Adriana's POV
Silence.
It was strange how silence could be louder than gunshots.
The threat card still lay on the shattered marble table, stained with a drop of Alessio's blood.
His fist was wrapped in fresh bandages now, but I knew the wound inside him was much deeper than the one on his hand.
He hadn't spoken for nearly five minutes.
That terrified me more than if he had started shooting.
I watched him from across the office.
His broad shoulders were rigid, his jaw locked so tightly I thought his teeth might crack.
Those storm-grey eyes weren't looking at the card anymore.
They were looking beyond it.
Already planning.
Already hunting.
I quietly walked toward him.
"Alessio..."
He didn't respond.
I reached for his bandaged hand carefully, afraid I'd hurt him.
His fingers immediately closed around mine.
Tight.
Almost desperately.
Only then did he finally look at me.
His eyes softened the moment they landed on my face.
It amazed me every single time.
The man the world feared...
looked at me as if I were the only peaceful thing left in his life.
"You should be resting," I whispered.
"You should be hidden."
I frowned.
"I'm not hiding."
"You are."
"No."
His voice became colder.
"That wasn't a request."
A small smile escaped me despite everything.
"There he is."
His eyebrow lifted.
"The bossy Don."
For the first time since opening that box...
he actually smiled.
Only a little.
But it was enough.
"You think this is funny?"
"No."
I stepped closer until there wasn't even an inch between us.
"I think you're worried."
"I'm furious."
"I know."
"I should've seen this coming."
His words were heavy with guilt.
"I failed."
My heart clenched.
Without thinking, I cupped his face between my hands.
"No."
His eyes searched mine.
"You didn't fail."
"They found a way to reach you."
"They sent paper."
I shrugged gently.
"They didn't touch me."
"They wanted to."
"But they couldn't."
His forehead rested against mine.
"They're making you their target because of me."
"And I'm standing beside you because I chose to."
His breathing slowed.
"I knew who you were before I married you."
"The most feared Don in Italy."
"The man who carries the weight of an entire empire."
"But when I look at you..."
I smiled softly.
"I don't see a monster."
"I see my husband."
His eyes closed.
For a second...
all the anger disappeared.
His hand slid around my waist, pulling me against him until I could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
Strong.
Protective.
Mine.
"You always know how to silence me."
"That's because you talk too much."
He actually laughed.
A real laugh.
Low.
Warm.
Beautiful.
"I talk too much?"
"You've threatened at least twenty people today."
"They deserved it."
"I didn't say they didn't."
He shook his head, amused.
"I married a dangerous woman."
"You noticed?"
"I noticed the day you pointed a gun without trembling."
I looked away, pretending to be offended.
"I was terrified."
"You hid it well."
"No..."
I admitted quietly.
"I was terrified because I thought I might lose you."
The teasing vanished.
His thumb gently brushed my cheek.
"You won't."
"You can't promise that."
"I can."
"No one controls fate."
"I control enough."
His voice turned deadly calm.
"No one touches what's mine."
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
"I'm not property."
His lips curved.
"No."
He leaned down until his forehead touched mine again.
"You're far more valuable."
His arms stayed around me.
Strong.
Warm.
Safe.
For the first time since that cursed card had appeared, I allowed myself to breathe.
I closed my eyes and rested my head against his chest. His heartbeat was steady beneath my ear, each beat reminding me that he was here. Alive. With me.
"I hate this," I whispered.
His fingers slowly ran through my hair.
"Hate what?"
"That someone out there thinks they can use me to hurt you."
His hand stilled for a second before tightening around my waist.
"They're wrong."
"But they tried."
"They'll regret trying."
There wasn't an ounce of doubt in his voice.
Only certainty.
Only vengeance.
I lifted my head to look at him.
"You always think about protecting everyone else."
His brows furrowed.
"That's my job."
"What about you?"
"I don't matter."
The words escaped his lips so casually that they shattered something inside me.
"No."
I stepped back just enough to cup his face again.
"Don't ever say that."
His eyes searched mine.
"You matter to me."
"So much that it scares me."
A soft silence settled between us.
Then, unexpectedly, he leaned into my touch.
Not as a Don.
Not as the ruthless ruler of an empire.
Just... Alessio.
A tired man carrying far too many burdens on his shoulders.
"If anything ever happened to you..." he began, his voice rough.
"It won't."
"You don't know that."
"I know you."
He frowned.
"And I know you would burn the entire country before letting anyone hurt me."
The corner of his mouth lifted.
"I'd burn the world."
A laugh escaped me.
"You really are dramatic."
"For you?"
He brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
"I haven't even started."
My cheeks warmed.
"I think the fearsome Don is secretly a hopeless romantic."
He pretended to look offended.
"If the capos hear you say that, I'll have to deny it."
"Oh?"
"I have a reputation."
I smiled wider.
"Too late. I know the truth."
"And what's the truth, Principessa?"
I reached up on my toes and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek.
"The truth is..."
"My husband looks much scarier than he actually is."
He froze.
Then slowly turned to face me.
"Scarier than I actually am?"
I nodded innocently.
"You're all growls and threats."
"And?"
"But when we're alone..."
I slipped my fingers through his.
"...you're just my Alessio."
For a long moment, he simply stared at me.
Then he smiled.
A genuine smile.
Rare enough to make the entire room feel brighter.
He leaned down, pressing a slow kiss against my forehead.
"My wife," he murmured.
The words weren't possessive.
They were full of pride.
Full of love.
And in that moment, surrounded by danger and uncertainty, I realized something.
No matter how many enemies stood outside these walls...
As long as we stood together...
Neither of us would ever have to face them alone.
Just then, three firm knocks echoed on the office door.
"Boss."
Luca's voice.
The warmth between us vanished in an instant as Alessio's expression hardened once again. The Don was back.
"Come."
Luca entered.
His face alone told me the news wasn't good.
"We checked every camera around the estate."
"And?"
"Nothing."
"They knew exactly where the blind spots were."
The room became cold.
Luca continued carefully.
"The guards also found something outside the eastern gate."
He placed a small black object on the desk.
A single chess piece.
A black king.
My stomach tightened.
Alessio stared at it without blinking.
Then...
He smiled.
Not warmly.
Not kindly.
The kind of smile that made powerful men pray.
"So..."
he murmured.
"They want to play."
He slowly picked up the black king between his fingers.
"Tell every capo to be here in thirty minutes."
"Double Adriana's security."
"No one enters this estate without my permission."
"And Luca..."
"Yes, Boss?"
Alessio crushed the chess piece in his bleeding hand until black fragments scattered across the desk.
"Find whoever sent this."
His eyes darkened into something terrifying.
"I don't care how long it takes."
"I don't care how many cities burn."
"They threatened my wife."
His arm slipped around my waist once more, pulling me protectively against his side.
"And now..."
his voice became almost a whisper,
"...they've declared war."