Chapter 65
I didn’t move a long moment. I just watched him, watched the case in which he picked up his knife and began diring into the night. Like this wasn’t all built on blood and control,
I finally took a small sip of wine, fod enough in wet my that, and set the glass down again.
He didn’t look up. “You should eat. 11’11 help
“Help with what?” I asked quietly.
Alessandro’s eyes lifted, and for a brief moment, something flickered there. Annoyance? Amusement? It pikord too quickly to catch. “With the way you’in shaking,” he said simply.
I hadn’t even noticed until then, but my fingers were trembling. I ruled them into fists beneath the table
“The not hungry.” I mattered.
He shrugged. “Sait yoursell.”
The food between us sat untouched on my side. Candlelight danced across the table, throwing soft–shadows against his face, making him look almost gentle. But I knew better. That wasn’t softnes–it was calculation.
He cut another piece of steak, chewed slowly, then spoke again, his tone light. “Logan will be fine.”
I stiffened.
Alessandro didn’t miss it. “He needed a reminder. You’re mine. Not his, Not anyone’s.”
“I never said I wasn’t yours,” I whispered, voice low, bitter.
“No,” he agreed, placing his fork down, “but you asked me to spare him. That was your first mistake.”
My heart thudded in my chest. “He’s just a boy.”
“Boys grow into men. Men challenge power. I don’t leave threats unresolved.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Even soft
There was something so final in the way he said it that it made my blood run cold.
“But you brought me to dinner,” I said numbly. “Lit candles. Ordered wine. You’re pretending everything’s normal.”
“I’m not pretending,” he said, almost offended. “This is normal. Our normal.”
I stared at him, mouth dry. “And what if I can’t live like this?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, be reached across the table, taking my hand in his. His fingers were warm, steady, and his thumb stroked over my knuckles with surprising gentleness
Then he said, voice low and certain, “You already are
“And secondly, come over here“,
aid, softer this time but not gentler. It wasn’t a request. It never was with Alessandro.
I hesitated, my hand still in his. His grip d
didn’t tighten, but it didn’t let go either. He just waited, his eyes locked on mine, unreadable.
A long beat passed before I rose from my hair. My legs felt unsteady as I stepped around the table toward him. He leaned back slightly, making room, and when I was close enough, he reached up, curling his hand around my waist, guiding me into his lap like it was the most natural thing in the world,
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Chapter 65
I didn’t resist.
He busted me with practiced save, ene nim wrapped securely armind my lower bark, the other hand trailing showly down my much, 101
nashed. It wain’t even overtly rexital. It was possessive. Reassuring in the most deadting way.
Like he was saying. You’re safe here. At long as you never forget whe
“Much better.” he inurmured, lips brushing the thell of my ear. “This is where you thould be
Is there rigid, heart racing, unsate schat disturbed me more, how calm he was, or how familiar this feh. Hom aanly my body modded to Mis, droptie sta storm of guilt, anger, and confusion churning in my chest.
He took another sip of wine, his fingers absently playing with the hem në my sleeve.
*1 like you like this,” he said. “Quiet. Cloue, Loyal.”
I said nothing.
Because I didn’t trust my voice not to break.
Because part of me didn’t know if I was still staying silent out of fear….
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