Adriana's pov
"They've declared war."
The words lingered in the room long after Alessio stopped speaking.
I could still feel his arm around my waist, his fingers resting firmly against my side. His body was tense beside mine, every muscle carrying the weight of those words.
Luca stood a few feet away, waiting for instructions.
Alessio's eyes never left mine.
"Luca."
"Yes, boss?"
"Go outside."
Luca hesitated for half a second.
"But—"
"Outside."
The single word left no room for argument.
Luca immediately nodded.
"Yes, boss."
The door clicked shut behind him.
Silence.
I looked at Alessio. He looked at me.
And suddenly, the war, the threat, the mysterious enemy—all of it seemed to disappear for a moment.
Because his eyes had softened.
Just for me.
"What?" I whispered.
He didn't answer.
Instead, his hand slid around my waist.
Before I could react, he pulled me toward him.
I gasped as I landed on his lap, my hands instinctively grabbing his shoulders.
"Alessio!"
His arms wrapped securely around me.
"What are you doing?"
His gaze traveled over my face, unusually calm despite the storm raging behind his eyes.
"I'm reminding myself that you're here, that you're safe, and that no matter what happens outside these walls, you're the one person I refuse to lose."
My heart stumbled.
I swallowed.
"You're impossible."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"And yet you married me."
"I didn't exactly get a choice."
His eyebrow lifted.
"You're still here."
I looked away.
He gently caught my chin between his fingers, turning my face back toward him.
"Look at me, Adriana."
I did.
And immediately regretted it.
Because there was something dangerously vulnerable in his eyes.
Something I rarely saw.
Fear.
Not for himself.
For me.
"You were scared," I whispered.
His jaw tightened.
"When they threatened you?"
I nodded.
He looked away for a moment.
"I was furious."
"I know."
"No." His voice softened. "You don't."
His thumb brushed slowly across my cheek.
"I've faced guns pointed at my head. I've watched men betray me. I've walked into situations knowing I might not walk out."
He paused.
"But when I saw that message threatening you…"
His voice broke slightly.
My chest tightened.
"I thought I was going to lose my mind."
I placed my hand against his cheek.
"You won't lose me."
His eyes met mine.
"Promise?"
The question was so quiet that it almost didn't sound like the ruthless man everyone feared.
It sounded like Alessio.
Just Alessio.
The man underneath the Don.
"I promise."
His expression softened.
"And you?"
"What?"
"You have to promise me something too."
I frowned.
"What?"
"Don't ever put yourself between me and a bullet again."
I blinked.
"That sounds familiar."
His lips twitched.
"Because you've heard it before."
"Several times."
"And you never listen."
"Neither do you."
He laughed quietly.
The sound warmed something inside me.
I smiled.
For a few seconds, we simply stared at each other.
No enemies.
No blood. No war.
Just us.
His fingers slipped into my hair, gently brushing a strand away from my face.
"You know," I murmured, "for someone who just declared war on an entire organization, you're being strangely sweet."
"Don't tell anyone."
I smiled wider.
"Your reputation might be ruined."
"I'll have to eliminate the witnesses."
I laughed.
"There is something seriously wrong with you."
"You married me anyway."
"You keep saying that."
"Because I like hearing it."
I rolled my eyes.
But before I could answer, his hand tightened slightly around my waist.
His gaze dropped to my lips.
My breath caught.
The playful atmosphere disappeared.
"Alessio…"
He looked back into my eyes.
He didn't rush.
He gave me a moment.
A choice.
I leaned closer.
That was all the answer he needed.
He pulled me into a kiss.
Everything inside me went quiet.
His lips met mine gently at first, almost cautiously, as if despite everything we had been through, he still couldn't quite believe I was really his.
My fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt.
He kissed me again, slower this time.
There was no anger in it.
No dominance.
Only affection.
The kind that made my chest ache.
When we finally pulled apart, our foreheads rested against each other.
Neither of us spoke.
I could hear his breathing.
I could feel my own heart racing.
"You're staring," I whispered.
"So are you."
"I wasn't."
"You were. " I smiled.
"Maybe I like looking at you."
His expression changed instantly.
That dangerous little smirk returned.
"Say that again."
"No."
"Adriana."
I laughed and tried to move away.
His arms tightened around my waist.
"Where are you going?"
"Nowhere."
"Good."
I looked at him.
"You're awfully clingy today."
"I'm allowed."
"Since when?"
"Since someone threatened my wife."
I softened.
"Alessio…"
He brushed his thumb over my cheek again.
"I meant what I said."
"What?"
"They've declared war."
His voice had become serious again.
"They think threatening you will make me weak."
I watched him carefully.
"But it doesn't."
"No?"
He shook his head.
"It reminds me exactly what I'm fighting for."
My heart fluttered.
"You."
He said it so simply.
As if there was no other answer.
I rested my head against his shoulder.
For once, I didn't care about the war waiting outside.
I didn't care about the enemy.
I didn't care about tomorrow.
I just wanted this moment.
His arms remained around me, holding me close.
"You know," I whispered, "you can't protect me from everything."
"I know."
"You can't promise that nothing will happen."
"I know."
"And you can't fight every battle alone."
He was silent.
I lifted my head.
"Alessio."
His eyes met mine.
"You don't have to."
Something shifted in his expression.
I took his hand and intertwined our fingers.
"If they're declaring war on us…"
I squeezed his hand.
"Then we'll face it together."
He stared at our joined hands.
Then he looked at me.
And the smallest, most genuine smile appeared on his face.
"Together?"
"Together."
He brought my hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss against my knuckles.
"Then let them come."
I smiled.
Because once again, the words didn't scare me.
Not while I was sitting in his arms.
Not while his fingers were intertwined with mine.
Not while his heart was beating beneath my palm.
The world outside could burn.
Enemies could gather. Wars could begin.
But whatever came next…
We would face it together.