Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty Four

Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty Four
Alexander

The private jet hummed beneath my feet, but it couldn’t compete with the quiet storm inside my chest.

I sat by the window, my fingers trembling just slightly as I traced the edge of the glass. Below us, the patchwork of land and water blurred by, but I barely saw it. All I could think about was what had just happened. What we had done.

What I had done.

I turned slightly to look at Leonardo across from me—legs spread, hands behind his head, sunglasses on like he hadn’t just helped me upend a kingdom. A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth like he could read my thoughts.

“Breathe, Charming,” he said, not opening his eyes. “You did it. We did it.”

I exhaled slowly.

For the first time in my life, I’d said it—without fear, without apology. I had looked my people in the eye and told the truth. And they had cheered.

Even now, I still couldn’t believe it.

I felt Karl shift in the seat beside me. Quiet, alert, watching like always. He hadn’t said much since we boarded, but I knew. I knew. His loyalty was burning stronger than ever.

As the plane began its descent, my heart kicked harder.

Italy.

I was flying into Leonardo’s world now.

When we touched down, the moment the door opened, sunlight hit me full in the face. Warm. Blinding. Freeing.

I stepped out slowly, breath catching in my throat.

There were people.
Hundreds. No—thousands.

Crowds lined the secure area. Behind the barriers. On balconies. Flags in every hand. Rainbow. Swedish. Italian. Homemade signs with messages that pierced through me like arrows made of light.

"Welcome Alex." "Ti vediamo. Ti amiamo." "You are safe here."

And right at the front—a sleek black car. Presidential seal on the door. Doors already open.

Leo stood beside me now, hand brushing mine, grounding me.

“You okay?” he whispered.

I nodded, but emotion was thick in my throat.

He didn’t wait. He laced our fingers and raised our hands.

The crowd erupted.

Flashbulbs. Cheers. Waves of love so loud it felt like it might knock me off my feet. I glanced at Karl, who stood tall beside me, eyes scanning the crowd like a sentinel.

Inside the car, my hands were still shaking.

Leo noticed.

“Do you regret it?”

I looked out the window. “No. I just… didn’t know people would care like this.”

He smiled. “They do. And you deserve every bit of it.”

The presidential residence came into view and my stomach flipped again.
It was beautiful. Grand. But not cold. Somehow… homey.

We stepped out together, and suddenly there were arms around me.

Dante—laughing, ruffling my hair like a delinquent big brother.

Leo’s father—smiling tightly, nodding with quiet approval.

And then—
President Eleonora, intense as she was and filled with confidence and strength.

She embraced me and I froze for a second, but then, I melted from all of this affection and acceptance.

She stepped back, hands on my shoulders. “You’ve caused quite a stir,” she said, tone dry but eyes kind.

“I’m sorry if it hurts your campaign,” I said quickly. “I never meant to—”

She raised a hand.

“Those people in our yard?” She gestured to the crowd still visible over the fences. “They’re voters—hopefully. And you? You’re family now. Don’t apologize for being who you are.”

My throat tightened. I didn’t just feel welcomed—I felt wanted. And for the first time… I wanted to be here too; I wanted to fight for this place. For Leo. For all of them.

I looked over at him, heart bursting.

I was finally free.

And this—this was just the beginning.

The tour of the residence was brief but meaningful. Leo led me through sun-drenched hallways, lush balconies, and elegant rooms that felt lived-in despite their grandeur. Every corner held whispers of memories. Of family. Of home.

Karl followed us closely, of course, and when we reached our wing, Leo paused in front of a door.

“This one’s yours,” he said with a wink, next to mine.

Karl gave him a dry look. “No, this one’s mine. Unless you prefer I camp outside your bedroom door.”

Leo rolled his eyes. “Why outside my door?”

“Because that’s where I’ll probably find Alexander.”

I laughed out loud as Leo groaned dramatically. “This man is relentless.”

But even as I teased, warmth bloomed in my chest.

Karl wasn’t guarding me out of duty.

He was protecting his son.

Later, in our room, the door clicked shut behind us. Leo turned to me, his eyes soft with something that felt too big to name.

I stepped into him. Wrapped my arms around his waist.

And he kissed me.

Slow. Deep. Unhurried.

Like we had all the time in the world.

I leaned into him, tasting the sunlight on his lips, the adrenaline still clinging to both of us like smoke after a fire.

His fingers curled into my shirt. Not urgent. Just... needing.

Our tongues intertwined gently, savoring each other, letting the moment stretch. Letting it become something more.

When I pulled back, he was staring at me like I was the answer to every impossible question.

Then he smiled. “You taste like peace with a bit of honey.”

“You taste like revolution, with a lot of spice.” I whispered.

“God, we are so cringy…” He laughed, breath hitching—and just like that, I was kissing him again. Harder this time. Less careful.

He pushed me back toward the bed, the backs of my knees hitting the edge. I sat. He followed, climbing over me with the kind of reverence that made my chest ache.

My hands found the hem of his shirt, and he let me lift it, his eyes never leaving mine. The scars, the skin, the story of everything he’d survived—laid bare just for me.

I touched him like I meant it. Like he wasn’t a prince or a symbol or a headline—but just my Leo. Mine.

He cupped my face, thumbs brushing along my cheekbones, and whispered, “Tell me we’re real.”

“We’re real,” I said. “We’re here.”

Clothes fell away in quiet layers. Mouths found skin. Skin met skin.

And when we lay back, tangled in sheets and each other, the world outside could’ve been burning. We wouldn’t have noticed.

We had nothing left to prove.

Just each other to feel.

And all night to remember why we fought for this.