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
78Emilia’s POVI got up from the bed, stretching slightly. I forced myself to get off the bed. My mind wouldn’t stop going to Francesca and it made me uneasy. I needed to check on her first to make sure she was fine before I did anything else.I wrapped my robe around my body, walking out of my room and rushing to her room. Pushing open the door to her room, I froze in the doorway. Francesca was lying in bed, her little frame curled under the covers, her face flushed a deep red. Sweat clung to her brow, and her breathing was shallow and uneven. My heart dropped.“Francesca?” I called softly, moving closer.She stirred but didn’t open her eyes. When I pressed the back of my hand to her forehead, a wave of heat radiated off her skin. She was burning up.“Francesca,” I said again, my voice shaking now as I gently shook her shoulder. She opened her eyes halfway, her usual bright brown gaze dull and glassy.“Mommy…” she croaked, her voice weak and scratchy.“It’s okay, sweetheart,” I said
79Alaric’s POV I’ve faced countless threats in my life. Guns aimed at my head. Betrayals by people I thought I could trust. Enemies clawing at the edges of my empire, waiting for a moment of weakness. But nothing—NOTHING—had ever terrified me as much as seeing Francesca lying helpless in that hospital bed.The sterile smell of antiseptic burned my nose as I sat in the uncomfortable chair outside her room. My hands were clasped tightly, my knuckles white. The usual iron control I prided myself on felt like it was slipping. I couldn’t stop replaying the image of her small, flushed face, the way her body had burned with fever when I held her. She’d felt so fragile, and for the first time, I realized just how powerless I was when it came to her health.What if this was something serious? What if I couldn’t protect her from this?The thought clawed at my chest like a wild animal, threatening to rip me apart. Francesca was everything to me—my light, my reason for holding it all together.
80Emilia’s POV I didn’t know why my mind kept going to Alaric, but it wouldn’t stop. I remembered how vulnerable he was in the hospital earlier today, and how he had kissed me without caring that anyone could have seen.I got up from my bed, sliding my feet into my flip flops and walking out my my room. I found myself in front of his office where I knew he was, probably going crazy at the fact that Francesca wasn’t under his roof. All I wanted was to comfort him.I walked into his office and closed the door behind me. Just as I expected, he was pacing the length of his office but he paused when he noticed me.“Hey,” I began, feeling awkward and stupid for coming here in the first place when he hadn’t called for me. What if he chased me out? That would only make me feel more like shit.He said nothing, but his face softened a bit as he watched me. I took a bold step, going closer to him and standing in front of him. “I know you’re going crazy about Francesca right now. But she’s goin
81Alaric’s POV The fear that had been hanging around me for says lifted the moment Francesca was finally discharged from the hospital. Watching her walk out hand in hand with Emilia, he’d cheeks regaining some of it’s usual color, I felt a relief so profound it was almost painful. My little girl was coming home and the house wouldn’t feel like a void anymore.The ride back was quiet. Francesca sat snug between Emilia and me in the back seat, her small body leaning against Emilia’s side as if that was the only place she felt completely safe. I kept glancing at her, watching the rise and fall of her chest, reassuring myself she was really okay. Every so often, she would catch my gaze and smile faintly, and I’d reach out to squeeze her tiny hand.“You excited to sleep in your own bed again, principessa?” I asked, breaking the silence.She nodded, her voice still a little soft. “And I want to play with Mr. Snuggles.”Mr. Snuggles—her battered old teddy bear. I smiled despite myself. “He
82Allesio’s POVThe music thumped through the club like a second heartbeat, the kind of bass that seemed to pulse in your chest and drown out everything else. It wasn’t really my scene, but I’d promised Alaric I’d come out with him tonight. Something about needing a change of scenery, a chance to let off some steam.Not that Alaric was exactly a party animal. He sat at the private booth we’d reserved, nursing his whiskey and scanning the room like it was just another battlefield. Old habits die hard, I guess. For him, it was impossible to relax completely—even here.“Why did I even bother dragging you out?” I asked, leaning back in my seat and watching him with an amused smirk.“I’m here, aren’t I?” he said, raising an eyebrow.“Physically, sure. Mentally? You’re probably running through surveillance reports in your head.”He didn’t respond, which only proved my point. I shook my head, taking a sip of my drink. Sometimes I wondered if Alaric even remembered how to have fun. The guy c
83Rosa’s POV The music in the club was deafening, the bass vibrating through my chest as I took another sip of my cocktail. It was my second—or was it my third?—drink of the night, and I was starting to feel the warm, comfortable buzz creep in. Not enough to let my guard down completely, though. I wasn’t the type to lose myself, not even in a place like this.I glanced around, watching the crowd sway and dance under the flickering neon lights. It was a mix of strangers and regulars, faces that blurred together into a kaleidoscope of movement and sound. The bartender caught my eye and gave me a knowing smile, sliding another drink down the counter toward someone further down. I didn’t smile back—I wasn’t in the mood for small talk.Pulling out my phone, I checked the time. It was getting late, and I was starting to debate whether I should stay or call it a night. That’s when it happened. My phone vibrated in my hand, the screen lighting up with an unknown number.I frowned. I didn’t
84Rosa’s POV We walked into his apartment and I dropped my bag, running one hand through my hair and ruffling it a bit. When I turned around he was seated on a chair, his eyes zeroed in on me.“Come here,” he said in a deep tone that made shivers run down my spine. Slowly I dropped my phone on the table and then walked up to him till I was standing between his legs.He reached out for my hand and dragged me down till I was sitting on his laps. He slammed his lips down on mine instantly, his tongue sliding into my mouth when I parted my lips in shock. I relaxed into his hold and missed him back, slowly and shyly at first but then I started to get bold, matching his pace and moaning lightly.One of his hands found my hair and he tangled his fingers in my hair. The other hand found one of the straps of my gown and he began to pull it down.He grabbed a handful of my hair and then pulled back my head slightly, breaking our kiss. I wiggled on his lap with a whimper. Fuck. I was too arous
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