“I believe you, Alessio,” I said again, my fingers pressing gently into his cheeks. Alessio shuddered in relief atop of me, his eyes closing as he finally relaxed in my hold.
We stayed like that for a few seconds, with me soothing him. When he opened his eyes again, this time the blueish orbs were glistening with intensity. “The plan was to get close to you to find out if you were a traitor,” he started.
Flinching, I started to let go, but he quickly grasped my hands, holding them firmly to his cheeks.
“But it was just an excuse,” he quickly added. “I was using it as an excuse to get close to you. From the very first time I saw you, I had this urge to be close to you. To hold you. But it was a show of weakness. So I tried to find every excuse to get close to you. The plan ended the same day it was made, because no matter what, I couldn’t lie to myself. I kept telling myself it was what I had to do for the safety of everyone, but deep inside, I knew I was doing it for myself. I needed you, since the very beginning.” He looked in her eyes.
“I messed up,” Alessio breathed sadly. “I know I did, but I’m asking you to forgive me. To give me another chance to prove myself. Please let me in your heart again. Give me this chance and I’ll never let you go again. I’ll never break you again.”
He paused and took a deep breath before continuing in the same soft voice. “I’ll never be the man you deserve, but I’ll be the man you need. I’ll be the man who makes you laugh and smile, the one who drives away all your nightmares, the one who kisses you good morning and good night and so many kisses in between. I’ll be your savior. Now and for the rest of my life.”
Tears sprung in my eyes at his confession, and I gave him a wobbly smile. “You definitely do have a way with words,” I replied.
Alessio let out a small laugh and shook his head, his lips lifting up in a small smile. “Only for you, Angel.”
My eyes widened as he called me Angel, the tears falling before I could stop them. “You are making me cry,” I muttered as Alessio swiped the tears away.
“Are they happy tears?” he asked, looking a bit uncertain.
I nodded, speechless, and he gifted me with one of his breathtaking smiles. “Good. From now on, the only tears you will cry will be happy tears.”
“You’re sweet.”
Alessio looked affronted by my admission and sent me a mock glare. I couldn’t help but laugh. It looked like the Mafia Boss didn’t like being called sweet, although he really was…sweet.
“I’m a killer, Ayla. Definitely not sweet,” he said, looking deep into my eyes.
Smiling, I leaned up and placed a kiss on his nose like he had done to me. “You might be a killer out there, a monster, as you said, but in here,” I pressed my hand over his heart, “in here, you are sweet. To me, you are sweet.”
Another breathtaking smile from Alessio. This time the smile lit up his face and eyes with such happiness that it made my heart ache…in a good way. It fluttered, and I melted into his embrace.
Finally, the pain that I had seen before was no longer there. He looked hopeful.
Taking a deep breath, Alessio continued. “When I’m with you, it feels as if I can finally breathe. I have been living in the darkness for so long, but you bring me light and peace. You make me laugh and smile, something I haven’t done in so damn long. When I’m away from you, I feel empty, like I’m missing a piece of myself. I don’t ever want to be without you, Angel. I don’t think I’ll survive it. When I’m with you, it feels like I’m the king of the world. I can accomplish anything with you by my side. I used to believe that you are my weakness. You are. You will always be my weakness, but you are also my strength.”
Oh wow. Wow. My throat tightened up at his confession until it felt impossible to breathe. “Alessio,” I murmured, a constant smile on my lips.
“I don’t know what love is,” Alessio mumbled, brushing his lips against mine in the lightest kiss. “But if what I feel for you is love, then so be it.”
“I don’t know what love is either,” I admitted, my fingers softly moving over his cheeks and then his lips.
Kissing me again on the lips with the slightest pressure, as if he was scared to break me, Alessio smiled. “We’ll learn it together then, Angel.”
Angel. I didn’t think I would ever get tired of Alessio calling me that.