AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Of course,” I reply in a neutral voice.
“Good. I will be in the room at the end of the hall.”
Before I can reply, he walks off. I just blow out a long breath and open the door.
Just like he said, my clothes are there. They are folded neatly on top of a chair in what looks to be some kind of study or reading room or something. There is also a hairbrush atop the pile.
A tired laugh escapes my throat.
We were just about to torture you to death, but hey, here’s a hairbrush to make up for it.
Shaking my head, I walk up to the pile of clothes and start getting dressed.
I do, however, understand Federico Morelli. His son, his only child and heir, was murdered in his own bed along with his wife, and he has been searching for the killers for six long years. Technically, I was a part of that assassination squad, so his anger and hatred towards me is entirely justified.
If Rico and I ever have a child of our own, I would be equally protective of…
Blinking, I draw upright halfway through buttoning my pants.
If Rico and I have a child.
Gods above, what am I thinking? He told me that he loves me, yes. But now I’m definitely getting ahead of myself.
I doubt Rico would even be allowed to marry me. After all, isn’t the heir to the most powerful mafia family in the state supposed to marry someone equally powerful? And I’m no one. An ex-cult member who doesn’t even have a last name. Why would we be allowed to marry? Let alone have a child? Federico might have let me live, but he will never accept me as a part of the family.
Gritting my teeth, I angrily finish buttoning my pants.
Because who the hell cares what Federico Morelli thinks? I told myself that I would face hell itself for a chance to have that real life with Rico. And I will. I will fucking fight for him regardless of how much his grandfather disapproves of me.
A small burst of agony flickers through me, because it would have been nice to be a part of a family. Rico is all that matters, but by all the gods in all religions, I can’t deny that my heart aches when I consider what it will be like to always feel his grandfather’s disapproval and hatred following me everywhere I go.
Shaking my head, I push the thought aside.
After dragging that brush through my hair a couple of times, I head back into the hallway.
To my surprise, there are no guards outside my room. If I wanted to, I could just walk back down to the basement where Rico is. But I told his grandfather that I would see him first, so I start towards the room at the end of the hall.
A dark wooden door, carved with subtle yet elegant shapes, awaits me there.
I raise my hand and knock.
“Come in,” Federico answers from the other side.
Pulling the door open, I walk across the threshold and into the room. It’s another study, though this one is larger. I sweep my gaze through it.
Either this isn’t his real study, or he prefers a very open space.
There is a desk, also made of dark wood, on the other side of the room, facing the door. Federico sits behind it. Bookshelves line the walls, but apart from that, there is nothing in here. It leaves a fairly large bit of floor space empty in the middle.
I move closer to the desk.
Four guards stand by the walls, watching me.
Coming to a halt a few steps from the desk, I meet Federico’s eyes. “You wanted to speak to me.”
“Yes,” he replies.
Silence falls. For a few seconds, we just watch each other. Outside the windows, the afternoon sunlight illuminates some of the other elegant buildings that make up the vast Morelli compound.
