✍︎ 𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐌𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐃 [dark mafia romance] | 𝟏𝟖+

| 35 | 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐋'𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍

I wrapped my arms tighter around Gabriella's waist and sighed into her ear. I could feel her shudder, I could feel her heart pumping harder. She gently lifted her head and nudged her nose against my shoulder.

She's so fragile; it feels like if I hold her tighter, she will break.

I gently pulled away from the girl—I knew she wanted comfort, I knew why she came here, but I wanted to be alone at this moment. As I turned, Gabriella tried to approach me again, to hug me or say something, but finally, she quietly closed the door and walked down the corridor.

I didn't want to see anyone for the rest of the evening and the next morning.

___

I slipped into the shower and turned the cold water on. As I was standing under the running droplets dripping down my body, I could feel myself sobering up. I got out of the shower, wrapped a towel around my hips, and sighed.

I should stop drowning my doubts in alcohol, but it seemed to help me focus. I knew what impact it had on my health, and on my condition to lead the Red Lions, but sometimes, it was easier to express my thoughts when the alcohol ran through my veins.

I walked over to the window and looked at the horizon stretching from the hillside. I fished a cigarette pack lying on the ledge and lit one. The sparkling embers filled the room with the stench of nicotine smoke.

Why am I trying so hard to prove to my family that I can protect Gabriella?

Yes, I'm doing it because of the signed contract with her family and because I can't grasp and abandon the vengeance, that disrupted my family a long time ago.

Starting next week, the rights of the Fotos Plaza Hotel will legally belong to the D'Angelo family, but that's not all. Something more is knocking at my back every time I see her sad eyes and her heart singing a longing, home hymn.

It's hard to understand my feelings when I'm forced to avoid them, to forget them, to not show them to society and the mafia groups' highest ones. For as long as I can remember, I only saw love-filled emotions in my father's eyes when he looked at my mother.

I knew they loved each other. I knew that my father would have given up everything if it meant Lilian D'Angelo, also known as Lily, would see another day filled with love, care, and happiness.

Despite my father's unconditional love, I was too young to understand what a woman's love could cost a Capo dei Capi.

That's why I avoided these feelings. I won't let those emerald eyes be the reason they have to stop shining.