6

ALESSANDRO

I woke up choking on my own breath after I was internally attacked yesterday. The taste of bile and blood coated my tongue, and my throat burned like I swallowed fire. I tried to sit up, but my muscles screamed in protest.

My body was too weak because of that goddamn poison. I gripped the silk sheets, drenched in sweat, and forced myself upright. The room spun, but I held on. I’m not the kind of man who dies in bed, not from some coward’s trick.

I let out a deep breath as I reached for the Glock under my pillow. I'm glad it’s still there. I staggered to the mirror. My face was pale, my eyes were sunken, and my veins looked like spiderwebs under the skin. 

Whoever did this wanted me dead slowly. They wanted me to suffer and to rot from the inside.

My jaw clenched at the fact that someone in this house betrayed me.

Sierra's cries and her voice begging echoed in my head. She's in the east wing, locked up and punished with no meals today. 

I limped down the hallway, gripping the wall for balance. Every step was agony, but rage kept me upright. I passed the portraits of my ancestors. Those men built this empire with blood and bullets. I wouldn’t be the one to let it crumble.

“Boss… you’re awake.”

Carlo, my consigliere, rushed towards me and took hold of my arm to help me walk. 

“Thanks to you,” I growled.

His hands trembled. “We thought you were–”

“Dead?” I cut him off. “Yeah. I bet you did.”

I scanned his face, but I couldn't find any guilt. Just fear and that was good. Fear meant he still knew who was in charge.

“Where’s Enzo?” I asked.

“He left early this morning. He said he had business in Palermo.”

My brows furrowed. Enzo, the underboss, never left without telling me. Not unless he had something to hide.

“How is she?”

“Still alive.” I glared at him, causing him to avoid my eyes. “S-Should I release her now?”

“Go and call Enzo.”

He nodded and left me at the east wing. There was a snake in my house, and I was going to cut off its head. Enzo, Carlo, or maybe even one of the servants or soldiers. I didn’t care who it was because I would find them and make them bleed in my own hands.

I reached her cell. The guards stepped aside and lowered their eyes. They knew better than to speak when I was like this. Half-dead, half-furious, all vengeance. 

The brass key turned with a heavy click, and the door creaked open into the dim cell I threw Sierra into. The cell has no window, no lights, and no bed. It's just her and against the darkness.

She’s standing in the middle with her wrists tied above her head. Her clothes are now wrinkled and stained with tears she never admits to shedding. Her eyes were puffy from crying and locked onto mine like daggers.

This feisty little puppy.

“You finally decided to grace me with your presence?“ She snapped, voice dripping with venom.

I leaned against the doorframe, smirking. “Miss me?”

“Like a bullet to the spine,” 

I stepped inside slowly. “Careful, Sierra. If you keep talking like that, I might think you enjoy the pain.”

She rolled her eyes and groaned as she wriggled her wrists.

“Hungry?”

“No, I'm on a diet.”

“Glad to know,” I said, circling her like a predator. “Should you thank me for helping you on your diet?” Her jaw hardened, which made me smirk. “You look comfortable for someone accused of murder.”

“Comfortable? COMFORTABLE? THE ROOM WAS DARK, MY WRISTS AND ARMS ARE HURTING, MY STOMACH IS GROWLING, AND IT’S F*CKING HOT IN HERE!” 

I firmly shut my eyes as she yelled at the top of her lungs.

She said she’s on a diet.

“Beg.”

She scoffed. “I did, but you ignored me. This time, I would rather die than beg to you.”

She’s the first person who talks back at me without fear. And I don't know why I like it.

I stepped closer, close enough to feel the heat radiating off her. “Why are you stubborn?”

“Even if you cut my throat, I will never beg again. You're a ruthless, heartless, selfish criminal dressed in bloody, expensive suits that no one wants to wear. You only care about power, about control.”

“You done?” 

“Not even close.” She laughed bitterly. “You think you’re untouchable, you can poison everything around you and still be loved. You’re wrong, Alessandro. You’re rotting inside, and you want to drag me down with you–”

I grabbed her head, burying her awful words in my mouth before her words carved me open. I gripped the back of her head while kissing her hard, fiercely, and unforgivingly. She struggled instantly, closing her mouth desperately, and her body twisted in fury. 

Her words sliced deep. I heard worse from enemies, from traitors. But hearing it from her? I don't know why it was different. 

Then, her teeth sank into my lower lip sharply. I pulled back with a hiss as the blood warmed on my tongue. 

“YOU BASTARD CRIMINAL!” 

Her eyes were wild, her breath was ragged, and her lips were trembling.

I wiped the blood with the back of my hand while breathing heavily. “You wanted to hurt me? Congratulations, you succeeded this time.”

“I HATE YOU!” 

I nodded slowly. “Good. That means you still feel something.” I reach the rope around her wrists, freeing her. She immediately dropped to the floor with a groan. I turned to leave. “You’re not free yet,” I said over my shoulder. “Not until I find the one who tried to kill me.”

“ASSHOLE! GO TO HELL–.”

I closed the door with a deep sigh as I touched the cut on my lip.

Damn that woman. I didn't know she could be this out of control.

But I admit… 

She has soft lips and it feels like I’m already addicted.