overlooked, underestimated, and quietly carrying the kind of devotion most people spend an entire lifetime looking for.
he falls first.
he waits.
and when valentina walks back into his life, he never once questions whether she’s worth everything that comes after.
the society
the fun keeps going...
save the books that introduced him, save the quotes that made you pause, and keep building your personal archive of fictional men with excellent emotional damage.
matteo is the mmc in phantom mine by khai hara. the discarded second son of a mafia don, he's patient, obsessive, and completely devoted to valentina from the moment she walks into his life.
does matteo fall first?⌄
oh, immediately. phantom mine is one of the best examples of "he falls first" i've read because it never feels forced. he's all in from the beginning, and watching him quietly yearn for her is half the reason this book became a six-star read for me.
is matteo obsessive?⌄
yes, but in the best way. he's never loud about it. his obsession shows up in his patience, his loyalty, and the way he always puts valentina first.
is matteo protective?⌄
very. she's his priority long before she realizes just how much she means to him, and once she's in danger, there's nothing he wouldn't do to keep her safe.
is phantom mine love at first sight?⌄
yes, and somehow khai hara made me love a trope i usually struggle with. it feels earned, believable, and completely fits matteo's character.
what book is matteo from?⌄
matteo is from phantom mine by khai hara, book two in the london underworld series. it can be read as a standalone and is one of my very few six-star reads.
Little Stranger
forbidden love
Bad Bishop
forced proximity
Between Tides & Thunder
enemies to lovers
