I could sense it. Even felt it seeping down my skin as his fingers unconsciously played with the fabric of my jeans. The warmth penetrated my flesh from his touches. I couldn’t resist him. And he knew it. Silvio swept his gaze over to me. “Aren’t you tired?”“I…I guess.” Alfred, aiuta gli ospiti a entrare e assicurati che siano a loro agio.” Silvio said in Italian with his deep gravelly voice. Alfred bowed his head. He then turned his attention back to me, the corners of his lips curling up into a faint smile I couldn’t comprehend. “Shall we?” I hated how his both English and Italian accents did things to me. I glanced at Papa and Olivia. “If you need anything, tell me please.” Papa nodded while Olivia helped him up. He looked healthier than before but he was not fully recovered. Alfred guided them down to the left wing of the mansion as I watched with lingering anticipation. Dante soon took his leave too, saying something about patrolling the areas before sleeping. Micah yawned

The sun dipped low, casting a warm glow on the patio where Olivia and I sat, sipping tea in companionable silence. The soft clinks of our mugs mingled with the distant hum of evening. Fatigue clung to me after a long day at the clinic, but the familiar comfort of my sister's presence eased the weight. The patio lanterns flickered, painting a tranquil scene, yet beneath it all, a subtle ache lingered, words unspoken between us.It had been two years since I last saw her. And now that she was in front of me, everything was so surreal, a cascade of emotions flooding back in an overwhelming rush.Her once mid-length chestnut locks were chopped off, reaching her shoulder in straight lines. I always envied how her hair was shiny and beautiful, unlike my wavy ones. She looked towards the end of the garden to the cemented pavilion where Silvio stood with Dante and other guards including Seb discussing something. Her green eyes sparkled as they landed on Dante and I narrowed mine. She had

True to his word, Silvio let me go to the clinic for the next two days. On the third day, he insisted on driving me to the clinic himself. I let him. Cause there was no negotiating with him. He said he would be picking me up too. He was hell-bent on tracking my every action. Even Margaret was on edge these days. Silvio threatened her to not let me slip lunch. Unlike the two lunch boxes Alfred packed, those turned into three. With lunch boxes exclusively filled with fruits. I rolled my eyes when Margaret commented I had found myself a protective and caring husband. What would she know? I hadn’t found myself a husband, I had found myself a mafia boss who would punish me if these lunch boxes arrived half-empty at home. We were going through the patient’s reports when Margaret’s brows were thinner in confusion.“Did we hire more security?” “I don’t know. Probably Silvio did.” I muttered shrugging my shoulders. Silvio was protective, so it was only natural for him to hire more guards

After I calmed Sadie down and made sure she was comfortable and resting, I grabbed my phone and called Dante. “I’m my office.” My three words were enough to have him moving towards the room. I glanced at Sadie for a moment realising she must be tired and so startled by this sudden news. I was too. And it angered me how she was pregnant for a week or two and I had no idea. And, I just got a call from Nikolai this afternoon that Mitchelle and Alejandro were seen together in one of the political parties among the candidates of the Russian Federation. If and if by any means Mitchelle get into politics, I wouldn’t be able to touch him. He’d have government forces, outnumber me in terms of both men and weapons. He’d be untouchable and power would blind him. The first person he’d come for was me. It was fine as long as it involved me, but now that Sadie was pregnant, I couldn’t risk her or our child. Our child. The anxiety-tinged joy filled my chest again, crowding out the remnants

“What the fuck did you just say?” I gripped the phone tighter, nearly crushing it as my disbelief morphed into burning rage. “What the fuck do you mean Silas is in Italy?”“I don’t know how we missed this, there has been something strange happening in Mrs Salvatore’s clinic. I just did the monthly security check and there are some new faces.” Micah’s voice was tense. “I am trying to get the information but their files are blank. I don’t think we hired those guards.” There was another long pause and then he said. “I believe that they work for Silas. Yet I am sure but I have some suspicions. I will check the clinic footage and report if I find something unusual.”My rage deepened with every sentence he spoke. “How did they fucking got in the clinic when I told you—” I took a deep breath. It was no use yelling at him. First I needed to make sure Sadie was safe. “Anyways, inform Dante about the situation.” “I did,” Micah mumbled. There was a little hesitancy in his voice. Something I had