Matteo
I stand at the head of the cabinet table, palms pressed against the polished wood. My fingers grip the edge so tightly my knuckles have gone white. The room vibrates with tension. Half the faces around the table stare back at me with solidarity, the others with barely concealed contempt.
“So,” I say, my voice steadier than I expected, “let’s address the elephant in the room, shall we?”
No one speaks. The photographs of Marco and I are the unspoken presence hovering over us all. My private life splashed across everynewspaper and screen in Italy—in the world.
Carlos sits opposite me, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Prime Minister,” Finance Minister Russo begins, his voice dripping with false concern, “surely you understand your position is now untenable. The moral implications alone—”
“Moral implications?” Gabriella interrupts, her eyes flashing. “Since when has morality factored into your political calculations, Russo?”
I raise my hand. “Let’s not pretend this is about morality. This is about power. This is about our anti-corruption legislation. This is about the fact that some people in this room have bank accounts that can’t bear scrutiny.”
Carlos clears his throat dramatically and stands. “Speaking of positions that have become untenable, I’ve made a decision.” He straightens his tie. “I hereby resign as Deputy Prime Minister, effective immediately.”
The room falls silent. This isn’t a resignation—it’s a declaration of war.
“I cannot in good conscience continue to serve in an administration led by someone who has made such a mockery of his office,” Carlos continues. “Someone who has been carrying on a secret affair with the Pope—the Pope!—while pretending to govern our nation.”
“That’s rich coming from you,” I say, my voice dangerously quiet.
Carlos ignores me, addressing the room. “I didn’t want to be the one to tell you this, Matteo, but since we’re being honest today—” His eyes gleam with malice. “I’m the one who released those photos to La Repubblica.”
The room erupts. Gabriella half-rises from her seat. Two ministers shout at once. But I don’t hear them. A roaring fills my ears as white-hot fury courses through me.
“You?” I whisper, then louder, “YOU?”
“Someone had to do it.” Carlos shrugs. “The Italian people deserveto know who’s really running their country—and the filth he’s doing behind closed doors.”
I round the table so quickly my chair crashes to the floor. “You treacherous bastardo!” Before anyone can react, I grab Carlos by his perfectly pressed lapels and slam him against the wall, my face inches from his. “You didn’t do this for Italy. You did this for yourself!”
The room erupts in shouts, but all I can see is Carlos’s smug face, all I can think about is Marco—gentle Marco—being exposed and humiliated because of this snake.
“Prime Minister!” someone shouts.
I ignore them, tightening my grip. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? The harm you’ve caused? Not to me—I can take it—but to him?” My voice breaks slightly on the last word.
Carlos tries to maintain his composure, but fear flickers in his eyes. “Unhand me, Valentini. This is assault.”
“Assault?” I laugh bitterly and release one hand just long enough to slam my fist into the wall beside his head. “You want to see assault?”
Gabriella is suddenly beside me. “Matteo, he’s not worth it,” she says quietly.
I’m breathing hard, trembling with rage. “You did this because our investigation was getting too close to your dirty money, didn’t you?”
Carlos straightens his tie with shaking hands. “Watch yourself.”
“No, you watch yourself.” I release him with a disgusted shove. “You think I don’t know about the offshore accounts? The kickbacks from the Lombardi Foundation? The meetings with men who don’t exist on any official calendar?”
Carlos’s face flushes as he adjusts his rumpled suit. “You’re delusional.”
“And you’re finished.” I turn to address the entire cabinet, my chest still heaving. “Let’s be clear about what’s happening here. Carlos isn’t resigning on principle. He’s jumping before he’s pushed. Ouranti-corruption investigation has uncovered links between certain cabinet members and the same criminal network that’s been operating through the Vatican Bank.”
Russo stands abruptly. “This is outrageous! I won’t sit here and be slandered.”
“Then don’t sit,” I snap. “Join your pathetic master on his way out.”
