70Emilia’s POV The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, lighting up the room. I blinked against the brightness, my body slowly coming back to life. The haze of sleep and the aftermath of last night made everything feel a bit surreal. My limbs were heavy, relaxed in a way they hadn’t been in a long time. I turned my head to the side and found Alaric lying next to me, one arm resting above his head, his eyes still closed.I found it quite hard to believe that he hadn’t left immediately after last night. Instead he stayed here with me, wrapping his arms around my waist. And in the middle of the night, he had woken up and fucked me again. I didn’t even remember how I got to his room.For a moment, I just watched him. He looked different when he was asleep. The hard lines of his face softened, the tension that seemed to cling to him had melted away. It was rare to see him like this—unguarded, peaceful. Vulnerable, almost. My heart clenched unexpectedly, a pang of something I d
71Alaric’s POV There was a light knock on my door, and I knew, without having to ask, that it was Emilia by the door. “Come in,” I answered, twirling the pen in my hands. I hadn’t seen her since she left my room this morning, and though I hadn’t been able to keep her out of my mind and all I wanted the most was to bury my cock in her once again, I had more pressing issues.She walked in, wearing a very provocating dress. It hugged her curves like a second skin and showed an alarming amount of cleavage.“You called for me?” She asked, closing the door behind her, turning around and giving me a view of her ass as she did so.God. Was she here to seduce me? To distract me? Because this was the first time I ever saw her wearing something as tight as this.“Yes.” I nodded. “It’s about Francesca. Sit.”She sat, folding her arms beneath her breasts and that only pushed her breasts out more. “what about Francesca?”“I needed your opinion on something. On her schooling,” I replied, going str
72Emilia’s POV The kitchen was filled with the smell of fresh coffee and eggs sizzling on the stove. I stood by the counter, pouring myself a cup of coffee, and watched Alaric out of the corner of my eye. He was sitting at the table with Francesca, who was chattering away happily about the park yesterday. His face was relaxed, a slight smile playing on his lips as he nodded along, responding in that soft, gentle tone he only ever used with her.I tried not to stare, but it was hard not to notice the difference in him. There was something lighter about Alaric this morning, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. It was subtle, but I could see it in the way he sat back in his chair, his posture less rigid. The dark cloud that usually hovered over him seemed to have lifted, at least for the moment. It made him look… younger, almost.I took a sip of my coffee, leaning against the counter as I watched them. It was strange to see him smiling. Not the small, tight-lipped smirk I’
73Alaric’s POVThe phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. I stared at it for a moment, letting the screen vibrate against the polished wood of my desk. It was barely nine in the morning, and the calls had already started coming in. Business, disputes, and the usual mess that came with running a criminal empire. I took a long sip of my coffee, savoring the bitter taste as I mentally prepared for the onslaught.I finally picked up the call, putting it on speaker as I sifted through the stack of papers in front of me. “Talk.”“It’s Dante,” came the gruff voice on the other end. “We’ve got a situation at the docks. One of the shipments was flagged by customs. They’re asking questions.”“Didn’t we grease enough palms for this not to be an issue?” I leaned back in my chair, pinching the bridge of my nose. The headache that had been brewing since last night was starting to make itself known.“We did,” Dante replied, sounding just as frustrated as I felt. “But there’s a new officer on duty—some fresh
74Emilia’s POV I stared at Alaric’s text for the millionth time since I received it yesterday, my heart pounding hard in my chest as tears filled my eyes.“Yeah, that’d be good. Thanks.” He had replied, but that wasn’t what made me want to cry. But it was the realization that I made this morning that made my eyes sting. I was in love with him.I didn’t know when it happened. Maybe it was gradual, like water eroding rock, wearing down my defenses bit by bit until I was exposed and vulnerable. Or maybe it was sudden—like the moment you realize you’re standing on the edge of a cliff and the ground beneath you is crumbling. I can’t pinpoint the exact second, but somewhere along the way, I fell in love with Alaric.The realization hit me like a punch to the gut as I sat alone in the kitchen. The house was usually quiet. All the workers were probably taking a break. I was nuring a cup of coffee, staring out of the window at the garden but not really seeing it. My mind was stuck replying e
75Emilia’s POV My eyes met with Alaric’s across the room for the umpteenth time today. And I was sure he could tell what was running through my head.God.When did I turn to this horny mess that couldn’t even control myself? I never knew that being with Alaric could be so…addicting.I rubbed my thighs together, taking my eyes off him and trying to hard to focus on what Francesca was doing but it was probing to be fruitless. Fuck I needed him right now.Without thinking of it, I got up abruptly, turning to him and mustering the most serious and professional look I could. I walked to him, not caring that he was seated with his most high ranking men and discussing work matters. “I need to speak with you,” I murmured quietly, meeting Allesio’s narrowed eyes and looking away as fast as I could.“Handle it,” Alaric said to his second in command a he got up from the chair, motioning for me to follow him. We went up the stairs and I had no doubt that he was leading me to his office. But I c
76Emilia’s POV I found myself standing in front of Matteo’s door this morning, clutching a bag of pastries like it was my lifeline. It’s wasn’t particularly because I missed him that I was here today. I did miss him, but that wasn’t the exact reason. It was that I felt like I was drowning and my mind was an undeniable mess of my emotions.I knocked the door once, waiting for him to come and open the door. Matteo opened the door almost immediately, his face lighting up in a way that only reminded me how much I missed him. “Emmy!” he exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug before I could even step inside.“Hey, Teo,” I murmured into his shoulder, and for a moment, I let myself relax into the comfort of my brother’s embrace. I felt like my mind was finally going calm after all this whole just because I was in his presence.He pulled back, holding me at arm’s length to give me one of his patented Matteo once-overs. “You look tired,” he said, frowning. “What’s going on? And don’t tell me
77Emilia’s POVA shiver ran through my body at the way Alaric touched me and my thighs clenched in anticipation. I couldn’t believe I was already getting wet at such simple touch. He kissed my neck and ran his fingers through my hair. “You look beautiful,” he muttered, kissing my hair.“Thank you,” I answered, my cheeks turning pink as I eyed the hoodie and sweatpants I was in.“Take off your clothes,” he added, kissing my neck one more time and he walked behind me. He took off my hood and began unbraiding my hair carefully.“To take off my clothes,” I began slowly. “I need you to leave my hair,” I reminded him. My hair was in two cornrows and I didn’t want him getting them all rough and tangled.He unbraided the first cornrow and moved to the other one without a word. He unbraided that one too and ruffled my hair slightly. “I love your hair better when it’s let down,” He murmured against my neck and then I felt him take a step back. “Take off your clothes.”I gulped as I took off my
266Allesio’s POVIt had been a week since I made that promise to Rosa. Since I promised her that I won’t tell Alaric. And each day felt like a weight pressing down harder on my chest. The guilt of keeping the secret, the guilt of betraying Alaric, was gnawing at me, and I couldn’t escape it. The promise I’d made to her—I won’t tell Alaric, I won’t tell anyone—had started to feel less like a vow and more like a cage I couldn’t break out of.I spent more time at the mansion than her condo now, hoping to bury my thoughts under the grind of work. I told myself that keeping my focus on Alaric, on what I owed him, would keep my head straight. But every time I looked at him, every time I saw his face, the guilt flared up again. It didn’t matter that Rosa was the one I loved. I had a duty to Alaric that I couldn’t ignore, no matter how much my heart pulled me in the other direction.This war with myself—loyalty versus love—was eating away at me.I had just stepped off the elevator when I bum
265Rosa’s POVIt was late when Allesio finally came back into to the condo. The air between us wasn’t just tense—it felt fragile, like a glass already cracked and on the verge of shattering. But this time, it wasn’t about the Cruz family or Dominic’s death. Something else weighed on him.“Allesio?” I called softly, setting my book down on the nightstand. He paused in the doorway, his hand resting on the frame like it was the only thing holding him up.“Rosa.” His voice was low, almost hoarse, and I knew whatever he was carrying wasn’t just another argument waiting to happen.I stood, crossing the room until I was close enough to see the faint lines of worry etched on his face. “What is it?”He hesitated, his eyes searching mine. “There’s trouble at the docks.”My stomach clenched. “Again?” I breathed out.“Yes. Again,” he murmured in reply.“What happened?” I asked.“Alaric got word that a shipment went missing. Weapons, high-grade. Some of the guys think it’s a setup.” His jaw tight
264Allesio’s POV.“You’re lying to yourself, Allesio. And it’s going to destroy you.”Rosa’s voice cut through the heavy silence like a blade, sharp and deliberate. I looked up from the glass in my hand, the amber liquid trembling slightly as I set it down. Her words hung in the air, daring me to respond, but for a moment, I didn’t. I couldn’t.Instead, I leaned back against the chair, exhaling slowly. “What am I supposed to say to that?” I muttered, my tone edged with exhaustion. “You want me to admit you’re right? That I’m falling apart? That I don’t have the first clue how to fix any of this?”“I want you to stop pretending you can carry all of it alone.” Rosa crossed her arms, her gaze piercing. “Because you can’t. And if you don’t realize that soon, it’ll cost us everything.”I ran a hand through my hair, the frustration boiling over. “And what exactly do you suggest, huh? Just tell Alaric the truth and hope he doesn’t tear the world apart looking for revenge? Because that’s exa
263Allesio’s POVI felt like I was losing my grip on reality. Every time I saw Rosa, it was like the walls were closing in. Her confession still hung over me like a storm cloud, and no matter how much I tried to shake it, the weight wouldn’t lift. The guilt wasn’t just about keeping secrets from Alaric—it was the deeper betrayal I couldn’t even admit to myself. The tangled mess of Dominic’s death, the Cruz family, and Rosa’s insistence on her and her family’s innocence had my head spinning.The worst part? I wasn’t sure if Alaric had picked up on it yet. If he hadn’t picked up on it that I already knew and I was hiding it. He wasn’t blind, and he definitely wasn’t stupid. The man could read me like a book on my best day, and I wasn’t even pretending well anymore.I couldn’t avoid him forever, though. I was in his office, and the air felt even more suffocating than usual. He was flipping through some papers at the scattered on the table, his focus seemingly on anything but me.Meanwhi
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