Put Me in Jail and He Came Begging

Chapter 24: Sacrifices

The morning sun streamed through the high windows of the penthouse, casting long shadows over the marble floors. The silence was punctuated only by the distant hum of the city below. Alina sat on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The events of the past few weeks had brought her and Leonardo closer, but the shadows of their past were never far behind.

Leonardo entered the room, his expression somber. He had just returned from a meeting with his mafia associates, and the weight of the decisions they had made hung heavily on his shoulders. He walked over to Alina and took her hands in his, the warmth of his touch a stark contrast to the cold reality they faced.

"Alina, we need to talk," he said, his voice a low rumble. "There's something you need to know."

Alina looked up at him, her eyes searching his for answers. She had known this moment was coming, but it didn't make it any easier. "What is it, Leonardo?"

He sighed, sitting down beside her. "We've been tracking the movements of the antagonist, Vincenzo Moretti. He's planning something big, and it's going to put us all in danger. We need to act fast and make some difficult decisions."

Alina's heart skipped a beat. She knew Vincenzo was ruthless and wouldn't hesitate to destroy anything or anyone in his path. "What do we need to do?"

Leonardo looked into her eyes, his gaze intense. "We need to make sacrifices, Alina. To protect what we have, to protect each other, we have to be willing to give up certain things. It won't be easy, but it's the only way."

Alina swallowed hard, nodding. "Tell me what needs to be done."

Leonardo took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say. "First, we need to ensure your safety. Vincenzo knows you're my weakness, and he'll come after you to get to me. You need to go into hiding, at least until we can neutralize the threat."

Alina's eyes widened. The thought of leaving Leonardo, even temporarily, filled her with dread. "But what about you? I can't just leave you to face this alone."

Leonardo shook his head. "You won't be leaving me alone. You'll be protecting me by staying safe. If something happened to you, I wouldn't be able to focus, and that could jeopardize everything."

Tears welled up in Alina's eyes. She knew he was right, but it didn't make it any less painful. "Where will I go?"

Leonardo squeezed her hands gently. "I have a safe house in the countryside. It's secure and well-guarded. You'll be safe there."

Alina nodded, though her heart ached at the thought of being apart from him. "And what about you? What will you do?"

Leonardo's expression hardened. "I'll deal with Vincenzo. I'll do whatever it takes to end this once and for all. But it means I'll have to go deeper into the underworld, make alliances with people I despise, and take risks that could cost me everything."

Alina's breath caught in her throat. The sacrifices he was willing to make for her, for them, were staggering. "Leonardo, promise me you'll be careful. Promise me you'll come back to me."

He cupped her face in his hands, his thumb brushing away her tears. "I promise, Alina. I'll do everything in my power to come back to you. But you need to promise me something too."

Alina nodded, her voice trembling. "Anything."

"Promise me you'll stay safe, that you won't take any unnecessary risks. I need to know that you're okay, or I won't be able to focus on what needs to be done."

Alina nodded again, her resolve strengthening. "I promise, Leonardo. I'll stay safe."

He leaned in and kissed her, a fierce, desperate kiss that spoke of love and fear and everything in between. When they finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers, savoring the moment.