Chapter 67 Facade
Madison’s POV
If I was going to stay in this Jungle called Mafia world, then I had to wear a new cloak.
“What are you suggesting then?”
“Make me your new partner.” I told him, staring deep into his eyes.
“Why? You feel humiliated being the Don’s Pet?” He raised his eyebrow, a small frown etched on his lips.
I smirked, walking into him until our chest touched. “I can be your pet anytime you want me to be, Don.” I placed my hand on his face, brushing with my thumb. “But outside, I think it’s high time I climbed up the rank.”
“You want respect.” He held my face, leaning down.
“I deserve respect because I’ve worked so hard.” I spoke confidently.
His eyes darkened, his jaw ticking - hard - it could snap into two.
Was this a bad idea?
He released my face from his grip, raising my face up, “You’re on probation then. Don’t mess up.”
“Really? That’s all I get?”
“You’re not happy I managed to give you that?” His tone was serious.
I rolled my eyes, stepping back, “I’ll take it.”
“After this mission, I want you back home.” He said, making me halt.
Home. Was this really home?
“It’s not up for negotiation. I told you that whatever time you had outside there was temporary.”
I spun around abruptly, twisting my ankle. A restrained groan rang at the back of my throat, the sting hitting me like a crashing wave. My mouth singing out ‘Ouch’ repeatedly.
“Madison.” Alessandro yelled, his voice panicked. He pushed me lightly to sit on the couch, holding my ankle.
Since the living room was void of cleaners, just two guards that stood by the entrance door, he quickly rushed to the kitchen.
I held my ankle, biting my lips hard.
“Let go.” He peeled my hand off my ankle, placing it on his lap, gently massaging it.
I winced harshly, trying to get away from his torturous massage. “That hurts!”
He doesn’t answer me, his eyes cold, his face serious and focused. “This will help with the swelling. You can be so clumsy.”
What? It was my fault?
“Weren’t you the one who caused it with your information?” I frowned, folding my hands.
He glanced up at me and then returned his gaze back to my leg, placing an ice pack on it softly.
The knot in my chest began to loosen, my face softening as I started at how he carefully placed the ice pack on my ankle, his hair falling to his face making it -
Messy.
A small smile crept up my lips, watching this affectionate side of him as he damped the water off the ankle, inspecting it before applying ointment.
Underneath his stoned personality was a caged, sweet man - one he had to lock up - maybe to achieve a goal or because of pain, I didn’t know.
I was going to find out.
When Rosa told me how inseparable Moon and Alessandro were and why so, I understood. The love ran deep and to show that, the bone marrow transplant was an evidence.
She said he threatened to kill everyone in the hospital if Moon came out disabled. She told me how the transplant was critical for him but he didn’t bat an eyelash at all.
He was indeed her hero and a father figure and I just couldn’t get mad or even jealous anymore.
“Why the fuck are you staring at me like that?” He eyed me up and down, irritation in his tone.
I grinned, “you’re so sweet at times.”
He scoffed, “don’t be deceived. I’m aiming for something.”
“You can cover it all you want, Don. I see you.” I cupped his cheek in my hand, staring into his eyes.
His eyes struggled to keep his cold, icy glare as they constantly flickered into a soft one.
He shut his eyes, breathing heavily and then pushed my hand away, “H..how can you see me? I am just a feral beast.”
“A facade.”
“It is NOT a facade. I worked hard emotionally to get here.” He dropped my leg down, standing up.
“Because you wanted to shield that part away. You can try but you can never do a perfect work, Alessandro.”
He glared at me, his hand clenched beside him, “You think you have cracked me? I’m a hard puzzle. You only see what I want you to see.”
“Exactly. You’re lowkey trying to tell me something and I understand it, Alessandro. I really do see you.” I stood up, taking his hand in my hand.
He pulled his hand away harshly, “stop. You’re saying nonsense!”
I flinched a little at his sudden outburst but my heart rate, normal.
“Yeah, you should fear me” He frowned, taking a step closer. I don’t move.
“I don’t anymore. I know what you are.”
“A monster.” He was trying so hard to convince me to see him in that perspective. “I kill people without thinking twice.”
He took another step forward, his eyes searching my face, creasing his eyebrow in confusion.
“I show no mercy both to the guilty and the innocent. I hurt people, Madison and currently, I have a mission to wipe out a family!”
He held my shoulder, his eyes darkened with rage, “why are you not scared?”
My lips lifted up in a small smile - which worsened his anger by the way, “you think I’m putting this all up? You think I’m acting to be what or who I’m not?”
I placed my hand on his chest, “I think…. Who you really are lays awake in here and to me, that’s what matters the most. You can try to shape yourself into anything but as long that ‘you’ lives, this ….is only temporary.”
His grip on my shoulder tightened, his chest heaving up and down. My smile didn’t falter one bit as I stared into his eyes.
It was beautiful to finally see what he really was. A beauty and a beast - Temporary and Permanent.
He pulled his hand away, abruptly turning his back to face me. His stiff shoulder loosened, “Your mission is to seduce Santiago Salvatore. The legitimate son of Ivano Salvatore.”
“We are going through this again?” I scoffed
“I need an invitation card to the Salvatore’s ’ welcome back party.” He looked at me, walking up the stairs. Getting the hint, I followed him.
I paused at first, letting the sharp pain subside. Alessandro stopped, turning to me. His eyes fell to my ankle and in swift second, I was lifted up my feet.
“Isn’t this sweet?”
“Shut up.” He growled, his tone lacking seriousness. I giggled.
When we got to his office, he placed me on his chair - it was so big and comfy. Then he leaned down, his chest close to my face, as he arranged the documents on the desk, in the right order.
“The only way to this event is through Santiago. The event is in 2 weeks and Santiago here can be difficult at times and so it might take you a week to get it from him.”
“Am I stealing it?” He smirked, looking at me before shaking his head.
“You’re seducing your way to get it. We need it early so we can replicate it and be granted access.”
“Why don’t you just go meet him yourself then?” I raised my eyebrow at him.
“Oh he hates my guts. The feeling is mutual too.” Alessandro placed a picture in my hand. “That is the bastard.”
Whoa!
Such pretty boy.
“Don’t even think about it.” Alessandro snapped
“But he’s cute. This shouldn’t be a hassle.” I shrugged. He had honey eyes like me too.
“If he touches you, you’re both dead.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, throwing my head back, “How then am I supposed to seduce him?”
“Figure that out yourself.” He sighed, looking down at me, his eyes hooded with ….lust?
“You look fuckable sitting on my chair.” He placed his hands on the handle, smirking at me.
“You switch moods so abnormally.” I shook my head at him.
He raised my chin up, brushing my lips softly, “what do you think?”
His hands dropped to my thigh, caressing it softly as he trailed his hand up, slowly. My pulse quickened, my heartbeat drumming fast.
“About what?” My voice was barely a whisper as I stared at him through my long lashes.
“Fucking you before I let you go to Santiago?”
I licked my lips, smirking, “Scared I might hump on another man’s cock before yours? How are you sure I’ve not done that already?”
His eyes darkened with both lust and rage. He pulled me up and in a swift turn, I was straddling him on the chair.
I gasped when my center brushed against his length. He was already hard?
His hand slipped under my gown, fingers dancing around the hem of my panties, “Maybe I should really claim you.”