Chapter 5

 Chapter Five  

Alessia’s POV  

The club smelled like sweat, liquor, and desperation. The bass pounded through the walls, vibrating beneath my feet as I sank deeper into the booth in the farthest corner of the room. My fingers curled around the heavy glass in front of me, the amber liquid burned down my throat as I took another long, slow sip. It was Hot scotch, mixed with tequila. Strong, Bitter and Perfect.  

The voices around me blurred into a dull hum, but I could still catch bits of conversations. My name was everywhere. Alessia Vasquez. The police officer who arrested her own husband. The wife of a criminal. The fraud who pretended to be a hero while sleeping next to a liar.  

I squeezed my eyes shut as I didn’t want to hear it and think about it but their whispers cut through me like a blade and that was sharp and unforgiving.  

“She had no idea her own husband was working for Leo? What kind of cop doesn’t notice that?”  

“I heard she was covering for him until Leo exposed everything. Imagine being so obsessed with bringing a man down, only for him to ruin your life instead.”  

“Bet she’s out here drinking because she’s got no one left. No husband, no job, no dignity.”  

I clenched my jaw, my fingers tightening around the glass. If I had the energy, I’d break it over someone’s head. Instead, I lifted it again and downed the rest, the warmth spreading through my chest.  

I needed to feel nothing.  

A man slid into the seat across from me, his cologne strong and cheap. “Hey there, sweetheart,” he drawled, a smirk on his lips. “A girl like you shouldn’t be drinking alone.”  

I didn’t even look at him. I simply reached for another drink, pouring myself a generous glass of vodka which was neat.  

“I said,” he leaned in, his breath hot against my skin, “a girl like you—”  

“If you want to leave this club with your balls intact,” I cut him off, my voice low and sharp, “I suggest you walk away, Now.”  

The smirk on his face faltered for a second before he let out a dry chuckle. “Feisty…. No wonder your husband ran off to work for someone as dangerous as Ricci.” They all bursted into laughter and the glass in my hand nearly shattered from how tightly I gripped it.  

Before I could say anything, a waitress appeared, sliding a bottle of whiskey onto my table. “Compliments from the gentleman at the bar,” she said, motioning with her chin.  

I turned my head slightly, following her gaze, but no one was there. Just a lingering trace of something expensive and familiar. Sauvage.  

Is that Leo? 

I swallowed hard and pushed the bottle away. I wasn’t drinking anything he sent me if he was the one or not.  

Instead, I poured myself another drink to drown out my thoughts.  

My sister-in-law’s cruel words echoed in my mind. “You’re a useless, good-for-nothing wife. You destroyed my brother, destroyed our family’s name. You were so obsessed with your job that you didn’t even see the truth right in front of you. You’re pathetic.”  

No one cared how much I had lost. No one cared that my husband was a liar who worked for the same monster that murdered my family. No one cared that I was the one who had to live with the betrayal and with a man who didn't care about my feelings.

The pain curled inside me like a slow poison, and I drank until my vision blurred.  

I needed to get out of here.  

Stumbling slightly, I grabbed my bag and made my way to the parking lot. The cold night air hit my face as I rummaged through my bag for my keys, but my fingers fumbled way too clumsily and too numb.  

I spotted my car or at least what looked like my car and staggered toward it.  

The door was slightly ajar which was Weird and unusual.  

I barely had time to think about it before exhaustion took over, and I collapsed into the back seat with my body sinking into the leather as my eyes drifted shut.    

The next morning, I woke up to silence on a bed that was too soft and too luxurious.  

Panic shot through me instantly. My fingers darted to my waist, searching for my gun and I heaved a sigh of relief.

Still there, Thank God.

I exhaled sharply as my heart pounded while I took in my surroundings.  

This wasn’t my house. The bedroom was huge, the walls dark with sleek black paneling. The air smelled of expensive cologne, smoke, and leather. A glass bowl of flowers sat on a table near the window, filled with deep amber liquid. Everything screamed money, power, danger.  

And when the door clicked open, I was already moving before I could think. My gun was up, aimed at the least person I expected. 

Leo leaned against the doorframe, smirking. “Now, that’s not very polite, is it?”  

My hands shook with rage as I tightened my grip on the trigger. “What the hell am I doing here?”  

He stepped inside slowly, the smirk never leaving his lips. He was wearing an all black tailored suit, expensive watch, every inch of him was dripping in wealth and arrogance.  

“I could ask you the same thing, sweetheart,” he drawled. “You’re the one who climbed into my car and passed out like a cheap drunk.”  

I sucked in a sharp breath. What?  

No. No, that couldn’t be right, I knew where I parked. Didn’t I?  

I swallowed hard, my head pounding. “You’re lying,” I spat in defence. 

Leo chuckled. “Oh, I’d love to take credit for this, but you did all the work yourself. I just gave you a ride home.”  

I glared at him, my chest rising and falling rapidly. This was a game to him.  

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” I hissed but he tilted his head slightly with amusement flickering in his dark eyes. “And miss the chance to have my favorite little cop sleeping in my bed? That would’ve been a tragedy.”  

I clenched my jaw so tightly it hurt. “I’m not your—”  

“My obsession?” he cut in, grinning. “Oh, but you are.”  

Rage boiled inside me as my tongue suddenly became bitter. “You set my husband up.”  

Leo took a slow step forward and shrugged. “He was a traitor. He thought he could play both sides. He should’ve been smarter.”  

I wanted to kill him.  

“You fucking ruined my life,” I whispered with my voice shaking. I wanted to scream but my energy was too precious ok an asshole like him.

Leo stopped right in front of me, close enough that I could smell the whiskey and smoke on his breath. “No, sweetheart,” he murmured, his fingers brushing against my wrist, his touch searing. “You ruined your own life the moment you decided to come after me.”  

I yanked my hand away, breathing hard but Leo’s smirk widened.  

“Now,” he said, stepping back casually. “Be a good girl and put the gun away. I’d hate for you to make a mess in my house.”  

I wanted to pull the trigger. I wanted to end this, right here and right now.  

But I couldn’t especially not like this. Not when I needed to think.  

Shaking, I lowered the gun a

nd Leo’s eyes darkened with something unreadable.  

“Good girl,” he murmured.  

I wanted to scream.