Alessia
Antonio’s offering me freedom, but why? There’s no way he’d give me any sort of independence without wanting something in return. I know better than to trust that easily. Still, I’m not stupid. I’ll take what I can get while I figure out his angle.
But first, I need answers.
I watch him as he loads the dishwasher, my mind racing. “Why are you watching my father’s house?” I ask, keeping my voice steady.
Antonio’s shoulders sag slightly, and for a moment, I expect him to lash out or avoid the question. But he doesn’t. He takes his time drying his hands, then turns to face me, leaning against the counter. “Draco’s the reason I went to find you,” he starts carefully, each word measured. “He was trying to reach you, but you weren’t answering his calls or texts. He said he was worried about your safety.”
A bitter laugh escapes before I can stop it. “That would be a first.” My father has never cared about my well-being. His concern has always been about control.
Antonio’s expression hardens, but he presses on. “He was also concerned about the alliance between our families after Valentino’s death.”
I narrow my eyes, the pieces falling into place. “That’s why you married me?” My fists clench at my sides.
“Yes,” he confesses, meeting my glare head-on. “But there’s more.” He pauses, choosing his words carefully. “Last night, after you went to bed, Draco called again.”
Rising to my feet, I begin to pace as I wait for him to continue.
“He knew where you were the whole time, . He had you followed, and he used me to bring you back.” His voice drops, but I catch a flash of something on his face—fear, maybe, though he tries to hide it. “And then he told me he’s promised you to someone else.”
My heart stumbles, and I freeze, the blood draining from my face. The words hang in the air like a death sentence. My father’s always been ruthless, but hearing Antonio confirm that he was planning to hand me over to someone else is too much, even for him.
“When Draco found out we were married, he lost it,” Antonio continues, his gaze never leaving mine. “He threatened to take you by force.”
Nausea twists in my stomach, mixing with deep-seated fear. I swallow hard, trying to find my voice. “So, what happens now?”
“It changes nothing about what I promised you,” Antonio says, his tone unwavering. “You’re still free to live your life, .”
“That’s incredibly generous of you,” I snap, my anger flaring up again. “You say I’m free, but you’re still forcing me to stay married to you? You won’t let me go?”
“No, I’ll never let you go,” he says without hesitation. His eyes lock onto mine, filled with a determination that makes my heart pound for reasons I don’t fully understand. “But I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe and to make sure you’re happy.”
“Happy?” I scoff, shaking my head in disbelief. “I’ll never be happy as long as you’re forcing me to stay here.”
He flinches, just barely, but I catch it. And for a split second, I think I see pain in his eyes, but he quickly hides it behind that wall of control. “Maybe not,” he concedes quietly. “But I’ll make damn sure you’re safe. Draco won’t touch you. I won’t allow anyone to harm you.”
The air feels too thick, the room suddenly too small. Fear creeps in at the edges of my mind—fear of my father, of what he might do, and the fear of being trapped in this marriage forever. Antonio’s words echo in my head, I’ll never let you go .
“Why should I trust you? You left me. You said I wasn’t worth fighting for.”
“There’s no reason you should,” Antonio replies lifting his hand and tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my cheek. “But I’ll do whatever it takes to earn it back. This time, you have my word—and I’ll prove it, every single day, as long as it takes.”
I want to scream and push him away, to accuse him of being no different than my father or Valentino.
But I can’t.
His voice carries so much sincerity that it rattles me. My mind scrambles for a reason to dismiss his words. A reason to not believe him.
“You say that now. But what happens when you decide I’m just another pawn in your game? What happens when you realize I’m not worth the trouble?”
His expression softens, his gaze deepening with something almost tender. “You’re not a pawn, tesoro . You never were.”
Tesoro. The word hangs between us, unfamiliar and unexpected, a term of endearment he’s never used before. It catches me off guard, and I hate the way hope blooms in my chest, unbidden and unwelcome.
“Then what am I, Antonio?” I snap, stepping back to create distance between us. “A prize? A responsibility? Something to conquer?”
“You’re my wife,” he says, his voice quiet but firm. “I’ll say it again. I’ll say it as many times as I need to until you believe me. I won’t let anyone hurt you. Not even me.”
Not even me. His words reach into a place I’d locked away long ago, stirring feelings I thought I’d buried.
“You don’t get it, do you?” I whisper, more to myself than to him. “It’s not just about my father, or Valentino. It’s about you, Antonio. I don’t know how to trust you.”
He steps closer, and I instinctively tense but he stops just short of touching me again. “I know you don’t trust me. I haven’t earned that yet. I’m asking you to give me a chance. Just one chance to prove I’m not like them.”
“And what if you betray me?” My voice wavers. “What if I let my guard down, and you hurt me like they did?”
“If I betray your trust, if you’re hurt because of me, then, I’ll let you go,” he says, his voice filled with conviction. “But I promise you, , I’m not here to win you over with empty words. I’ll earn your trust, one damn day at a time.”
His promise weaves its way through my defenses, no matter how much I fight it. I want to tell him I’ll never believe him, never trust him. But the truth is, a small part of me already does—and that terrifies me more than anything.
Behind the hardened man standing in front of me, I catch glimpses of the boy I once loved—the boy who made me feel safe, who felt like home. But if I were to believe him, to open my heart to him, and he hurt me again… I don’t know if I’d survive it. Some breaks can’t be mended, and I’m not sure the pieces of me could ever be put back together.
“I can’t,” I whisper.
He nods, as though he expected that answer. “I understand. I don’t expect it to happen today or tomorrow. That won’t stop me from working to earn your trust. And when you’re ready, I’ll be here.”
“Don't make promises you can't keep," I warn, my voice sharp as I rebuild the walls around my heart, shutting down the part of me that almost dared to hope.
“I never do,” he replies, then turns and walks away.
The room feels empty without him. I sink into the chair, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. My gaze falls on the ring on my finger, a reminder of Domenica and Giovanni’s love. I hate that it makes me think about what could be—what might have been if things were different.
But more than that, I hate myself for even wanting to believe Antonio’s telling the truth. Because if I do, I’m terrified I’ll fall for him all over again—and this time, it will consume me completely.
Loving him would be like surrendering to the darkness, letting it wrap around me until I can’t tell where I end, and he begins.
If I lost him—that’s something I wouldn’t survive.