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“I do,” I cried, a tear streaming down my face as I looked up at him. “But it feels impossible. And even if this is real, it’s not healthy. It’s too dangerous, Alessio. Look at us! I don’t know how to not be consumed by you! Just look at what has happened to me when I thought you didn’t love me. It ruined me!”
“But I do love you, Elle. My intentions were honest. I wanted to meet with Gio and create a marriage alliance. I wanted us to be together forever. What happened was fucked up, but I had nothing to do with it. And now Dante and Belle are both dead.”
“Wait! What? Dante is dead?” My eyes widened as he licked his lips.
“I killed him. The moment I became Boss. I slit his throat like I promised I would after he dared to touch you. As soon as I found out he was behind the plan to hand you over to Galiz, there was no coming back for him-”
He stopped when he saw my frown, the doubt creeping in through my bones as I stepped to the side of him. “If you didn’t know about the deal with Galiz, how did you find out Dante was behind it?”
He sighed heavily, his handsome face morphing with stress again. “I have something else to tell you, but I need you to promise not to freak out. Try and see this for what it was,” he said carefully as I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Tell me. Just fucking tell me, Alessio.” I had no more patience left in me. I needed all his secrets, every last one. No matter how much it hurts. I couldn’t be in the dark anymore.
His sparkling eyes stared into mine as he inhaled. “Finn is a Barbieri soldier. He is also my best friend. He works for me, Elle.”
My breathing became erratic as I stared back at him with a confused frown. “What are you talking about? Finn is my bodyguard! He has been for the last nine years! He is a Buccini soldier! He works for my brother!”
“Technically, yes. He does. But I sent him here. Nine years ago. To become your bodyguard and keep you safe. He is how I know about what Isabelle said to you. He is the reason I am here right now.”
I started shaking my head in complete denial, “No. This isn’t true. Why are you saying this? This doesn’t make any sense. Are you saying Finn, my best friend and the man who has risked his life for me countless times, is a spy?”
“No,” he shook his head. “He is not a spy. That was never the intention. For two years after the night we met, I drove myself mad worrying about you. About what kind of life you were living as a mafia princess. About whether you would be forced to marry for an alliance. So when they were hiring for your bodyguard, I sent Finn in. He never gave me any information about your family or your brother’s business. I didn’t care about that.”
“But he was reporting back to you about me?” I shouted, my blood boiling as Alessio tried to step forward to calm me. I slapped his hand away and moved away from him. “So, all this time, my best friend has been telling you everything about my life? Who does that, Alessio? Who is that messed up to take away someone’s privacy like that?”
“No, Elle, that’s not how it was. I spoke to Finn maybe once a month. He only ever told me if you were safe and happy. Sometimes, he would tell me if there were men sniffing around you, but that was it. Nothing more. I just wanted to protect you, Elle. And I get how it looks twisted and obsessive. But I am not pretending to be something I’m not here. I did what I did to keep you safe and I’m not sorry for that.”
I scoffed loudly, looking at him in utter disbelief. “You’re not sorry? I trusted Finn! He is my best friend! I confided in him over the years about so much shit with my papi’s death, my mamma’s illness, Gio’s overprotectiveness and about my love life! And all the while, he whispers it all to you? How does that keep me safe, Alessio? That is the worst kind of betrayal!”
“Elle, he never told me about any of that. He never told me anything personal about you. I didn’t want to know. I had to try and keep my distance because I knew I would spiral if I didn’t. I just wanted to know you were safe. That’s all.”
“That’s all?” I laughed maniacally, running my hands through my hair. “Finn has been lying to me and my whole family for nine years, Alessio! Do you know what would have happened to him if Gio found out?”
“Yes. But I wouldn’t have let that happen. We had plans in place if he thought he was at risk,” Alessio sighed, trying to reach for my hand. “Finn loves you, Elle. He is the only one right now who has our backs in this. He wants us to be happy. He cares about you.”
“Right. How am I supposed to believe a word of this? How am I supposed to ever trust you again?!” I stormed towards the door and hammered on it as Alessio dropped his head in his hands. The door opened and Finn slid in, shutting it behind him. His face was pale and his eyes dilated, so I knew he had heard some of what had been shouted through the door.
“Elle, I am so sorry. You have no idea how many times I have wanted to come clean to you, but Alessio is telling the truth. This was always about your safety.”
I reached my hand up and slapped his face hard. My chest was heaving up and down as I glared into his pained eyes when he turned back to look at me. “I trusted you. I loved you. Both of you. And you have both taken that from me.”
I turned to look at Alessio, my gaze hard and determined. “I am going to marry Enzo in two days and there is nothing you can do to stop me. This is my choice.”
“Elle,” Alessio growled, stepping towards me. But I held up my hand.
“No. It’s too much!”
“Elle, you can’t marry Enzo. Please,” Finn grabbed my arm. “He doesn’t love you and he never will. He can’t make you happy, Elle.”
“Why? Why the hell not? He has never lied to me, kept a million life-ruining secrets from me or stabbed me in the back like you two have!”
“Elle, I know you’re angry right now, but I promise I am going to fix all of this. I am going to find a way for us to be together and make this work,” Alessio said as I spun in my heels to face him again.
“Alessio, just stop! You can’t fix everything! Too much damage has been done and Lorenzo wants me dead, Galiz wants me for God knows what and the whole of the South knows I killed your sister! And now this… Finn is a Barbieri soldier? You told me you would never leave me, but I am asking you right now, leave me alone. Both of you!”
“Elle, please don’t do this. You can’t marry Enzo. Just call off the wedding. Alessio will find another way to protect you from Galiz and Lorenzo. He has a plan!” Finn shouted.
“Oh, and I am so supposed to be grateful?” I snapped, glaring between the both of them. “I never asked for your protection, not nine years ago and certainly not now! I don’t need it. I have my own plan,” I roared, storming towards the door. I felt a hand wrap around my waist and spin me until I slammed up against the hard wall. Alessio’s body caged me in as I shoved at his chest.
