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As I raced down the alleyway, a few streets away from Giovanni’s club, I found Alessio’s rented grey Bugatti Chiron parked out the back of a restaurant looking completely out of place. Sweat was dripping down my forehead as I opened the door and threw myself in the driver’s seat to start up the engine. Fuck, that really just happened. Nine fucking years of my life… over. Just like that. I was no longer a Buccini soldier, not that I ever really was in the first place, but it still took a moment to digest. The complex emotions that were brewing inside me were too much to process right now. On the one hand, I was happy it was finally out. That Elle knew the truth about everything and that I was back where I belonged, working under Alessio. But I couldn’t ignore the pain of what I was leaving behind. Elle. Enzo. The Buccinis. The fellow soldiers I had become friends with. A whole life I had lived for the last nine years. And now what?
I zoomed down the narrow, cobbled streets as if I was training for Formula One until I saw Alessio running down the road with his hat on and hood up. Relief flooded through me that he hadn’t forced Elle to come with him. She needed space right now, from us both, and kidnapping her again would be the last straw for Giovanni. Skidding to the pavement, I barely stopped as he flung the door open and climbed in. I hit the accelerator again to get us the fuck out of Verona. That was possibly the riskiest shit we’ve ever done. But he had to see her. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. And who was I to get in the way of love?
He pulled down his hood and threw his hat over his shoulder as he ran his hand over his short hair, panting heavily. I kept my eyes glued on the road and the wing mirrors to check we weren’t being followed.
“She took that better than I thought,” he breathed, turning to look at me after a few moments of silence.
My eyes bulged on his statement, “You are fucking kidding me, right? You think she took that well? She’s fucking furious and feels betrayed, Alessio!”
He nodded, “Yes, which we knew she would be. There was no stopping that, but she will forgive us, Finn. When she calms down and realises we both did it out of love and care for her. I just mean at least she didn’t shoot me again or give us away to Giovanni. That’s a good sign, Finn. She’s still in this, I know she is.”
I moved my gaze from the road to catch a glimpse of his cheeky smile and sparkling eyes as he grinned at me. “You are fucking nuts. Only you could think that went well! And see her not trying to kill us or giving us up as a win! And what do you mean ‘shoot you again?’”
“Hey, I’ve got to take every little win as it comes right now. It’s all I have,” he shrugged. “She shot me in the leg after I kissed her in Sicily.”
I couldn’t help the broad smile that appeared on my face as I fought back the laughter, “Good for her. No doubt you deserved it. Just like I deserved that slap. That girl has fire.”
“Did I ever tell you she slapped me when she was fourteen?” He smiled at the memory, folding his arms across his chest and resting his head back in the seat.
“No, why?” I chuckled, shaking my head.
“I kissed her. It was her first kiss. I lied and told her it was nothing special. So, she slapped me. I think that was the moment I fell in love with her,” he smiled, his gaze checking the wing mirror.
“There seems to be a trend here. Clearly, she doesn’t like you kissing her,” I teased as he chuckled, shaking his head.
“She fucking loves it. That’s why it drives her mad.”
“So, that’s why you sent me here to be her bodyguard? You’ve been in love with her this whole time?” I asked carefully, keeping my eyes on the road to take the pressure off him. Alessio was never one to speak about his emotions and deep shit. I have tried over the years, many times. Especially when I saw him spiralling as a teenager. When he felt out of control, that’s when things would get really bad. But he always locked it all away. Never opened up to anyone. Now I know why, but I felt like we’d turned a corner in the last few days. Like he is finally finding peace within himself to trust others and deal with his feelings. And I had no doubt that it was thanks to Elle.
“Yes. Though I didn’t understand it at the time. I just felt this responsibility for her. To care for her and make sure she was happy. I didn’t know why or what was happening to me and not knowing anything about her was driving me insane. So, I sent you in.”
I nodded, understanding him completely. Control. He had to know she was safe and he never would have unless he had an inside man.
“I am surprised you never asked me why I sent you before?” he turned to face me curiously.
I shrugged my shoulders. “It wasn’t my place to ask. Rule number two in soldier training… never ask questions.”
He chuckled, shaking his head as a comfortable silence fell between us again. Taking me by surprise, he said with so much heartfelt emotion, “Thank you, Finn. For all of it. I know it hasn’t been easy on you.”
“You don’t need to thank me, Alessio. You saved my life and for that I will never be able to repay you. But a huge fucking bonus this year would be nice,” I joked, lightening the mood as he broke into a wide smile.
“How about a promotion instead?”
“What do you mean?” I chuckled nervously, frowning in confusion at the same time.
“If I am really going to pull this shit off, become King of Italy, I need men around me that I implicitly trust. That I know would die for me and I for them. Fabi is my underboss and will take over running the South while I focus on uniting the North. But I’m in need of a right-hand man. I need a consigliere. And I think you’d be fucking perfect for it.”
My heart flipped and my head whipped around to stare at him in shock. Consigliere? But that was the second most respected and important role after Boss! He had to be joking.
“Finn! Eyes on the road! Cristo!” he shouted as I quickly swerved from hitting an oncoming car. I slammed on the brakes, halting us at the side of the road as Alessio roared with laughter at the expression on my face.
“I know I said I‘d die for you, but I didn’t mean right now!” he bantered as I continued to stare at him as if he had lost his mind.
“You are fucking with me, right? Consigliere of the Barbieri clan? It’s a joke.”
“No. I’m being deadly serious for once,” he smirked as I started shaking my head.
“But I’ve got no fucking experience! I don’t know the first thing about being a Consigliere! I am fucking soldier, Alessio.”
