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“What reasons? You say that like you know more than you're telling me but how can I just trust that he has a good reason for the way he's acting? This is my life we're talking about. I need real answers, not hints at possibilities without any proof or explanation.”
The sound of Alessandro clearing his throat made me jump. He looked down at me with a fire in his eyes that made me feel as though I was going to burn up from the inside out. His eyes could have bore holes in me with the way he was focusing. Then I noticed that it wasn't me his eyes were looking at but Luca's arm around me.
Luca moved his arms slowly, casually without any guilt. “Your girl is a bit shaken up. I think maybe you should take her home for the night.”
“I think you might be right,” Alessandro said in a gruff tone.
“What did Teo say about our visitor tonight?”
“He said that we need to be on our guard. This was a threat even if we don't know exactly what the threat is. They're up to something. And we need to take them out sooner rather than later.”
“Agreed. Just let me know when and where and I've got your back.”
Alessandro looked down at me and his eyes softened. He brushed a strand of my hair from my face and cupped my cheek gently. The warmth of his hand soothed me, and I couldn't help but lean into his touch, breathing out a sigh of relief.
"Ready to go home?"
I nodded.
Alessandro held his hand out for me, and I took it, letting him gently lead me out of the club. We drove home in comfortable silence. Alessandro reached over and gently took my hand in his, infusing me with his warmth.
He didn't let go until he climbed out of the car to open my door. He was quiet but comforting, like he didn't want to overwhelm my senses.
“Your trembling and your hands are freezing. I'm going to run you a bath so that you can relax.”
“You don't have to do that. I can run my own bath.”
“Just because you can, doesn't mean you have to. Please, let me do this for you?”
I nodded and followed him to the bathroom which was more impressive than I had imagined with its large soaking tub and classic Italian tiles.
After a few minutes, the fragrant scent of Jasmine wafted up from the steaming bath and Alessandro left me to bathe on my own, which I was relieved of. I wasn't sure how far he would take things with the new dynamic. I sunk into the warmth of the tub and let it ease my tense muscles. I breathed in the floral scent and blew out my stress, closing my eyes and leaning back against the tub as the warmth surrounded me.
After a while I was roused by a quiet knocking. The water was cool, and I wasn't sure how long I had been in there. “Yes?”
“You've been in there for quite a while. Are you okay?”
“Yes. I dozed off but I'm getting out now.”
“Okay. There's a robe on the back of the door that you can use, and I took the liberty of laying out some pajamas for you. I'll be in the kitchen when you're dressed.”
I climbed out of the bath, dried off, and wrapped the fuzzy robe around myself until I had a chance to change in my room. Alessandro had picked out comfortable cotton sleep pants and a matching V-neck t-shirt.
When I walked into the kitchen, Alessandro's back was to me, and he turned around with two bowls in his hands.
"Ice cream," he said sheepishly as he brought it over to the small round table for two that sat in the corner of the kitchen. "And wine," He added, inclining his head toward the table. "I thought you could use it. We can sit here or in the living room if you want to watch TV."
I smiled in spite of myself because even after everything he'd done, Alessandro somehow still managed to surprise me with his thoughtfulness.
Chapter 24
Sienna
I stood in the surgical suite at Armando’s clinic, restocking some of the basic supplies and medications while he was with the last patient for the evening. I’d spent most of the day taking care of patients, loving the feeling of being helpful. It always put me in a better mood afterward.
It was quiet and the time alone allowed me to let my mind wander.
My situation with Alessandro was messing with my head. One minute he was cold and harsh, ordering me to my knees and the next he was pampering me with a bath, ice cream and wine.
