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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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