ALESSANDRO'S POV

I dragged Armando's knocked out body from the car and threw him on the couch.

Yesterday was a long night. The club was crowded with hundreds of people, even the VIP tables were all booked. I had to clear out a whole floor just for us, I like my privacy.

Akila sat beside me the whole night, she ordered a drink or two and didn't finish the third so I picked it up and shoved it down my throat.

While Akila and I sat comfortably in the booth, everyone else went to the bar. Not thirty minutes later they all hopped on the dance floor. Even Dante, who barely got drunk, was wasted on the dance floor.

Watching them have fun, I knew the worst hangover was waiting for them first thing in the morning and here I am dragging a grown man who fell asleep overnight in the car.

I didn't even know he didn't make it into the house yesterday with us. Everyone rushed to their bedrooms, leaving this precious princess all alone.

I woke up around seven o'clock and checked around the house when I didn't find Armando in his room. And here I am now, shaking his body so his lazy ass wakes up.

Kira was in the kitchen making everyone coffee and something warm for Julia since she started throwing up badly. Dante was sick worried but I told him it's normal and maybe she's not used to drinking.

Getting tired of waking this dead man, I brought my hand so high and slapped him with all the strength I got.

He jumped off the couch and fell on his ass. I looked down at him and laughed, "My head is spinning" he said, holding the cheek I just slapped. His face turned red as my hand left a huge mark on his skin. It's an amusing view. I like it.

I walked to a chair and grabbed the clothes I picked for him. I threw the clothes at him and said, "Go take a showe, you stink" he chuckled and closed his eyes slowly. "ARMANDO" I screamed in his face and he flinched in terror. "Yes. Yes" he got on his feet and ran far away from me. I collapsed into laughter again, enjoying myself. I'm such a good friend.

After finishing my task, I went to the kitchen for breakfast. Today is a long day, I haven't been in my office in days. I'm sure a lot of work is waiting on my sweet desk. Putting back the cereal box, I made sure to grab two spoons. I held each bowel in my hands and made my way up the stairs.

I knocked on the opened door twice before pushing it open with my leg. Akila laid on her bed, holding a book I suppose she was reading. She turned her head and looked at the bowl in my hand. "Your favourite cereal" I smiled between my words while she fixed herself off the bed. She started walking towards me, making her way to me. "How do you know my favourite cereal?" She asked, taking one bowl gently out of my hand. "I may or may not have checked one of your pantries"

We both sat on her bed, eating while talking about random things. And of course I told her what happened with Armando. She found it really entertaining and told me I did a great job. I felt like a pet receiving a treat from my owner, but my tail didn't move in excitement, my heart raced faster with a smile I couldn't hold back.

"You should get going, it's almost nine thirty" Akila said, reminding me of Marcello who's going to show up at my office at ten o'clock. I picked our empty bowls and placed them on one of her night stands. I looked back at her, only to find her eyes fixed on my body. I bit down on my lower lips and approached the bed. I opened my arms widely and took her in my grip, pushing our bodies on the mattress. She giggled under me, leaving my heart to melt on its own. "Get off me Alessandro" I squeezed her more in my arms, "I don't want to" I protested, feeling comfortable where I am. "Marcello would really appreciate me in these short pyjamas, you're right" I snapped my head up and widened my eyes at her words. "I'm just saying, if you don't mind him walking on us like that then so am I" she grinned evilly as she finished her sentence.

"You know it drives me crazy when you say someone else's name with that mouth" I said leaning closer to her face. I brushed my nose on hers lightly and continued, "it makes me want to kill—destroy that person" I admitted, not caring if I sound ridiculous because it actually drives me insane.

"And why is that?l her head tilted and my grip tightened more. "Because I want to be the only you call, the only one you talk to you, the only one you kiss" I stopped to look at her, she held no reaction so I kept going, "it might be selfish and I know I am but honestly, I don't care as long as you're with me" I couldn't find the courage to look her in the eyes so I buried my face in her chest.

"You can't go on saying all of these stuff and hide from me, in me" her voice is soft while her words are teasing me. "I'm enjoying myself here" I told her, hearing her heartbeat close to my ears. "My breasts are not a pillow Alessandro" I didn't have to check her face to know she's smiling. "But they're so very comfortable and soft. You're so cosy, did you know that?" She sighed and my head rose—fell with her body. When she didn't answer, I lifted my head and looked at her. My eyebrows frowned until she finally met my gaze. "You didn't know" I am in utter shock. She rolled her eyes and looked away from me. "How would I know I don't lay on top of my own self" she sounds almost convincing but no. "yes but you would know, like I know how my body alway produces a lot of heat" I don't if I'm overacting, but this is unacceptable.

"Oh believe me, I do know how cold my body is. Sometimes I wonder how you casually touch my freezing skin" her eyes remained behind me and it broke me. I moved my head where she's looking and blocked her sight. "Your cold skin is the most graceful thing I have ever touched. And I'm not just saying that, I'm saying this because whenever the tip of my finger brushes against any part of you, I get stuck. Stuck between your beauty, your eyes, your touch. You, you are my weakness. You are the one and only person I can't help but touch and kiss every chance I get. You're so irresistible, it is driving me out of my mind"

I took a deep breath realising what I just said and I don't regret one singular letter that came out of my mouth.

Akila's face relaxed and for the first time, her eyes frowned into a million of emotions. Something flashed through them before they completely softened. She was about to speak when I pressed my lips on hers. I don't want her to thank me, to think she has to respond because I didn't tell her to start a conversation, I only confessed half of what she makes me feel, I only spoke some of the words I have been thinking since the first time I laid my eyes on her.

Since that day, I knew. I knew that she would always be the one who shook something in me. It's the way she walks, the way her hair moved along her hips, the way her chin rise when she's talks, the way she says my name, the way she kept me hanging, the way she broke my heart, the way she put it back together, the way she let me touch her, kiss every inch of her. It's the way she accepts me and I know, I'm sure at this moment until my last breath, I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I can't imagine an eternity without her. I need her now, I need her in my future. I need her every second of my life.

My lips moved from her mouth to her neck. I can't help but taste her. My tongue broke out, sucking on her roughly. Her moan sent shivers down my body.

My mouth watered for more, my head cried out and my hands dominated her thighs. I broke away from her neck to allow both of us to breathe. My eyes landed on the huge purple mark I felt on the side of her neck. And then I looked at her, I saw the same crave, the need for this. I closed the few inches between us and she smiled. "Be mine" the words escaped my lips uncontrollably but they didn't surprise me nor had an impact on her.

I stared into her eyes forgetting what I asked. How could someone be this good? Too good for this world. This woman will shatter my heart into pieces I wouldn't be able to collect, but if she asked for it, I will gather every bit of my heart and put it in the palm of her hand over and over again.

"I accept your offer" her voice ran around the room. She spoke so casually it almost felt unreal.

For the first time in my twenty seven years of living, I fell speechless so I did the one thing I will never get tired of. I wrapped my hands around her waist and carried both our bodies off the bed.

"What are you doing, put me down" her hair got in my face as her hands gripped my shoulders for support. I held her up in the air so now she's looking down at me. "I can't put you down" I could hear my smile through my lie with a shrug. "Yes you can, put me down before I put you down" a playful grin curled her lips, god I love it when she does that. "You know that would please me, love" there comes the eye roll.

I laughed softly before putting her down to her feet. "Mess up one time and you're a dead man" she threatened me, who would I have thought one day I will enjoy getting threatened but here we are. I leaned down, kissing her forehead, "You're the one who will mess me up if you keep looking at me with those eyes"

I swear I saw her cheeks colour before she shifted into her normal face.

Her arms hooked around my neck as I stared down at her. Her eyes landed behind me when she took a deep breath. "You will be late" her arms slowly loosened and I found myself stopping her.

"I don't know how you haven't figured this out yet, but I truly deeply don't care" I focused on her face, not expecting an answer. She cupped my cheeks with her cold plans and looked at me softly. "I do"

I definitely didn't expect an answer.

My head fell backwards as a groan left my lips. I really didn't want to go and leave her. Akila walked away from me, taking away all the confrontations I was feeling. "I still have some paperwork that belongs to you, I will use that as an excuse to see you" she flashed me a smile that made my heart ache in admiration.

She winked at me from across the room with a smirk she didn't attend to hide before disappearing.

I sighed loudly, making my way towards the door. This Marcello better be worth all of this because I would rather stay here in a thousand years.

Walking in my office, I glanced at the clock hanging on the wall only to find only ten minutes left. My eyes traced down the amount of files and papers laying on my desk, there's at least four piles of these. Guess my free days are over. I reached my desk to find a letter on top of the other mails I got. "Amelia Gashi" I read her name under my breath and started ripping the letter open. A smaller piece of paper fell out of the envelope, I unfolded, bringing it closer to me. Amelia always had this thing where she loves to hand write her own letters instead of printing them. I haven't seen her since the meeting. Although I'm sure she was at the ball and witnessed all that happened, I didn't get the chance to meet her and I honestly don't know how to feel towards her.

What she did is considered betrayal, agreeing to an alliance means to share and trust your parents with any information. Yet a part of me knew she kept Akila's story a secret in hope to redeem herself from what she did in the past. Amelia couldn't give Akila the one thing she asked for and now after several years she decided to turn in her favour.

I chuckled, not sure what to think anymore. I've known Amelia for half of my life, she is not a bad person. However, she surely makes decisions without overseeing the consequences.

My thoughts got interpreted by a knock on the door. Here we go. I made it to the door and flew it open. Dante stood before Marcello and bowed. It is an unnecessary move since he's my right hand but maybe he just did it hoping Marcello would follow. And he did.  I nodded for Dante to state his arrival, "Marcello is here as you order boss" I gave him another nod, dismissing him. I opened the door further for Marcello to walk in. He nervously took a few steps forward until he got in and I shut the door behind him. "Take a seat" I said, hearing my demanding voice shake his legs. I pushed my body down my desk chair as he sat down anxiously facing me. His loud heartbeats echoed in the room.

I leaned my elbows on the desk, connecting my fingers together. "Speak"

I shot my eyes at him when he began to talk, "I first want to thank you for saving my life. I don't know what would have happened if you weren't there, sir" I moved in my seat already getting bored. "My name is Marcello, I am twenty nine years old. I lost my mother and little sister due to a car crash a few years after my father abandoned us. I work for a bank downtown and got invited to the ball by one of my co-workers whose uncle has a high title in our bank. And I hate that job with my guts" confusion conserved my mind, anyone would kill for that job. "I know this is a big risk to ask but I've always wanted to be a part of this. Ever since I lost my last source of family, I dreamed of a huge clain of people who don't need to be related by blood to treat each other like family and more. So I came here today to ask for your blessing and permission to let me in that powerful empire you built. I've seen how you rule your men, it's inspiring and impresses me in every way possible. I'm certain that my thoughts give no interest to you sir and I don't wish to waste your time so please give me a chance to prove I could be worth one second of your time, sir" he finally let his lungs take in a deep breath. The man tried so hard not to stutter under his own words.

What I heard was like music to my ears but that doesn't mean things will go as smoothly.

I ordered Dante to get his ass here as quickly as possible, I still didn't give an answer to the man not a few years older than me. Now that he sat in front of me, the doubts of knowing or seeing him somewhere jumped out of the window. His eyes might seem oddly familiar yet in the end I haven't met that many people with green eyes so I took that as an answer.

Dante knocked on the door and walked in shortly after, "Take Marcello to our warehouse, give him a room with a warm bed and let Chris take care of the rest" Dante's eyes filled with surprise but hid it away immediately. He said 'Yes Capo' and waited for Marcello to follow him. Marcello got off the chair and made quiet steps to the door. He walked himself out and right before Dante closed the door, he turned his head and thanked me with a smile reaching his ears.

I stretched my arms off the desk and physically prepared myself for this long day of WORK.

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