103Rosa’s POV “You’re not listening to me,” Emilia said, her voice tinged with frustration.She was sitting across from me, a frown on her face and her arms crossed. Today was another episode of her reminding me that Allesio is a dangerous man. And I wasn’t interested. This wouldn’t be happening if I had been more careful and she hadn’t seen me sneaking out of Allesio’s room this morning.I sighed, setting my fork down and giving her my full attention. “I’m listening, Emmy. I just don’t see what the big deal is.”Emilia’s lips pressed into a thin line. “The big deal is Allesio. He’s—” She paused, as if searching for the right word. “Dangerous.”“Dangerous how?” I asked, leaning back in my chair.She gave me a pointed look. “Rosa, you’re smarter than this. He’s manipulative. Charming when it suits him. Allesio doesn’t do anything without a reason.”“Neither do most people,” I replied, keeping my tone light, though I couldn’t ignore the way her words made my chest tighten.“This isn’t
104Allesio’s POV The house was quiet and kind of empty. Allesio had taken Emilia and Francesca out for the night, which was exactly what I needed. Irene and the rest of the house workers had retired to their own wing of the house for the night. No distractions for me and Rosa tonight.She sat with one leg tucked under her, nursing a glass of wine she’d poured for herself. I watched as she tilted the glass slightly ajd took a sip from it.“Do you ever stop staring?” she asked, not looking at me but smirking as she caught me watching her.I leaned back in my chair, shrugging with mock innocence. “Not when there’s something worth looking at.”She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. Instead, she took a slow sip of her wine, letting the silence stretch between us.“Why do you do that?” I asked after a moment.Her brow furrowed. “Do what?”“Deflect,” I said simply. “Every time someone pays you a compliment, you brush it off. Like it doesn’t matter or like you don’t believe it.”Rosa looked
105Rosa’s POV The quiet knock on my door had me raising my head from my documents with a slight frown. Emilia wasn’t in the house, she couldn’t be the one. And it wasn’t any of the house workers or Irene. I just knew it. And I wasn’t expecting any visitors. So who could it be then?I picked up the documents, walked to the closet and locked them in it just as another knock sounded on the door then I went to get it.Opening the door, I found Allesio standing there, an uneasy expression on his face and it seemed like he was just about to walk away.“Hi,” I greeted, resting against the door and folding my arms.“Hey,” he grinned at me but he still looked uneasy.“What’s wrong?” I asked, raising a brow. It bothered me that he wasn’t his usual jovial self.“I…um well…I wanted to go into the city for a stroll. Clear my head. And I was wondering, do you want to come along or are you busy?” He asked, rubbing his hair casually but it wasn’t casual. He was nervous. Since when was he nervous?I
106Allesio’s POV The night was colder than usual, the kind that seeps into your bones no matter how many layers you’re wearing. The city streets were quieter too, save for the occasional hum of a car or the faint chatter spilling out from a bar a few blocks away. Rosa was ahead of me, walking with purpose, her steps quick but not rushed.I shouldn’t have followed her, not like this. It was an unspoken rule not to meddle in someone else’s business unless it served the family. But Rosa had a way of making me break my own rules. Maybe it was the way she carried herself when she was leaving the house. Like she was up to nothing good and she didn’t want anyone knowing what it was. If not she wouldn’t have sneaked out without telling even her best friend where she was going.I stayed close enough to keep her in sight but far enough not to crowd her. She’d made it clear she didn’t need a shadow. I ignored her.When she turned down a quieter street, I quickened my pace, closing the distance
107Allesio’s POV The world always seemed quieter after midnight. Maybe it was the stillness of the air or the absence of people rushing to be somewhere. Or maybe it was the way Rosa’s breathing slowed, her chest rising and falling steadily beside me.I laid on my back, staring at the ceiling of her room. She’d fallen asleep a few minutes ago, or at least I thought she had. Her head rested on my shoulder, her body curled into mine.I wanted to enjoy the moment. I should have enjoyed the moment. But there was no room for peace when you were playing both sides.Her warmth pulled me back to reality. Rosa shifted slightly, her hand brushing against my chest, and for a fleeting second, I wondered what it would be like to live a life where this wasn’t a job.“You’re quiet tonight,” she murmured, her voice soft and laced with sleep.I looked down at her, startled. Her eyes were half-open, watching me with a hazy curiosity.“Didn’t realize you were awake,” I said, my voice low.“Hard to slee
108Allesio’s POV The morning air hung heavy with the smell of fresh coffee and eggs, wafting in from the kitchen down the hall. I leaned against the marble counter in the dining room, watching Rosa pour herself a glass of orange juice. She moved with an elegance that seemed effortless, like someone who’d been raised to command attention without trying.“Rough night?” I asked, my tone light as I took a seat at the table.She glanced at me, one brow arching slightly. She gave me a knowing look and then proceeded to play along like I hadn’t spent the night in her room. “Not at all. Slept like a baby.”I smirked. “Impressive, considering the racket Irene was making earlier.”She chuckled softly, and it was the kind of sound that could soften even the hardest edges of a man like me.She joined me at the table, sliding into the chair across from mine. Her hair was still damp from a shower, loose waves cascading over her shoulders. She was casual today—jeans and a fitted sweater—but someho
109Rosa’s POV The ballroom gleamed under the light of a thousand chandeliers, a dazzling display of power and wealth that screamed my family’s influence. These events were routine—a stage for alliances to be maintained, deals to be whispered over glasses of champagne, and enemies to be assessed with polished smiles.Tonight, though, I wasn’t just representing my father. I was testing Allesio.I stood near the entrance, wearing a floor-length black gown that hugged me in all the right places, exuding the quiet confidence that was required in this world. Guests filtered in, their faces familiar: allies, rivals, and those who played the dangerous game of pretending to be neither.Then, there he was. Allesio.He walked through the arched doors like he owned the place, dressed in a tailored suit that seemed to enhance every ounce of his sharp confidence. His dark hair was slicked back just enough to look refined without losing its edge, and the way his gaze swept the room was both calcul
110Allesio’s POV The event was all gloss and shine, the kind of gathering that screamed wealth, power, and a hundred secrets whispered between champagne flutes. It wasn’t my first time in rooms like this, but tonight felt different. Not because of the high-profile faces or the sharp undercurrent of danger, but because of Rosa.I watched her move through the crowd, effortless in her charm, commanding in her presence. She was magnetic, pulling everyone’s attention without even trying. It was fascinating to see her in her element, but more than that, it gave me a glimpse of her world—a world I was supposed to infiltrate.But as I stood by her side, observing and calculating, I found myself distracted. Not by the glittering chandeliers or the murmured alliances being forged in the corners, but by the way her lips tightened when she saw *him*.It happened quickly, almost imperceptibly. A man approached—sharp suit, sharper eyes, his smile as thin as the blade he probably had hidden somewh
262Allesio’s POV“Do you ever think about how things might’ve been if Dominic were still alive?” I asked, my tone casual, though my heart thudded heavily in my chest. I was at Rosa’s condo today too. It was where I was spending most of my free time now. And I decided that I wanted to know everything today. Maybe, just maybe she doesn’t know anything and I don’t have to choose between her and Alaric.She raised a brow, giving me a somewhat confused look. “Dominic?”“Alaric’s brother. Do you think if Dominic was still alive, Alaric would have been a better man than he is now?” I asked her, observing her intently. “Do you ever think about how things might have been I’d Dominic were still alive?”Rosa froze for a moment, her glass hovering mid-air. “That’s a loaded question, Allesio.”I shrugged, keeping my gaze steady. “Is it? Alaric does. A lot. He doesn’t say it, but I know he’s still haunted by it.”Her eyes flicked to mine, wide and uncertain. “Haunted how?”“Like he’s carrying some
261Allesio’s POVSecrets have a way of sinking into your bones, of twisting around your every thought like a barbed wire. No matter how much I tried to focus on the present, the weight of the decision I’d made not to share Rosa’s information with Alaric clawed at me.It wasn’t like I didn’t understand the stakes. Alaric and I had been through enough together for me to know how he operated. Loyalty wasn’t just a requirement in our world—it was the lifeline that kept you breathing. And yet, I chose Rosa.It wasn’t a decision I’d made lightly, but every time I thought about the way her eyes brightened whenever she saw me, I knew I couldn’t throw her into Alaric’s crosshairs. Not when she trusted me.Alaric was already seated in the dimly lit bar when I arrived, a whiskey glass in his hand and an air of impatience hovering around him.“You’re late,” he said, his eyes cutting toward me as I slid into the seat across from him.“Traffic,” I lied smoothly, signaling the bartender for a drink
260Rosa’s POV.The afternoon sunlight was warm on my face as Allesio and I walked back to the apartment. The day had been full of small joys—ice cream, bookshops, and just the comfort of him being with me, but something was very off about him. It was just too obvious. And it had been for a few weeks now and I couldn’t figure out what the issue was.Allesio wasn’t himself.Sure, he laughed at my jokes and indulged me when I dragged him into yet another store to look at scarves or quirky trinkets. He held my hand and kissed my temple like always, but there was a distance in his eyes. It was like his mind was somewhere else, wrestling with something I couldn’t see.“Are you okay?” I asked again, keeping my tone light as we climbed into the elevator lifting us up to our apartment. I just couldn’t let it sit still, seeing him so obviously bothered.“Yeah,” he said quickly, a little too quickly.I let it slide, but my curiosity sharpened. This wasn’t the first time I’d felt him pulling awa
259Allesio’s POVRosa was standing in the kitchen, by the stove and starring a pot with one hand while the other rested on her hip. Currently we were at her new condo she just moved into. She has this small smile on her face, so beautiful and so effortless that it struc me how lucky I was to have her in my life.“You’re staring,” she said, glancing at me over her shoulder with a teasing smirk.I leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. “And if I am?”“You’re distracting me,” she replied, though the smile playing on her lips betrayed her mock annoyance.I pushed off the doorframe and walked over, wrapping my arms around her waist. “If I’m distracting you, it’s only fair. You’ve been distracting me since the day we met.”She laughed again softly and warmly and leaned into me. “You’re such a charmer, you know that?”“Only for you,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple.Moments like these felt almost too good to be true. The simplicity of being with her, the ease of her presence—it
258Alaric’s POVI watched her from across the room. She was sitting there, her arms crossed, looking down at her lap as if trying to collect herself. Her shoulders were trembling ever so slightly, and I could feel the guilt gnawing at me, making my chest tighten with each passing second.I had messed up. Big time. I had let the rage and the need for control cloud my judgment, and now she was sitting there, hurt, angry, and devastated because of the choices I had made without her. Without her.I was so damn stupid.“Emilia,” I said, my voice low but firm, my feet taking me toward her before I even realized what I was doing. She didn’t look up when I said her name, but I knew she heard me.She didn’t respond, though. She just kept looking at her hands, fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. I could feel the distance between us, like an invisible wall had gone up the moment I’d made the decision to move against Alonso without even telling her.I could feel her anger radiating fro
257Emilia’s POVI wasn’t supposed to hear it. I wasn’t supposed to be standing there, half-hidden behind the door, my heart thundering in my chest like I’d been caught in the act of some great betrayal. But there I was, standing in front of the door to Alaric’s office, listening to him speak with a coldness in his voice that made my stomach drop.“I don’t care what it costs. I’m not going to let Alonso win. I’m not going to let anyone threaten her again.”The words hit me like a slap. I didn’t need to hear any more to understand what was happening. I knew the kind of man Alaric was—the kind who would do anything for those he loved. But this? This felt like something darker. More personal. I wasn’t naïve enough to think I didn’t know how far Alaric would go, but I had no idea how far he was willing to take it.My breath caught in my throat, and I stepped back, stumbling slightly. I had to get away. But my legs wouldn’t move. Instead, I leaned against the doorframe, trying to steady my
256Alaric’s POVI knew what I had to do. The problem was that, deep down, I didn’t want to.The air in the room felt suffocating, the walls closing in as I stood before the window, staring out into the night. The city lights flickered beneath the black sky like fireflies in the distance. It would have been beautiful to watch, but at that moment, I was thinking about something much more personal.Alonso.Every day that bastard continued to breathe, every time he spoke to Emilia, every time I saw him lurking in the shadows, I felt the weight of my own restraint grinding against my will. I hated him. I hated him more than I hated anything else. What he did to Emilia, how he treated her, how he dared to step in my way—there was no forgiveness for it.I couldn’t let him live. Not anymore.It wasn’t like I hadn’t thought about it. I’d spent hours planning, poring over resources and contacts, tracking Alonso’s movements, trying to determine the perfect moment to strike. I couldn’t trust anyo
255Alaric’s POVI couldn’t sit still. I paced back and forth in my study, the old wooden floor creaking beneath each step. The thick curtains in the windows blocked the fading sunlight,Allesio was late. Again. I glanced at the clock on the wall for what felt like the hundredth time. It was nearly an hour past when I’d told him to meet me here, and my patience had already worn thin.I had to know what was going on with Rosa. I couldn’t let the Cruz family get away with whatever they were planning. Rosa was a piece on this board—whether she liked it or not—and I needed to know where she stood. Where her family stood. Were they loyal to the Cruz family, or loyal to me?I grabbed the glass of scotch off my desk, the ice cubes clinking together as I tipped it to my lips. The burn hit the back of my throat, and I let the warmth settle in my chest, trying to calm the storm brewing inside me.Finally, the door opened. Allesio stepped inside, his face a little too calm for my liking. He looke
254Emilia’s POVThe café was quieter than I expected for a weekday afternoon. A few scattered patrons sat hunched over laptops or nursing cups of coffee. I fiddled with the handle of my mug, the heat radiating through the ceramic doing very little to steady my nerves.Alonso wasn’t late—he never was—but the anticipation of seeing him again had me on edge. After the disastrous dinner, I wasn’t sure how this conversation would go. Part of me was still angry at him for the things he said about Alaric. The other part—the one that still saw him as my father—wanted to believe there was a way to bridge the gap between us.When the door chimed, I knew it was him before I even looked up. Alonso Cruz had a presence that couldn’t be ignored. He walked in with the air of a man who owned the room, his suit crisp, his movements deliberate. His eyes found mine almost immediately, and I saw the flicker of something—relief, maybe?—before his expression hardened again.“Emilia,” he said, his voice low