𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲.
I never thought my world would crumble at the hands of a man like Alessandro Rossi-a 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 draped in silk suits and ruthlessness. One moment, I was Yasenia Fraga, daughter of the...
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Florence, Italy.
Two weeks later, Luca and Melinda's wedding was set to be held in Tuscany, Florence—specifically, Alessandro's mother's hometown. We'd all flown out here for the event, but something about this sudden decision felt off. And the fact that it was Alessandro's choice only made it stranger.
I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just about the wedding. My guts screamed Diego, that Alessandro had finally managed to find him after months of searching. The thought of what Alessandro might do now that his father was within reach filled me with dread.
The timing of the wedding felt almost forced. It hadn't been that long since we lost Geoffrey, and while everyone was putting on a brave face, there was an unspoken heaviness that was just there, clinging to all of us. Alessandro, in particular, seemed more distant and angrier than ever. I was afraid of what that darkness would do to him, and more than that, what he might do to Diego if—no, when—he finally tracked him down.
As we stepped out of the airport, we were met by a fleet of black SUVs, far more than we'd expected for our small group of eight: Alessandro, Giada, Luca, Melinda, Fico, Andrea, Helena, and me. Two of the cars were packed with security details, only confirming my suspicion: Diego was here. Alessandro was clearly prepared for him.
Florence, however, was truly enchanting. Its beauty was like nothing I'd ever experienced, a city that seemed to wear its history everywhere you look. Mark Twain had once called it the "city of dreams," and even that felt like an understatement. Everywhere I looked, there was art, architecture, and elegance, a beautiful blend of old and new era that gave Florence an unmatched charm.
We drove out toward the countryside, the rolling hills and sprawling vineyards stretching endlessly in every direction. For the next two hours, I was mesmerized by the idyllic scenery, and eventually, the gentle swaying of the car lulled me into a light sleep.
I woke to the smell of woodsmoke and a faint hint of tobacco. Alessandro's arm was wrapped around me, holding me close, my head resting against his shoulder. A part of me flushed with embarrassment, hoping I hadn't drooled on him in my sleep.
Alessandro noticed I was awake and gave me a soft smile, a rare look of warmth flickering across his otherwise stoic face. His grip tightened slightly as he murmured, "Hey."
"Hi," I replied, feeling a bit self-conscious. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to doze off on you like that."
He chuckled, his voice low and comforting. "It's okay. The road gets a little bumpy out here. I didn't want you to end up smacking your head against the window," he said, brushing a strand of hair from my face and letting his hand linger on my cheek for a moment.
That quiet, gentle moment between Alessandro and me felt like a rare break from all the tension he'd carried since Geoffrey's death. But, like most things with Alessandro lately, it didn't last. As he let go of me, his expression turned guarded again, the familiar darkness slipping back into his eyes.
