Chapter 9 Alessio
ALESSIO
“Alessio. It’s good to see you,” Leonard said as I stepped into the palace a few nights after playing pool with Matteo and Klaus.
I inclined my head and went upstairs, noting it was quite busy. It typically was, but this night seemed like more. Not my problem, though.
The palace was meant for Dominic to run. Carmine insisted that Matteo give him something to do, so Matteo was eager to hand it over. He hated the palace. I knew it had to do with it being one of Carmine’s projects. Anything to do with Carmine, Matteo hated.
Matteo had turned the place around, though.
Carmine didn’t know that. Matteo wasn’t forcing women here as Carmine planned.
Instead, he offered them work and pay. They did what they were comfortable with.
So far, it had been working out perfectly because we punished some of the female terrors of our world.
Like Everett’s daughter, Macy. Klaus had shot her in the head after she sucked off Dominic.
Everett planned on torturing her anyway because he was sick like that, plus she had betrayed the horsemen.
She’d been feeding Everett some of Ethan Masters’s notes, which was how Everett was coming up with mutant forms of sugar. She needed to go.
I took the elevator to the top floor and went to Indigo’s room. I punched in her code at the door and stepped inside to find her reading a book on the couch.
“Hello, my sweet midnight,” I said, moving toward her.
She closed her book and stared back at me with those impossibly blue eyes, her small body visibly trembling.
“A-Alessio. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“No one ever does.” I settled next to her on the couch before I reached out and cradled her face. “How are you?”
She stared at me for a moment, her pretty red lips parted, before answering.
“I’m well.”
“Mm,” I said, my heart thrumming madly as I stared at her. She was one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen. Despite Frank being a grade-A prick, he definitely made beautiful children.
“I have missed you,” I said, watching her tremble for me.
“Are you going to hurt me?” she asked softly.
I frowned, knowing what she was referring to. The last time I’d seen her, Drake had been with me. I’d gone a little crazy getting him to break and confess to his relationship with Bianca. Indigo had been an unfortunate casualty of the situation.
I’d taken her virginity. I’d made her bleed for me.
Losing myself rarely happened, but she was gasoline on an already burning building. She had been part of the palace for over four years now. Locked away in her room like the sweet princess she was.
For her safety.
Because Matteo demanded it. Because he found her and was forced to bring her in despite my efforts to save her. Frank… oh, Frank. Finding his daughter again had brought the man to his knees. He’d begged for her to be released, but Matteo had spoken.
And so it was as it was meant to be.
So here we were.
“I am not here to harm you,” I murmured, letting my hand fall away. “I came to wish you a happy birthday.” I pulled the small gift from my jacket and handed it to her.
She stared at it for a moment before hesitantly reaching out to take it from me.
I watched as she unwrapped the box and stared down at it, which held a diamond necklace.
“Do you like it?” I asked.
She tore her eyes from the diamonds and looked at me. “Where would I wear this? From here to my bedroom? I can’t wear it downstairs at work. I-I don’t understand.”
I studied her for a moment. “You’re right. It’s a terrible gift. I’m sorry.”
She looked back at the necklace and ran her fingertips along the platinum and jewels. “I am grateful. I don’t want you to think I’m not. I just… have no purpose for this. It’s so beautiful, though. Thank you, Alessio.” She exhaled and gave me a sad smile.
I didn’t like that.
I cleared my throat. “I will get you a better gift. What do you want?”
“Anything?”
I nodded.
“Freedom,” she whispered.
I closed my eyes at her soft words. “Midnight, you know I cannot.”
“I know.” She looked back at the necklace again. “But you asked, so I thought I’d tell you.”
I nodded before I reached out and took the necklace from the box. I moved to her other side so I could fasten it around her neck. She allowed me to. My fingers skimmed her soft skin after fastening the jewelry, and she trembled at my touch.
I leaned in, my lips at her ear.
“I am sorry for hurting you,” I whispered. “I got carried away. If I could take it back, I would.” I placed a soft kiss on her bare shoulder. The oversized shirt she was wearing had fallen down, exposing her creamy skin.
She breathed out as I moved my kisses to her neck. She let her head fall to give me space.
She was a sweet little thing, so delicate and perfect.
“Let me do it the right way,” I whispered in her ear. “I will make it better. I promise.”
She let out a shaky breath before turning to face me. Immediately, I reached out to cup her pretty face.
“I’m scared.”
“Is it because of what I did?”
She nodded. “I’m not like other girls, you just fuck, Alessio. You-You took it from me. I was saving myself…” She looked away from me, her eyes misting over.
A pang shot through my chest at her words. I knew I’d fucked it up.
“Tell me how to fix it. I will,” I said, taking her hand in mine and pressing a kiss to her knuckles.
“Will you just… hold me tonight?”
“Yes,” I murmured. “If it is what you wish.”
“It is,” she said.
“Then come. We can lie in bed together, watch movies, and I will have food brought to us.”
Her eyes lit up at my words, and I breathed out, relieved she hadn’t shut me out completely. I’d been a monster to her. In fact, I was too afraid to show my face to her after what I’d done.
But it was eating at me, so there I was, hoping to smooth things over.
I led her to her bedroom, where she slid beneath the comforter, her remote in hand. I smiled at how sweet she looked.
I pulled my phone out and placed an order, knowing Frank would be irritated that he’d be my errand boy. I was beckoning him to me, but once he realized where I was, I was sure his irritation would grow to anger.
That was OK.
It was his fault Indigo was here anyway.