CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE

CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE
ELENA

Alexander's arm felt heavy as he wrapped it around my waist, his breathing uneven as he gently kissed my shoulder.
His chest was warm against mine, and I could feel his heart beating steadily as I relaxed against him.

"Our sex was incredible," I replied, relaxing in his grip.

"Incredible?" he whispered in my ear, his voice full of contentment. "I would describe it as perfect. Absolutely mind-blowing."

"I was going to say 'athletic,' but those are great word choices, too." I turned in his arms, watching how his eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "Again, you are very thorough, Mr. Moretti."

“I strongly believe in giving my undivided attention to valuable projects.”

"Am I a project?" I drew slow lines across his chest, fascinated by how much emotion it evoked in me. "Should I be waiting for performance reviews? A quarterly review?"

"Daily inspections," Alexander said, stroking my hips with his hands. "Extremely intimate check-ups."

“It does sound challenging. I hope the benefits package is competitive.”

"The best in the industry," he promised, bending forward further to kiss me. "Full medical and dental benefits, all your vacation time, and as many orgasms your body can handle."

I burst out laughing, "Sold. Where can I sign?"

"Right here," he whispered, leaving a soft kiss at my collarbone. "And here." He kissed again, this time lower. "Definitely here."

I found myself getting lost in him again when his phone suddenly came to life on the bedside table. At first, we tried to ignore it, too caught up in our soft exploration of lips and fingertips. But then it buzzed again. And again.

"Famous man," I said softly into his lips.

"It can wait," he declared firmly.

The phone rang for a fourth time, and I sighed as I drew back. "Answer it. When someone is that insistent, it's probably important."

Alexander reached for the phone reluctantly, his expression darkening as he read the screen. "It's my father."

"At this hour?" I glanced at the clock—nearly midnight. "That seems ominous."

Alexander opened the text, and I watched as his face gradually drained away all emotion. Whatever was inside, it was clearly bad news.

"What is it?" I asked.

“He wants to see you tomorrow morning about Margaret.” Alexander put down the phone, but his fists were still tight as they rested upon my hips.

"Delightful bedside manner," I said, forcing a breezy tone into my voice. "Does he have a habit of delivering mysterious texts in the pre-dawn hours, normally?"

"Only when he tries to exert control," Alexander said, his teeth grinding in anger. "He's completely conscious of what he does—interrupting this moment, making sure his presence is felt even in his absence."

I gazed upon his face, observing how, again, the shadows seemed to have come back and settled into his eyes.
"Hey, don't let him do this. Don't let him take this away from us."

"It's not that simple, Elena," Alexander said, his hold around my waist tightening. "You really have no idea what my family is like—what lies in the background."

"Then explain it to me."

Alexander was quiet for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice shook with profound feeling.

“Like I said earlier, my family's history in the mafia goes way back, building our business around fear, violence, and bloodshed. And even now, as I'm working hard to clean everything up, that shadow remains an integral part of me still. It runs in my DNA, Elena. That's just who I am.”

"No," I said firmly, holding his face in my hands.
"It's a matter of who your family was, not who you are."

"You have no clue. You can't even imagine what I would be able to do if someone threatened you. How far I would go to keep what's mine."

The possessiveness that threaded through his voice should have scared me. Instead, it sparked a heat that settled deep in my stomach.

"I do not fear your protective instincts, Alexander."

"You should," he murmured, his gaze deep and dark, intense. "I fear that my love for you will be your undoing. That my world will consume you completely, just like my dad’s world consumed my mother, and almost did for Margaret."

“Your mother stayed in that world, and Margaret forged her own way too. But I'm not your mother, nor Margaret.” I leaned forward, eliminating space between us. "I’m stubborn, remember? Fiercely independent. Frighteningly difficult to manage."

“Elena…”

“I can cope with whatever your family throws at us. But I cannot tolerate your withdrawal from me, out of fear.” I kissed him softly, pouring all my conviction into my kiss. "I love all aspects of you, Alexander. All your parts. Even those which terrify you."

"I love you, too," he said quietly against my mouth.
"I love you so much, I'm scared."

"Good. Fear keeps things interesting." I settled against his chest, listening to his heartbeat gradually slow. "Now stop borrowing trouble from tomorrow and hold me."

Alexander's arms wrapped around me, and I could feel a degree of tension released from his body. Still, I could see that his mind was still caught in a storm, his thinking preoccupied with secret dangers and threats beyond my understanding.

"Alexander?"

"Hmm?"

“Whatever he wants to share with me tomorrow, whatever feeling drives him to talk, we will handle that together, get it? Whatever it is."

"Alright," he said, but a low tremble in his voice undermined the mental plans he was already making to protect me from what was in store for me.

Before falling asleep, I could sense him come near and softly kiss me on my head.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, so quietly I almost missed it.

"For what?" I mumbled, half asleep.

Alexander did not speak, and exhaustion fell upon me, quelling further insistence. Tomorrow would reveal its secrets as it dawned. Meanwhile, I rested happily in his arms, and that was enough.

I stirred a little later to see Alexander propped up in bed, staring through the window at city lights sparkling outside. His profile was taut and intent, as if he were listening for a sound that was beyond my hearing.

"Having trouble sleeping?" I asked softly.

"Thoughts.”

"About your dad?"

"Concerning what I will do to protect you from him," my stare clashed with Alexander's, burning with a fierce, unyielding protectiveness. "As for how far I will go to protect what we have."

It was the way he said his words that made me feel cold. "Alexander, what aren't you telling me?"

He remained silent for what looked like a very long time, then gently leaned across and left a kiss on my forehead.
"There's nothing you need to worry about tonight. Sleep tight, beautiful."

But as I drifted off to sleep again, there remained a nagging feeling that Alexander was hatching a plan—one that didn’t particularly need my consent—about my own well-being.