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
85Rosa’s POV The sunlight filtering through the blinds was the first thing I noticed as I opened my eyes. My body ached pleasantly, the aftereffects of last night’s sex making themselves known. I stretched, glancing at the man lying beside me, his features relaxed in sleep. Allesio. I didn’t let my gaze linger; that wasn’t my style. What happened between us was intense, but I knew better than to read into it, as much I wanted to.It would be stupid to do it. Men like him…they didn’t make commitments. It wasn’t hard to tell. Call it judging a book by its cover but I never failed to listen to my instincts. It was always right.I slid out of bed quietly, careful not to disturb him, and gathered my scattered clothes from the floor. My dress was wrinkled, and my heels had been kicked into opposite corners of the room. I found my bag on the small armchair and checked my phone—two missed calls and a few messages, none urgent.After dressing quickly, I paused at the door, looking back at hi
86Allesio’s POV The quietness of the office was usually comforting to me. It helped me focus. But today, it was suffocating. No matter how hard I tried to focus on the ledger in front of me, my mind kept drifting back to her.Rosa.I pressed my thumb against the corner of the page, flipping it more aggressively than I needed to. What was wrong with me? I was glad she was gone when I woke up this morning. It was better that way. Cleaner. A one-night stand didn’t need the mess of lingering glances over coffee or awkward goodbyes.And yet, I couldn’t shake her.The way her body had moved against mine, the soft hitch of her breath, the sharp intelligence behind her eyes—I clenched my jaw, shutting the memory down before it could spiral further. I’d had my share of good nights with women, but there was something about Rosa that had seeped into my mind like a drug.I didn’t like it.“Allesio,” Alaric’s sharp tone snapped me out of my thoughts. I glanced up to see him watching me with mild
87Rosa’s POV The sun was shining hard on my windshield as I turned into the long, tree lined driveway. I couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer beauty surrounding me. The mansion at the end of the road lookedime something out a movie. Large and intimidating even though it was not supposed to be for someone with my background.But this was where Emilia was staying. My best friend, my partner in crime (well, figuratively speaking), and the one person who could always brighten my day no matter what.I parked my car right next to one of the many luxurious cars lining the parking lot and stepped out, smoothing down my dress and taking a deep breath. The idea of seeing Emilia after so long made my heart race with excitement, but there was also a small knot of unease in my stomach. Mansions like this didn’t belong to ordinary people, and Emilia’s vague descriptions of her “boss” who turned out to be Alaric Castillo, was anything but ordinary. One of the most feared and ruthless Capo in the
88Allesio’s POV The sound of low chatter floated up from the living room as Alaric and I made our way down the staircase. Emilia’s excitement was unmistakable, her voice animated as she greeted her friend.“She seems to be enjoying herself,” I muttered, keeping my tone neutral even though my mind was already racing.Alaric raised a brow, glancing at me as we descended. “We’ll see how enjoyable it is after we get her friend’s name.”It was protocol, of course. Anyone stepping into this house needed to be vetted, especially now, when tensions with rival families were high. Even Emilia’s friends weren’t exempt.“Do you think she’s harmless?” I asked as we approached the hallway leading to the living room.Alaric’s face was unreadable, his usual calm, calculating expression in place. “That’s what we’re about to find out.”I nodded, trying to shake the unease settling in my chest.As we turned the corner, stepping into the living room, the first thing I noticed was Emilia, her face glowi
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
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
102Allesio’s POV I walked into Alaric’s office and I felt the air change. Literally. It was colder than the rest of the house. Maybe it was the dim lights, the heavy dark furniture or the way the air seemed to thicken with tension when I stepped inside. Because I already knew what he was going to ask.Alaric leaned back in his leather chair, his expression unreadable as he swirled a glass of whiskey in his hand. The soft clink of ice against the glass was the only sound in the room until he finally spoke.“How’s it going with Rosa?”I stood near the window, crossing my arms. I didn’t want to answer the question but I had no choice. “It’s going,” I said after a pause, my tone clipped.He raised an eyebrow, his sharp gaze slicing through me. “That’s not an answer, Allesio.”I turned to face him fully, crossing my arms. “She’s careful. She’s not going to hand over her family’s secrets on a silver platter.”“Then make her trust you,” Alaric said, his voice calm but edged with steel.I c
101Rosa’s POV The feeling and warmth of Allesio’s arm draped across my waist was strangely comforting, and yet, it didn’t lull me into the kind of contentment I should have felt after a night like this. His breathing was even, calm, as though he didn’t have a care in the world. But my mind was a storm.There was something about his questions —subtle, harmless on the surface, but they lingered in my head long after he asked them. Things about my family’s business, about me, about my father, about decisions I didn’t think someone like Allesio should care about.I stared at the ceiling, wondering. He shifted slightly beside me, his grip tightening just a fraction as if he knew I was awake. Or maybe he was just dreaming. Either way, I had no plans to wake him.Slipping out from under his arm, I moved quietly, grabbing the oversized shirt he’d left tossed on a chair and pulling it on. It smelled like him—something rich and woodsy with a hint of spice—and for a second, I let myself enjoy
100Allesio’s POV “Allesio!”I halted on my tracks, turning around to look at her. She was hurrying after me, one hand fiddling with the low neckline of her dress. Her hair looked even worse that it was a few minutes back when I had left her. It looked like she had ran her hands through it and tugged at it a million times after I had left her there.“Rosa,” I murmured, giving her a tight smile. She stood in front of me, her mouth opening and closing like she didn’t know exactly what to say.“I’m sorry,” she said at last in a weak voice I didn’t like at all. I took a step closer to her.“For what?” I asked her with a raised eyebrow. She gulped visibly.“You were just trying to be nice and polite to me and I…I blew you off,” she murmured, avoiding my gaze.“I wasn’t just trying to be nice or polite to you, Rosa,” I murmured back, rubbing my face. “I like you. I really like you and you’re making it feel like it’s a bad thing to like like you. I don’t understand why.”“You shouldn’t,” sh
99Rosa’s POV I ran my hand through my hair, not minding that I would get it rough that way. All I could think of was how I was going to get my father’s latest assignment done. And a certain, hot man that had been plaguing my mind ever since that damned one night stand.“Pass the salt,” I said, not looking up as I reached across the table. My eyes were focused on my phone, and while that was a bad habit while we were all having dinner, I didn’t think anyone cared in particular.Before my hand even got close, the small silver shaker was already in front of me, Allesio sliding it into place with a faint smirk. “Always in a rush, Rosa.”I narrowed my eyes at him but didn’t say anything, my fingers brushing against the cool metal. “Thanks,” I muttered.“Anything for you,” he said, and though his tone was light, the words carried an undercurrent I couldn’t ignore. This had been going on for a few days now. Him helping me out when with the littlest things like this. Any other woman would h
98Allesio’s POVI walked into the living room, heading to the bar to take a drink but paused at the person I found in the living room, standing by the grand piano, her fingers trailing along the polished wood. She didn’t notice me at first, her expression distant, like her thoughts were worlds away. The soft glow from the chandelier sjone om her face and made her skin seem a little bit golden, and for a moment, I just watched her.“You know, most people actually play the piano instead of just admiring it,” I said, leaning casually against the doorframe.Rosa turned, her eyes narrowing as she registered my presence. “Most people aren’t me,” she shot back, her tone sharp but not unfriendly.“True,” I admitted, stepping into the room. “You’re definitely not like most people.”She rolled her eyes, but I caught the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. Progress.“What do you want, Allesio?” she asked, crossing her arms.“Can’t I just enjoy some light conversation?” I replied, my t
97Rosa’s POV The air was sharp with the morning chill as I stepped out of the mansion and into the waiting car. My father’s message had been clear—today was important, a negotiation that could strengthen our family’s alliances. It was rare for him to call on me for something this significant, but I knew better than to question his motives. In our world, trust wasn’t given lightly, and every move had a purpose.The driver didn’t make small talk, which suited me just fine. My mind was already preoccupied with the task ahead. The meeting was with the Russo syndicate, a group that had built its empire on loyalty and calculated risk. My father wanted an agreement that would mutually benefit both families—sharing resources, protection, and, most importantly, influence.When we pulled up to the sleek high-rise downtown where the Russo family operated, I straightened my shoulders and adjusted my jacket. I wasn’t here to charm them, though it wouldn’t hurt to show confidence. Negotiation was
96Allesio’s POV The sun was still rising, filtering light through the curtains and windows of the mansion. I was walking to Alaric’s office but stopped dead in my tracks when Emilia turned the corner, a scowl on her face as she stormed towards me. I hadn’t even had my second cup of coffee yet, and there she was, her arms crossed, her face set in that unmistakable look that screamed ‘I know what you’re up to’.“I need to talk to you,” she said, her voice low but firm.“Good morning to you, too,” I replied, leaning against the wall with a lazy grin. “What’s on your mind, sunshine?”“Cut the crap, Allesio,” she snapped. “What’s with you and Rosa?”The grin faltered. I straightened slightly, crossing my arms to mirror her stance. “What about me and Rosa?”“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” she shot back. “You’ve been… nice to her.”“And that’s a problem because…?” I prompted, raising an eyebrow.She took a step closer, her tone dropping even lower. “I don’t trust you. Not with h