Chapter 8 - Carlo Called It a Family Matter
Carlo arrived at their house unannounced two days later.
No bodyguards. No lawyer. Just a dark suit, a bruised pride, and the kind of confidence men mistake for immunity.
Matteo stepped onto the front walk before Carlo could ring again.
“You have ten seconds.”
Carlo lifted both hands.
“I came to talk.”
“You should have thought of that before you grabbed my son.”
Carlo’s face hardened.
“Your son is a Russo.”
“My son is not your leverage.”
Elena stood just inside the doorway with Luca in her arms and heard every word.
Carlo lowered his voice.
“You think this is about cruelty? It’s about protecting the family structure.”
Matteo laughed once, without humor.
“You held a baby over fire.”
“And I knew you’d take him back.”
That sentence chilled Elena more than an apology would have.
Carlo did not think the risk counted because he believed he controlled the edge of it.
He continued.
“Father built something bigger than your marriage. Bigger than her pride.”
He tipped his chin toward the doorway where Elena stood.
Matteo stepped forward.
“Don’t look at her.”
Carlo ignored him.
“She’s turning you against your blood.”
Elena almost spoke, then stopped herself.
This was not really about her.
Carlo needed to believe that.
Because the alternative was uglier.
The alternative was that Matteo had chosen against them on his own.
“Sign the agreement,” Carlo said. “Mom stabilizes the trust issue, the board calms down, and all this goes away.”
Matteo stared at him.
“There it is.”
Carlo’s expression flickered.
“The board?”
“You didn’t come here as my brother. You came here because you’re cornered.”
Carlo straightened.
“Careful.”
“No,” Matteo said quietly. “You be careful.”
Carlo took one step closer.
“If you sink Russo Capital over your wife’s resentment, I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life.”
Elena moved before thinking.
She opened the door fully.
“My resentment?” she said.
Both men turned.
“You terrorized my child.”
Carlo looked at Luca.
The baby hid his face against Elena’s shoulder.
For one brief second, something almost human crossed Carlo’s expression.
Then it was gone.
“This is a family matter.”
Elena held his gaze.
“I am his family.”
Carlo turned away first.
But when he walked back to his car, Elena knew the visit meant one thing.
May you like
The legal pressure had landed.
And Carlo was frightened enough to show up personally.
