The room stays silent after his last word.
'....dies.'
Nobody moved.
Noone even dared to breathe.
Even the men standing near the walls lowered their eyes.
When Alessio looked calm. Cold. Murderous. It meant someone was about to disappear from the world.
Forever.
I trembled.
I had seen his anger before. But this?...
This time it tells a whole different story.
His anger was complete of rage and silence.
Even worse.
Alessio placed the gun on the table again with the deadly calm face . He turned to me.
His eyes darkened seeing my wounds around my face and neck.
" You are bleeding. "
I immediately touched the cut near my neck.
It was small.
I hadn't noticed this one before.
"Umm..."
The moment Alessio saw the dried blood , something dangerous flashed in his eyes.
One of the guards swallowed nervously.
" The doctor is waiting downstairs boss– "
" Out. Now. "
Alessio didn't raised his voice.
The guard froze down in terror. Every man rushed out immediately.
In a second, the massive room was emptied.
Now it was only him and I. Noone spoke a word.
Silence filled the room heavily.
I looked away first.
" I-I'm fine."
" No. "Alessio said coldly. " You are not. "
His footsteps echoed slowly as he walked towards me.
One.
Two.
Three.
He stood directly infront of me.
Too close.
Close enough for me to smell smoke , whiskey , and the faint metallic scent of blood on him.
My breath caught.
His fingers came up to my face , lifted my chin gently.
Too gentle for a man who just had threatened murder.
" Did he touch you? "
My heart skipped.
The question wasn't loud. But carried something lethal underneath.
I hesitated.
" Umm...he..."
That tiny hesitation destroyed whatever control he had left.
Alessio suddenly grabbed the armset beside me so hard that the wood cracked.
" Did he freaking touch you? "
The room felt colder.
" He tried to," I whispered quickly. " But nothing happened. "
His jaw clenched.
For a second, I felt that he would walk away.
Instead–
He leaned closer.
Dangerously closer.
His forehead nearly touched mine.
" You should have called me. "
His voice was rough now.
Not angry.
Worse.
Hurt.
And somehow that affected me more than his rage.
" I didn't wanted to create any problem for you. You are already hurt– "
" Principessa, " he murmured softly. " People die for creating problems for me. "
Gosh! This stupid nickname again.
Why did it affect me so much!?
Before I could think further , Alessio suddenly removed his coat and wrapped it around my shoulders .
The oversized black fabric swallowed my whole.
Warm.
Protective.
A familiar smell of gasoline.
Dangerous.
Mine.
That was exactly how it felt like. The coat carried his claim over me.
I tried to ignore the heat rising in my cheeks.
" You don't have to treat me like I am too meak , " I muttered.
Alessio started at me for a long moment. Then he chuckled quietly.
A low . Dark chuckle.
" Still didn't get who you married, moglie. "
Something about him made the unease crawl up my spine.
" What do you mean? "
He didn't answer. Just reached into his pocket and threw the phone onto the table beside me.
A video played.
I frowned.
Then froze.
It was security footage from tonight.
The moment that man had cornered me near the hallway.
The moment he grabbed my wrist.
Then–
The footage changed.
A different camera angle.
A rooftop.
Rain.
Blood.
My stomach dropped.
The same man was tied to a chair.
Barely conscious.
Alessio stood infront of him.
Expressionless.
Holding a gun.
" No– "
I looked up at him instantly.
But Alessio was watching the screen without emotion.
His eyes came up to me. His arm wrapped around my waist. Pulled me closer to him.
" Anyone who dares to touch my wife dies."
Gunshot.
The video ended.
My blood turned cold.
" You killed him.."
" He touched what's mine. "
The words hit harder than the gunshot.
Mine.
Not wife.
Mine.
Something dangerous twisted inside my chest.
Fear.
Confusion.
Something far worse I refused to name.
"You're insane ," I whispered.
Alessio's eyes locked to mine.
He leaned down. Kissing my lips.
Reminding me who I belong to.
" Maybe, " he said quietly. " But remember this carefully, Adriana. "
His thumb brushed the cut on my neck softly.
" If the world burns tomorrow..."
His gaze darkened.
" I will still burn it slower for the person who hurts you. "
My breath completely disappeared.
This man–
This terrifying, violent man.
Meant every word.
Suddenly the office door burst open.
A guard entered hurriedly , pale-faced.
" Boss– "
Alessio's expression instantly hardened again.
" What. "
The guard looked nervous.
" There's a problem. "
" What problem? "
The guard swallowed.
Then looked towards me.
" The people who attacked the safehouse..."
His voice shook.
"...they left a message. "
Alessio's eyes turned deadly.
" What message? "
The guard hesitated for one fatal second.
Then finally spoke.
" They said..."
Silence filled the room.
"...they know who she really is. "
Alessio gulped.
" Okay. Go out for now. "
Alessio suddenly reached for me again , pulling me against his chest before I could move away.
" Look at me. " He said. Quiet.
I tried resisting.
Failed instantly.
His fingers brushed against my cheek slowly.
His dark eyes scanned my face deeply. As if trying to memorize all the hidden dear inside me.
" You're shaking. "
" I'm fine. "
" Liar. "
The word came out softer than I expected.
Dangerously soft.
I hated the way my body reacted to that tone.
Hated how this man could stand in the middle of bloodshed and chaos yet still noticed the smallest tremble in me.
Alessio lowered his forehead briefly against mine.
" You think you will just keep yours secrets in that little mind of yours and get away from this , tesoro."
My breath caught .
" You don't understand what's coming ."
His jaw tightened slightly before he answered.
" Then let it come, moglie. "
The possessiveness in his voice sent warmth through my chest despite the fear surrounding them.
Behind them, Zia Maria was standing. Enjoying the scene. With a glass of wine in her hand.
" Got help this city," She muttered coldly.
" The two of you are going to become everyone's nightmare ."