I saw him swallow hard. He bent his head until our foreheads were touching. “I didn’t turn away from you because you were an Abandonato. I turned away because I was hurt that you lied. When I finally came to terms with everything, I was too late. You were already gone. I ran after you, but I was still too late. Ayla, that day…I had never felt such pain. It felt like I was being torn apart.”
My throat closed up. “I fought, Alessio. I fought against him. I didn’t go easily. I screamed for you. He said…he said that you didn’t want to see me. He said you were giving me away.”
Alessio’s expression thundered with fury. “Who?” he growled. But I saw a hint of recognition in his eyes.
“Artur,” I whispered. “He gave me to Alberto. He said you never wanted…to see me again.”
When his face twisted in pain, I quickly added, “But I didn’t believe him.”
Alessio pressed his lips ever so gently on mine. The kiss was so soft, almost feather light. I could taste our tears as our lips made contact.
“I never said those words, Angel. You are my everything. I would never think of giving you away,” he admitted, his voice filled with distress.
“I know. I believed in us, Alessio,” I said, wrapping my arms around his head. I held him to me, our lips still touching.
“I believed in us, too. I never stopped believing.”
At his words, my heart raced. My chest didn’t feel like it would explode anything. I felt…lighter.
“You kept me from going crazy,” I muttered, closing my eyes as he peppered my face with kisses.
Alessio wrapped his arms around me, and we held each other. I sighed and burrowed deeper into his safe embrace. I felt loved…cherished…adored and protected.
I felt his cheek in my palm, feeling his rough stubble. When was the last time he shaved? My hands roamed over his face, touching him, feeling him.
I ran my fingers over his lips, and he kissed my fingertips. I closed my eyes as a loving feeling washed over me.
I sat up straighter on his lap and kissed his lips. I never wanted to stop touching him.
But my thoughts halted when I felt a kick. Looking down, I stared at my round stomach. I felt Alessio follow my gaze.
My nose stung as I fought against the tears.
When I felt another kick, it was impossible. I cried, holding my stomach, feeling my baby move.
Alessio placed his hand over mine. We held the bump firmly, protectively.
“He hurt me, Alessio,” I whispered. “He hurt me so much. He kept going. It didn’t matter that I cried and begged him to stop. He just…kept going. He kept hurting me. Over and over again,” I cried, my hands pressing firmly against my stomach.
The tears streamed down my cheeks as the baby moved again. Oh, baby.
I pressed my face into Alessio’s neck. “He was so cruel. He never stopped, Alessio. I don’t know how long it kept going. I just didn’t have the strength…to fight anymore. I just…wanted it all…to go away. I just wanted…to be happy. I wanted to be…with you again.”
“Angel,” Alessio groaned in pain. He held me tighter as I felt the anger course through him.
When the baby rolled again, I closed my eyes. “He said he would kill…my baby.”
Alessio froze underneath me. His muscles tightened. I thought he stopped breathing for a second. “What?”
His tone was dangerous. Even I trembled at his voice.
My heart ached at the memory. Alberto was ruthless. He tried to break me every way he could. He took me until I had nothing else to give. Still, he kept taking. He kept breaking me.
As if his actions weren’t enough, he tried to break me with his words.
“He said he would let me give birth but…deliver the dead baby to you,” I choked out, my breathing coming out faster in panic.
Alessio’s arm curved protectively around my stomach. “He’s a dead man, Ayla. When I find him, he will regret ever hurting you. He will regret even thinking of hurting our baby.”
My eyes snapped open, my breath leaving me in a loud whoosh.
He will regret even thinking of hurting our baby.
Our baby.
My heart clenched, and I looked up at his angry face. I saw the killer there. The Monster. But I wasn’t scared. I knew the Monster would protect me.
He was my Monster.
I palmed his cheeks, looking into his blue eyes. “You said our baby.”
Alessio’s eyebrows furrowed at my words. His gaze shifted to my stomach and then back up. “Yes. Our baby.”
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “How do you know the baby is yours?”
Alessio brought his hand up and swiped my tears away. “Is it? Is the baby mine, Ayla?”
I winced at the question, a sense of despair falling over me. Closing my eyes, I leaned my forehead against his. “I don’t know,” I whispered. My voice broke as the baby moved again. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Alessio.”