AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll do everything in my power to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” I promised, meeting Alessia’s eyes with determination.
“I know,” she said, sipping the last of her coffee. “I should get home before my husband wakes up.”
“Alright, I’ll have one of my men see you home safely,” I said, getting up. Alessia mirrored my motion, standing gracefully from the plush couch.
“No need to trouble your men, Tristan,” she demurred. “I can manage.”
I shook my head, “I insist,” I said. Adriana was dozing off on the couch already, and we both looked at her and exchanged a smile before we walked out.
“Tell my daughter I said good-bye,” Alessia said. Adriana had gone to bed when I had arrived, saying that she felt very tired. I wasn’t sure, but she looked a little green, so there was a good chance she was dealing with some morning sickness.
She’d given me a kiss and then practically ran upstairs, leaving me to deal with her mother.
A heavy silence descended upon us as I opened the front door for her. Outside, the early morning sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, painting the sky with hues of purple and pink.
“I will,” I promised, watching as she stepped out into the crisp morning air.
She turned back to me, her eyes serious. “Tristan,” she started, her voice barely above a whisper. “Remember what I said. Protect my daughter.”
I nodded, feeling the weight of her words like a physical blow. “I will.” It was both a promise and a vow that I intended to keep with everything I had.
With a nod, Alessia turned away and walked towards her car. Another car with one of my men was waiting to escort her back to the Orsini mansion. Her figure was swallowed by the growing light, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the quiet hum of dawn.
Closing the door behind me, I leaned against it for a moment, taking in the silent house around me. Despite the chaos that had unfolded just hours before, there was a sense of peace that seemed to linger in its wake - an odd sense of calm after the storm.
But it was a deceiving calm, the same kind that came just before lightning struck. I knew we were still in the eye of the storm, and the worst was yet to come.
I returned to the living room, my gaze immediately drawn to Adriana. She had curled up on the couch, her dark hair fanned out on the pillow, her face serene and unguarded in sleep.
Something twisted inside me as I watched her, a potent mixture of love and fear. Love for this woman who had become my everything and fear for what our families’ violent inheritance could do to us.
I moved quietly towards her, not wanting to disturb her sleep. Bending down, I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. Her eyes fluttered open, those emerald orbs blinking up at me with such trust and tenderness that I felt a sudden lump in my throat.
“Hey,” she murmured sleepily. “Is everything alright?”
“Yeah,” I breathed, my hand skimming softly over her cheek. “Everything’s fine, love.”
“My mom?”
“She went home.”
“Alright,” she said. She looked at me for a second before closing her eyes again, her hand reaching up to cover mine. A soft sigh escaped her lips and I watched as she drifted back into sleep.
Drawing away from her gently, I made my way to the window, pulling the curtains slightly aside to take a look outside. The sun had risen higher now, casting a warm glow on the world. The city was coming alive; cars began to fill the streets and people were shuffling along sidewalks, starting their new day oblivious of the storm brewing inside our house.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Our lives were so different from theirs. So filled with danger and uncertainty that I sometimes wondered what it would feel like to wake up without a sense of impending doom lurking over my shoulders.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t hear Adriana approach until she slipped her arms around my waist from behind.
She pressed a soft kiss against my back. “Coffee?” she asked.
I shook my head. “Let’s go get breakfast somewhere,” I said. “I need to speak to Kieran about what happened last night and I don’t think he loves being here right now.”
She nodded in understanding, her arms tightening around me briefly. “Alright,” she murmured before releasing me. I found myself missing her touch instantly, even though she was right there, just a few steps away. It was like some invisible force pulling me towards her, a magnetic attraction I couldn’t resist.
Dressing quickly, I watched as Adriana moved purposefully throughout the house, collecting her things. The sight of her in my shirt sent my heartbeat thundering in my chest. Despite everything happening around us, I couldn’t help but admire the way it hung loosely off her shoulders, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her neck and collarbone.
We left the house quietly, sneaking out like teenagers on their first date. We didn’t want to run into any staff as they were arriving for the day.
