by Lylah James
“You. I’m going to eat you.” I nipped on the skin at her collarbone and heard her moan.
“Food,” she gasped.
What the fuck? Why was she talking about food at a moment like this?
Ayla’s fingers wrapped around my hair and she pulled my head away. “What’s your favorite food? Like dessert?”
“Why?” I asked, completely confused at the sudden turn of events.
She shrugged. “I want to take care of you. Cook your favorite food and all. You do so much for me, Alessio, yet I give so little in return.”
Her smile was lost, her happiness replaced with sadness.
I placed a kiss on her lips before answering. “You already do take care of me, Angel. You do more than you think.”
“But…” she started to argue.
“No.” I cut her off.
“I still want to, though. What’s your favorite cake?” she asked again. Over the last few weeks, I had also found out that Ayla was very stubborn. There was no point arguing because she always won in the end. Although only because I let her win.
“Chocolate,” I answered. Actually, I didn’t care. I didn’t eat cake, but if she wanted to bake for me…if this brought back her sweet smile, then I wasn’t going to stop her.
And there it was. Her sweet breathtaking smile.
“Okay!” she announced excitedly. Her legs unwrapped around me, and she pushed at my chest. I didn’t have a choice but to let her go.
Ayla leaned up on her toes and gave me a kiss. “I’m going to make the best chocolate cake for you.”
Before I could say anything else, she was already running out of the room.
Shaking my head, I couldn’t help but chuckle. I walked out behind her, but not before catching a glimpse of the piano in the corner of the room. I made sure to have one in before we arrived.
The piano was a part of us. I knew how much it meant to Ayla. Even though we weren’t at the estate, she was still going to play for us.
I walked into the kitchen to see Ayla talking animatedly on the phone as she placed the ingredients on the counter. “I have everything. Maddie, stop it. It’s not funny.”
She listened to Maddie talk for a second and then growled in frustration. “I’ll get it right this time. I’m going to make the best cake…you’re so mean.”
I didn’t know how long I stood there and watched Ayla talk while she tried to bake. I listened and watched and smiled.
And then her angelic voice snapped me out of the moment. “Alessio, can you taste it for me?”
Ayla showed me the spoon filled with chocolate batter. She dipped her finger in it and waved at me. Walking closer, I took her hand in mine and sucked on the finger. I heard Ayla gasp, and then she licked her lips.
“Hmm…sweet,” I mumbled, licking her finger clean. “Like you.”
“Umm…okay,” she replied in a daze.
“Oh hi, Alessio!” I heard Maddie’s voice from the speaker. Fucking cockblocker.
“Hi,” I mumbled, glaring at the stupid phone.
Ayla let out a small laugh before turning around again. I stepped up to her back and wrapped my arm around her waist, holding her to me as she continued baking.
Ayla looked over her shoulder, her green eyes meeting mine as they twinkled merrily.
I was right. She was too precious.
Chapter 26
Ayla
“Where are we going?” I asked for probably the tenth time as Alessio and I got into the car.
“Somewhere,” he muttered in reply.
“That’s not an answer.” I glared at him, but he just smirked, giving me that devilishly sexy look that I couldn’t resist.
“It’s a surprise, kitten. Retract your claws.”
“But I want to know.”
“It’s a surprise, woman. Give the lovesick puppy a break, baby girl,” Viktor said from the front. Phoenix let out a laugh.
I had to stop my own giggle from escaping when Alessio gave him a death glare.
“Fuck you,” Alessio snapped. “Drive.”
“Oh, he is snappy this morning. Did he not get some loving last night?”
Viktor really had a death wish.
“I will shoot you. Don’t test me,” Alessio warned in a deathly tone.
“Give Boss a break. If he shoots you, I will have to clean up the mess afterward,” Phoenix mumbled.
“Whatever. I’m only stopping for my baby girl. We don’t want to taint her innocent eyes.” Viktor winked at me through the rear-view mirror.
I saw Alessio’s hands tighten in fists, and I quickly placed my hands over his. Releasing my seat belt, I moved forward until I was sitting sideways on his lap.
With my lips next to his ear, I whispered my next words so only he could hear. “You have nothing to be jealous of, Alessio. I’m yours. Wholeheartedly. You have me. Mind, body, and soul. Nothing and no one is ever going to change that.”
His body instantly relaxed. “You always know when to say the right thing,” he mumbled back.
“It’s the truth, Alessio.”
“I know, Angel.” He placed a kiss on my forehead, and I laid my head on his shoulder. We stayed like that until the car came to a full stop.
“We’re here,” Alessio announced. “Close your eyes.”
I did as I was told, trusting him. The door opened, and then I was being pulled out. I was swept off my feet as Alessio held me to his chest.
“Can I open my eyes now?” I asked, feeling suddenly giddy, my heart jumping in excitement.
“No. I’ll tell you when,” he replied gruffly.
We walked for a few minutes, and then Alessio placed me down until I was standing next to him again. “Last night, you said you were going to miss the creek. Open your eyes, Angel.”
I did, and then my heart stuttered. Oh my God.
The beauty in front of me took my breath away. A field full with flowers. So many of them and all different colors.
“It’s not the creek. But close.”
“This is beautiful,” I breathed in complete astonishment. “I have no words, Alessio.”
Tears stung my eyes as I stared at the landscape in front of me. I was standing in the middle of a field, where thousands of colorful flowers bloomed.
The light breeze touched my face, and I smiled. So peaceful.
Turning around, I faced Alessio and ran into his arms, hugging him as tightly as I could. I covered his face with kisses before pulling away and laughed happily.
“Thank you for this. I love—” you. My lips snapped shut before I could utter the last word. The words were always on my lips, begging to be released.
But I still couldn’t bring myself to tell Alessio how I truly felt. Something in my heart was stopping me. Every time I wanted to tell him, my chest would feel tight and my heart would ache. So those three words stayed unsaid.
Swallowing nervously as Alessio stared at me, almost in anticipation, I mustered up the best smile I could.
“I love it,” I said instead.
He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into his body again. We stared into each other’s eyes when he spoke. “I know, Angel. I know. I love it too.”
There it was. His affirmation. We didn’t need the words between us. It was there without it even being said. From our actions and through our eyes. I knew how he felt, and he knew where my heart belonged. That was enough for us.
He didn’t smile, but his soft eyes said it all. Oh, how I loved him. He was everything I needed and wanted. He was perfect…for me.
But I wasn’t…for him.
At the thought, my chest grew tight.
I couldn’t lie anymore.
This had gone on for too long, and I couldn’t betray him anymore. Every single day, I had to live with the knowledge that I was betraying the man I love. Not only him, but my newfound family.
Every single night, I prayed that I could find the courage to tell him, while every single day, I tortured myself with the kn
owledge that I was weak and a traitor. To him and his heart. I was a traitor to us. To our love.
I hurt…my heart and my soul. I felt empty. I was hollow inside.
I had to tell him the truth.
Even if it meant my death. I was ready to take any punishment Alessio had to give me. I would bear his wrath and let him take his revenge, but I was not going to lie any longer.
I saw Alessio frowning and I knew why. I had lost my smile. I palmed his cheek and said softly, “Can we go back to the beach house?”
I couldn’t tell him here. Not in the place filled with serenity. I wasn’t going to taint it with our harsh reality.
“I have to tell you something.”
Alessio’s face grew worried. “Ayla, what’s wrong?”
“Please, Alessio,” I murmured. I could even hear the defeat in my words. My bottom lip quivered as I tried to keep my tears at bay, and my stomach tightened in knots.
“It’s something important. But I don’t want to say it here,” I finally managed to get out through my labored breathing.
Don’t have a panic attack. Not now, Ayla. You have to do this.
Alessio’s gaze moved over my face, and as he saw the distress there, his body went tight in panic and fear flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly gone.
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to his chest. “Whatever it is, it’s going to be okay,” he whispered shakily.
I slightly stepped out of his embrace so I could see his face. My fingers traced his lips and nose until they laid softly on his cheeks. “My feelings for you are real, Alessio. Whatever is between us is real. Please don’t forget that.”
Alessio swallowed hard, his arms clenching around me. He looked confused, worried, but he still nodded.
Pressing against his body, I brushed my lips against his. “You are my everything, Alessio. The reason why I’m still alive. The reason why I smile every day.”
“Ayla, why…” he started to ask but I cut him off with a bruising kiss. He growled and returned my kiss just as fiercely, possessively taking over.
“When I tell you my truth, please remember those words,” I whispered.
Alessio didn’t say anything, but he kissed me again. He kissed me until we were both gasping for breath. And I kissed him in return, as if it was my last kiss. Maybe it was. And I wanted to remember this.
We walked back to the car hand in hand, and the ride was wrapped with silence. No one said a word. My head was laid on Alessio’s shoulder as he played with my hair. The silence between us was always filled with peace. We loved the silence, and maybe this was the last time I would get to experience this.
My eyes filled with tears, and I quickly blinked them away.
I can’t—shouldn’t cry.
After all, for once I was about to do the right thing. Something I should have done way before, but now I was ready. After getting the little piece of happiness and being loved wholeheartedly by Alessio, I was ready to face whatever I had to.
My heart ached at the thought of breaking him, breaking us.
Alessio had given me everything. He gave me himself, a part of him that nobody else knew but me. He loved me, even though the words were never uttered.
He gave me peace and happiness. He was my happiness.
And now…I was about to take away his happiness.
I could take the pain, anything he would unleash on me, but I couldn’t watch Alessio in pain, knowing that I would be the cause of it. It would kill me…slowly and painfully.
But even when I was preparing to face his wrath, I still had hope. Maybe—just maybe, Alessio would forgive me. Maybe he would understand why I did it, why I lied to him.
Maybe he would still accept me as his Angel. Maybe we would live happily ever after. They were childish thoughts.
But I still hoped that his love was stronger than his anger and need for revenge.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when the car stopped. I dreaded this moment, but it was here and now I had to face it.
“Fuck,” Viktor swore loudly at the front and punched the steering wheel.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” Phoenix growled.
Alessio froze beside me, his body locking tight, his tensed muscles bunching underneath my head. I stilled too, my heart jumping in my throat.
I saw Alessio’s hands tighten in fists on his thighs, and the air around us grew cold. When he moved, I lifted my head from his shoulders. I suddenly felt nausea, and the dizziness took over. My vision swam in front of me like waves as my throat closed.
Alessio stared straight ahead, his lips thinned into a straight line. He had lost the soft look in his eyes. Now, he just looked like a cold-blooded killer. Emotionless, vicious, and murderous.
“Alessio,” I breathed, my heart stuttering as I watched Alessio change from a loving man to the monster he was known as, right in front of my eyes.
Viktor got out of the car first, and then Phoenix. I saw their hands going to the back of their waistbands, right over their guns. Alessio grabbed my arm, almost too roughly, and I winced as he pulled me out of the car.
I was hidden behind his large back, Alessio covering my body with his own as Viktor, Phoenix, and Artur came to stand beside us, forming a circle, while I stood in the middle.
Having four large muscled men standing around me, their stance protective, I couldn’t see anything from where I was standing. I didn’t understand what they were protecting me from.
My throat was suddenly dry, and I quivered in fear. The air around us was tense and cold…so cold. I could sense the hatred and anger rolling off the men protecting me like waves.
Viktor drew closer to my side, and I saw his jaw ticked, his face just as emotionless and cold as Alessio’s.
“What are you doing here? On my property?” Alessio growled low, his back tensed, his voice filled with anger.
“I’m just here to take back what’s mine, what belongs to me.”
Chapter 27
I froze, my whole body going numb.
That voice. The same voice that haunted not just my sleep every night—but my whole life.
That voice broke me—until I thought I was beyond repair.
That voice belonged to the devil.
Alberto, my mind screamed. No. No. No. Please no. Not now.
I wanted to cry and scream at this unfairness. I wanted to fall down and crumble into dust until I had nothing left. That way Alberto wouldn’t get to me.
My head ran wild until I could feel myself almost fainting. Breathe. Breathe, Ayla.
I sucked in a harsh breath and took a step forward, peeking past Alessio’s shoulders. I was still hidden behind him; only the top of my head was visible as I looked at the man in front of me.
He caught my eyes and smiled. I once thought he was handsome and charming. I was even slightly enamored by him when we first met. When I finally found his real truth, I realized that it was all just a pretty face, but his heart was black. He didn’t know how to love.
He was the true definition of evil.
And that smile on his face, some women would fall for it. But I knew that smile. It was sadistic and filled with the promise of pain.
“Love, it’s time for you to come home now,” Alberto said, looking at me as he placed his hand out as if he expected me to take it.
I shuddered and hid behind Alessio, my hand going to his back, my fingers clenching around his jacket as I held on for dear life.
This couldn’t be happening. I was supposed to be safe.
My breathing came out in hard pants as my chest grew tighter. I was losing it—losing myself again.
Alessio. Oh no. No. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. He wasn’t supposed to find out my truth this way.
Everyone froze around me. Viktor, Phoenix, Artur, and Alessio. Silence. Utter silence. Viktor glanced down at me, his eyebrows furrowed. When he saw me cowering behind Alessio’s back, he took a step toward me, protecting me.
Phoenix an
d Artur looked confused while Alessio stayed frozen. His muscles were tensed underneath my fingers, and I wished I could look into those eyes so he could see my real truth. That I loved him and never wished to betray him.
The air went from cold to deadly. It smelled like death even though nobody had died yet. It chilled me to the bones, and I shivered, fear slithering its way into my spine. My knees buckled, but I held on to Alessio, refusing to fall.
Nobody had died yet.
But there would only be one end. Bloodshed. War. We were all going to bathe in blood until one family would be left standing.
And in that moment, I wasn’t sure which one.
The Ivanshovs or the Abandonatos.
“Take your fucking eyes off her,” Alessio snapped. “And get the fuck off my property. You do not want to start war.”
“I’m not here to wage war. As soon as I get what I’m here for, I will leave. This does not have to end in bloodshed, Alessio. Give me what I want and I’ll leave without any disturbance,” Alberto said calmly, as if he was discussing a business deal.
And that was when it happened.
Guns were drawn, and I was pushed behind. Viktor, Phoenix, and Artur pointed their guns at Alberto and his men. “Get out,” Viktor growled. “Or I’m going to have your fucking brain splattered on the ground.”
I trembled at the threat like it was said to me. This was going to end badly, and through it all, I was going to leave Alessio broken.
I couldn’t leave him. I was his Angel. He needed me.
From my place behind their backs, I saw Alberto raise his hands up and let out a low chuckle. “Do you see my men pointing guns at you? No. As I said, I’m just here to take back Ayla—my soon-to-be wife. She comes with me, and no blood needs to be spilled.”
No! I wanted to scream, but my voice was gone. I was paralyzed with fear. So much pain and fear. My heart was cracking under the pressure.
“Your what?” Viktor sputtered as he blinked down at me.
Alessio still hadn’t said anything. He was quiet—so quiet. Why wasn’t he saying anything? Why wasn’t he yelling?
Say something, Alessio. Please. Say something.
“Oh, I see she hasn’t told you yet. What a shame,” Alberto tsked. “Well, let me indulge you then. The woman you are protecting behind you right now is Ayla Abandonato. The late Alfredo’s daughter and only child. And also, my very soon-to-be wife. The Italian’s queen. Your enemy.”