Alessio
I am holding Naitee's slack hand in mine. She fell asleep two minutes into the ride from the airport to the villa and I do not complain. She needs to sleep and I like watching her knowing that she is safe and back in my arms again. I am not even angry about her leaving anymore, that weasel of a man manipulated her for years and it is not her fault that she followed. However the tattoo I am planning to give her will smoothe over any left over hurt feelings. I smile a little and grip her hand harder. She finally gave in fully to me. Not just her body but her soul aswell and it was better than any drug I have ever tried.
We are going to my family villa and everyone should be there. It could possibly be a little awkward but since I am the capo now that will be off no issue. I make the rules now more than ever and it is almost a relief. No father to watch me over my shoulder, judging my every move and decision. It feels bad to admit that but it is the truth.
We start to approach the edge of the property. There is only one road in and it is practically impossible to get in otherwise. The entire property is surrounded by thick forests.
Guards step forward to block the road and I am pleased that they are following my new orders. The security I though was airtight was not. So now I have made sure that it is. I roll down the window and the guard recognizes me immediatly. He gives me a respectful nod and steps back.
"Capo." He says and his voice is full of respect. The other guards back off and I slam my foot down on the gas. I have no more patience for waiting. I want to get to my room, give Aria some divorce papers and go to sleep with Naitee safely in my arms. Hopefully Aria will not be too mad. I am finally giving her a chance to live her true life. We have held eachother back these years and it is time to let go. i cannot resent her for being herself, Naitee made me realise that somehow. She will probably be mad about the money but considering her mother gaining a part of the family money she will be fine. Only one precent of the Familia money would last any person ten lifetimes.
The ride up too the 1800 villa is not as long and the road is made out of gravel. The trees are without leaves and it looks haunting. Like a old movie.
I slow the car down when the victorian frame of the house appears. There is no garage here and I simply parked the car in the small roundabout at the end of the driveway. Naitee stirs in the passanger seat and when she turns her head I spot something just below the hairline at her neck. A small black semicolon. I am only able to see it now because of her hair being up in a pony tail. I reach out to touch the ink and she stiffens.
"What is it?" She asks and turns in my grip to look at me. Her beautiful brown eyes captivate me and my question is lost for a few seconds.
"I uh-- Your tattoo, what does it mean?" I start to see Naitee shutting off and I bring her face closer to me with the hand I have on her neck."It is okay Mia vita, there is absoloutly nothing you could tell me that could change what I feel about you."
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
That is what my heart wants to say but I cannot for some reason.
"It's for suicide awareness. I got it after my parents deaths. I went through a rough patch and it got pretty dark for a time. I got the tattoo to remind me of my of why I'm still alive." Her jaw is clenched and she looks determined to not show any emotion. It is obvious that this a sensitive subject to her.
I simply nod. "Tattoos are a good reminder... And it is good that you have one, you will be more prepared when I give you mine." She opens her mouth but I jump out of the car before she has a chance to say anything. I grin as I walk around to her door, a tattoo would be the perfect thing for her punishment.
She throws her door open before I have a chance to open it for her and her face is one of indignent shock. "Tattoo? You're giving me a tattoo?" She tries to sound angry but I can hear the hint of excitement.
"We will see." Her eyes widen but I simply take her hand and lead her up the marble stairs to my childhood home. She scoffs but as sooon as the suit clad guards open the double door she quiets. The hall is magnificent with two curving stairs to either sides of the mansion and the ceiling still has the original paintings.
"This is..." She starts and I turn so I can see her face when she takes it all in. I smirk down at her.
"Where you want to live for the rest of your life?" Naitee tears her eyes from the artwork to glare at me.
"We will see about that." She throws my words back at me and it makes me laugh.
"Relax Piccolina, I have changed my mind about living with family." I laugh again at her expression.
"What are you talking about?" A voice calls out in italian.
Naitee
I spin around and spot a tired looking Aria and Ice. They look earily similar standing next to eachother like that.
"No welcome back?" Alessio responds in English.
"Welcome back." Ice says flatly and it's almost laughable.
"How did you-- Naitee is back aswell I see." Aria's eyes flickered between us and I saw the realisation hit her. Her nostrils flared and I feel bad for only a second.
"Yes. We finished some business in the USA." Aria looks irritated but I can see a small smile that Ice tries to hide. Alessio's way of describing our time together was extremly censored. They couldn't have a clue about what actuallty happened. It's all so messed up.
"Oh really? Is that why you went on a spree and then left the second your father died?" I fight the urge to grimace at Aria's words. It's new, concerning, information to me. A spree?
Alessio looks down at me with a worried glance before glaring up at Aria.
"It was hardly a spree and I need to talk to you." I stare at Alessio with my eyebrows raised. I've noticed that I have become desensitized to murder but there's still a line that I won't cross. Or let Alessio cross for that matter. If I'm going to let myself care for this man I have to keep him in line. That might put someone off but to me it's a challenge and I love challenges.
Aria says something angrily in italian and waves her hand before turning on her heel and leaving. Alessio grimaces down at me but he looks-- happy. Like he knows everything is going to be fine.
"Well..." Alessio says and grins down at me. "Five minutes in and I have already pissed off my ex-wife. Who knows what the next hours will bring." He leans down to press his soft lips against mine and I laugh into his kiss.
"I'm hoping it's all good." I mutter and he smiles as he pulls back.
"Yes well I have to talk some business first and then we are free to do what we want." Talk business. He probably wanted to talk about Ross with Dean and Ice.
"I'll come with." Alessio looks resistant for a second before caving. It suprised me. Considering my record he really shouldn't trust me. I want him too, but he shouldn't.
"Sure. Ice call Dean for me. Fathe-- My office in five minutes."
Deans reaction when he saw me in the office was shocking. His cheeks went bright red and his eyes were blazing.
"Brother? How could you bring her in here? I know you have a soft spot for her but her FRIEND killed our father! And she just went with him!" He points at me in the end of his scream-speech but I stand my ground.
"You don't get to do that." I say and it shocks Dean so much that he quiets and simply stares at me.
"You have no idea what I went through with that man or what he did to me. I was tricked and that's on me but you don't get to blame me for anything else considering the life you live." I keep my voice low and steady. Alessio has a hand on my lower back and the heat from it calms me.
Dean takes a step back and nods like a animal in the spotlight.
It's quiet for a minute before laughter breaks out. I turn to look, thinking it was Alessio but when I saw Ice bent over at his waist, laughing I was stunned. Ice was laughing.
"Mio Dio." Alessio mutters and we all stare at Ice in varying stages of confusion or shock.
"W-o-w..." I drag it out and when Ice finally quiets he's right back in his uptight, calm demeanor.
"I like her Boss." Ice says and I realize that I care. Care about being accepted by important people in Alessio's life.
"Great, with all that out of the way I think we can settle this. Ross is dead, we have good relations with most of the other mobs except for the russians and I will deal with them personally soon. Please inform me if anything happens with the Taiwan shippings but otherwise do not even think about disturbing me before dinner." Alessio growls out the last words and I reach my hand back to move his hand, which has slid down from my lower back to my ass.
Ice nods, holding the door open for Dean who still looks like he doesn't trust me or want to leave at all. But in the end he leaves after Ice clears his throat in a meaningful way, the old wooden door clicks closed behind them.
I look around the office and take in the details, everything is made out of worn wood and the walls are covered with wallpaper that looks hundreds of years old. There's a bookcase covering one of the walls and it's stacked with old books.
"Come on, I want to show you something." Alessio steps up to the book case and reaches out to one of the oldest looking books and pulls it. A loud bang sounds out and the bookcase opens smoothly with a pull of Alessio's strong arm.
The room behind it takes my breathe away. It's a glorious hidden room. It looked like something straight out of the 18 hundreds.
"This is amazing." I breathe and Alessio chuckles.
"I had a feeling you would like it." He says and pulls me into his chest. The scent of his cologne and the soap from the plane is addictive and I breathe it in. I feel safe again. It's something I never expected to want so much. Safe. Someone who's everything that terrifies makes me feel the most safe and I can't even pretend to not like it.
Like him.
Love him.