty. However, before we could continue our talk, a recognizable, steady voice broke through the background.

"I didn't think you would be here."

I felt my back tense. Matteo Julio was there as I gently turned. His presence was relentless and powerful, and he was barely a foot away. The years had not lessened the intensity of his stare up close, the way those storm gray eyes could destroy all the façade I had constructed. As if he had just walked out of a magazine, his suit was well made, and his black hair was flawlessly combed.

"I didn't realize you were still interested in my social life," I said calmly. I gripped my glass tightly, the stem pushing against my palm.

The only indication that Matteo was irritated was a ticking of his jaw. "We have unresolved matters, Anita." His voice was low, threatening, and rife with unresolved rage and ancient scars.

With a touch that was both enticing and protective, Alessandro wrapped his arm around my waist. His tone was smooth, but there was a hint that he wouldn't put up with Matteo's interruption. "The lady's busy," he added. "You'll need to use a number."

It was very painful to feel the tension between them. I almost dreaded an explosion as Matteo's gaze turned to Alessandro. However, all Matteo could do was chuckle icily and without amusement.

Naturally, he replied. It shouldn't surprise me. His eyes came back to mine, and for a moment, a vulnerable expression crossed his face before he closed them once again. But, Anita, we shall speak. I owe you that much.

Whispers and sidelong looks from the visitors around us were left in his wake as he pivoted on his heel and stormed off. Having lost faith in my ability to handle my drink, I set it on the bar as my hands began to shake.

"Are you owed him?" Alessandro muttered, his eyebrows lifted in a sarcastic astonishment. "That is a serious accusation."

I couldn't look him in the eye. In actuality, I owed Matteo. In other words, we owed each other a debt that would never be paid in full. With secrets we had both carried with us and treachery on both sides, our marriage had ended in disaster. We had been ripped apart by secrets that held us together mysteriously.

When Alessandro said, "Anita," his tone became softer, and he raised my chin until our gazes locked. Would you want to go? I could set up a vacation in a matter of minutes.

I had never been successful at running, but the offer was alluring. "No," I said in a whisper. "Eventually, I'll have to face him."

Alessandro twitched his lips. His eyes showed a glimpse of something more profound, almost like appreciation, but he added, "That's the spirit." His hand fell from my waist as he withdrew. "But I need to know your rules if we're playing this game."

I felt my throat constricted. "What game is it?" I posed the question, but we both knew it was false. Years had passed since I and Matteo started playing games together, and now Alessandro had entered the same area with unclear intentions.

The sound of a microphone being tapped cut us off before he could respond. The best man was on stage, about to make his toast. Although the audience quieted down and focused on the front of the room, my thoughts were far away. Alessandro's eyes were still examining me and removing my layers, and even though Matteo was standing across the hall, I could still feel his presence.

The best man said, his voice booming with earnestness, "Here's to love." "The kind of thing that makes us stronger, braver, and sometimes even stupid."

As they raised their glasses in happiness, the audience let up a loud roar. But there was a cruel reality in the words for me. Once, love had given me courage. And I had been broken by it.

And I knew that this evening was far from done as the crowd erupted in laughter and more toasts were made. With Alessandro's watching eyes and Matteo's unresolved rage, the tangled web of our lives had only just started to unravel as my past had crashed into my present.