AKILA'S POV

Something about Alessandro tying my shoes really pleased him.

It was his last night in Sicily before going to some city he told me about, to pick his grandparents up and drive them here.

I've met Alessandro's grandparents multiple times, especially his grandmother. She's the sweetest, most kind hearted woman I've ever met. Just like his beautiful mother, Dianna, they're both so open and always make sure to put a smile on your face.

Although I've met almost all of Alessandro's family, I believe he doesn't know anything about it. When I first met Dianna, it was at some ball years and years back then. I was seventeen at the ball hosted by The Romanians when I found her and Enzo arguing in a room alone. No one knew who I was, no one knew I even existed which is still happening til this day.

They didn't see me but I stood there and listened to their fight like a reality show when suddenly I heard footsteps. I took a cover and watched twenty years old Alessandro walk on them. He basically shut them up and dragged them out of that room since guests were asking where they went. He handled it as if he's used to it even though they barely fought in front of him. Alessandro knows his parents are not happily married, his mother was forced to marry his father by her aunts and uncles since Enzo is wealthy enough for her family's standards. She is a caring woman and loves to point the positive out of the worst, so she accepted Enzo and swore to stand by his side no matter what. They're two completely different persons, Dianna is gentle, sweet and soft while Enzo is careless and an asshole. Both Alessandro and I know she deserves much better than the marriage he gave her but the woman was too busy with her dear son to apply for a divorce. Even if she asked for one, her family will see it as a shame to their reputation and bring their success down.

Alessandro might think we first met four years ago at the back of his club, but I might as well know something he doesn't know about.

I guess that's our normal.

I chuckled out loud, not realizing he heard it. His head turned to look at me with a confused look, I raised my eyebrows acting just as confused as he is. He then lowered his chin and smiled before looking back on the road.

I stared at his side profile for a minute or two, admiring his messy hair. I snapped out of it and found my eyes landing on his hand that's sneaking between my thighs. I looked at him again but he didn't look back, only his smile remained on his face giving me nothing else.

I shook it off with an eye roll and went back to my thoughts. At the time, I didn't know who the Santoros were. I was seventeen just got out of Saudi Arabia and had no clue what to do next, I was able to break into the ball due to the very poor security and here we are.

That was the last time I've seen Alessandro, then three years later I started my plan on the mafia boss. It was a quick plan honestly, I saw the opportunity to enter his life so I did it in the easiest way. I was set to kill Ivan, another fella who tried to rape me. I knew he was there doing business, I screamed, drawing attention to the scene and hoped he would show up alone. And he did.

The second I saw him walk in frame, I slid Ivan's throat open and left him to bleed on the floor while Alessandro watched. I couldn't stay for long, it would've revealed my face which was too early. I was eager to know what he looks like now, in real life. I saw him a million times through security cameras and those ones they have access to, but never got to see him in action. My mind won over my intentions thankfully and I managed to disappear before he took any notice.

Over the next three years, I finally got a chance to observe him from far behind. I would appear a year from another just to mess with him, it was fun. Until one day I decided it's game over, it was time to show my face and deal with the deadly mafia leader. I made sure his men were watching me and went to this gunshot next to one of his warehouses, by then it was a waiting point. Waiting for his men to follow me, to kidnap me and take me to him.

And there, would be the perfect way to introduce myself. I knew he would eventually let me go, even if he didn't, I would've walked out as they all watched in silence.

I breathed in the air rushing to my face when I felt Alessandro's thumb rub against my skin. I appreciate the little gestures he often does, he shows affection in every single opportunity he gets and it's slowly driving me out of any self control.

I may not show it, but god knows what his touch does to me. The way his gentle hand caresses my body carefully, making sure I'm happy and comfortable. Every time I look at his face, his lips, I'm always ready to jump on top of him and destroy anything standing between us. It gets difficult resisting not wrapping my arms around his neck while he holds me like I'm the most precious thing in his life. It gets very challenging to ignore my desire for him to tear my clothes off and pierce his lips on every inch of my body, tracing down wet kisses until my heart stops beating.

I closed my eyes, feeling my body getting hotter while his tight grip around my inner thigh didn't help in any way possible.

"Are you excited" his voice rang in the car at the right time for distraction. "I am and would really like it if you tell me where we're going" saying those words brought me back two hours ago when Alessandro asked me to get dressed because he's taking me somewhere. Of course my curious self asked where but he had the audacity not to tell me. "It's a surprise"

"I hate surprises"

"I knew it" he said, more to himself than to me. I narrowed my eyes on him and waited for an explanation. He exchanged a look with the side of his eyes which told me there's nothing to explain, anyone who spends more than one second with me would know I hate surprises. I never found joy in them, I'm a curious person who likes to know and knows everything. So having someone do something without my knowledge never sat right with me.

After what felt like ten minutes, Alessandro parked his car outside of a restaurant. He took the keys out of the ignition and got out of the car. My eyes followed his body making its way to the other side of the car. I grabbed the door handle and opened it, leaving Alessandro to pull the door for me as he wished.

Taking my hand in his, we walked side by side to this magnificent restaurant. The hostess guided us to our table far away from the loud customers and sat us down in a gorgeous area with long crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The table is covered with a soft silk material and the chairs are pure brown—golden wood. Alessandro politely thanked her as she headed back to the front of the house, leaving us alone. People around us shared looks, glaring at Alessandro with wide eyes.

"Akila" my name coming out of his mouth, drew all my attention back to him in a matter of milliseconds. "What's on your mind?" he spoke curiously yet playfully with a soft smile curling up his lips. "It's different going out with you alone. Everyone is staring at you, well because it's you"

"Everyone is looking at me but I'm only drawn to one beautiful woman sitting across me" his leg brushed against mine underneath the table, this man deeply knows his way with words.

I let out air and locked eyes with him. He wore this mysterious grin on his face when a waitress approached our table with menus. She gently placed down each one and assured us to be back in a moment. Alessandro's head turned to where she left, his eyes focused on her body.

I crossed my leg over the other and rested my elbows on the table with my hands connected together, waiting for him to stop staring. I mean if he wants to check out some woman, he can do that on his own away from me.

When his eyes finally met mine, he blinked a couple times and raised his eyebrows in shock. "No no no no" he tried to speak and I couldn't care less. I grabbed the menu and held it high in my hand to block his face from my sight.

I read through the menu when a finger creeped on the top of the page and pulled it down slowly. I slammed the menu on the table, not making any noise to attract more people's nose in our business. I glared at him and straightened my back. Anna came back with a pen in her hand to write down our orders, she flashed Alessandro a smile and looked back at me.

I flipped my hair, feeling the strands reach my bare back. I wore a backless dark dress with golden and silver sparkles all over it, a wide cut from the side showed my hip tattoo as I sat down.

I ordered something light since I lost my appetite and made sure she brought the wine before anything else. Another waiter came to our table and poured me a glass of white wine, I thanked him unemotionally and he left us shortly after. I felt a stupid leg try to wrap around mine under the table, I moved my legs to the side completely ignoring him.

He tried again and again so I pressed the tip of my heels on his foot, making sure I added so much force on them. "I deserve it"

"I'm glad you know" I gave him a fake smile and ignored him again. "I deserve it, if I've done what you're thinking"

I acted deaf, leaving him to talk with a wall. Moments later, what he said got into my head and I grew more curious when I found myself releasing my heels off him. I quickly glanced at him, only to see a smile so bright across his face. His leg came on mine again and this time I let him.

"I was not checking her out, how could I for God's sake? When I'm with you, I can barely keep my hands to myself. Let alone not tracing my eyes down every part of your curves, imagining nothing but your naked body against mine" he leaned closer, whispering the last sentence.

I bit on the inside of my cheeks, with nowhere to escape his gaze, my legs trapped in his. "I would never, love. Never" he finished off and pulled himself back on the chair.

His perfume danced around my lungs, creating chills dominating my legs and stomach. "I hate you" I made sure to memorize his movements, not letting him get away with anything. He slid his hand under mine and lifted it to his lips, a muted kiss pressed on my skin before dozens others followed.

Anna came back to our table, holding two plates. Alessandro squeezed my hand, and kissed me one more time as I pulled it away, already missing his warmth.

She smiled his way again and walked away with an attitude, her body language gave off rage and annoyance. I shook my head and went back to the plate underneath me, it's a piece of art. The smell of the homemade tagliolini pasta consumed me, topped with fresh lobster and finished with black truffles.

I didn't wait a moment and diggied my fork in the pasta. I melted. All the flavors created this amazing feeling in my mouth, making it almost impossible not to faint.

Alessandro got himself chicken Parmesan or something I don't know, I'm too busy with this dish to focus on anything else. That's not entirely true, even if I wanted to drown away from this world, I can't. Since the day I ran away, I taught myself to always and no matter what, have all my senses ready for anything. I never knew who was following me, trying to kill me. I was a helpless thirteen years old with nowhere to go, so I made sure to protect the broken soul left in me. I used my good hearing abilities and my fast movement in crowded places. I was invisible to the human eyes. The first few years, only my shadow was seen but now I became the shadows.

[V]

After dinner, Alessandro paid the bill and thanked the staff for the polite service. But there's the thing, little Anna flew me a repellent look across her manager. I told Alessandro I'm going to the bathroom real quick and will be back in a minute.

Pushed the ladies restroom's door open, I never heard it close.

My eyes closed shut, with a smile creeping up my lips.

"Hey you" her voice echoed through the empty walls. I snapped my head back, looking directly into her eyes. She took a step back, finally realizing what she's gotten herself into. Too late.

"You shouldn't be nervous sweetheart" I said, taking closer steps to her. Her shoulder slightly fell in conflict as I bent down to reach her face level and whispered in a husky voice, "You should be terrified" my fist connected with her chin, knocking her fragile figure to the floor.

She crawled back on the ground in a silly attempt to escape. My hand pressed hard on the door, shutting it before she drew more trouble to herself. I saw tears flickering in her eyes while fear shakened her whole body.

What a poor spy.

"Goodnight princess" not wasting her breath, I aimed for her cheek and sent her into a long—unpeaceful SLUMBER.

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