AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you.”
I leaned over to grab a bottle of water but overstretched. “Fuck,” I hissed, cradling my shoulder. “I could really use some pain pills.”
“Did you check the first aid kit?”
“Yeah, nothing. It’s fine. I’ll be okay.”
“What about a sling? Maybe I can—”
“Principessa, I said I’ll be fine.” Moving to the bed, I dropped down and uncapped a bottle of water, taking a sip. “Here.”
She took it from me, our fingers brushing, sending a shudder through me.
“You should lie down, get some rest.”
“I’m not sure I can sleep.”
Alessia scooched back into the middle of the bed and tucked her hand underneath her head. “I’m glad you’re here, Tristan.”
“Me too.” I swallowed thickly. Because the idea of not being here… I couldn’t deal with that.
I reached her, pushing the stray hairs from her face. “We’ll make it out of this, I promise.”
Eyes closed, she nodded. “Talk to me so I know you’re here.”
“What do you want me to talk about?”
“Anything. Tell me about your childhood. About what it was like growing up with the Capizola.”
So I did.
I told her about my time spent on the Capizola estate, playing with Arianne and Nora and her brother Gio. I told her about the mischief we caused, the trouble me and Gio got into. The summers were spent exploring the far perimeters of the land. The stream and woods. I told her how I grew up wanting nothing more than to one day help Arianne run the Capizola empire.
I told her everything.
And when I finally stopped, finally came back from the memories, I realized she was fast asleep.
* * *
“Hey.”
I bolted upright at the sound of Alessia’s voice.
After she’d fallen asleep, I’d kicked up my legs and stretched out of the bed beside her, the gun in my hand, my other draped over her shoulder, stroking up and down her arm.
I didn’t know how much time had passed but I needed to piss and find us something to eat.
I was fucking starving.
“Hey,” I pulled my arm away, wincing at the movement. But I swallowed down the pain, masking it. The last thing I wanted was for Alessia to worry any more than she already was.
Sitting up, she smoothed a hand down her hair. “I must look like such a mess.”
“You’re beautiful, Principessa. Always.” I brushed her cheek with my thumb, letting it linger at the corner of her mouth.
“Tristan,” she asked quietly, hesitating. “Why do you keep calling me that?”
“I… it’s just a silly nickname, Sia.”
