𝒫𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓃𝓃𝑒

Chapter 19

ALESSIO POV

(prepare yourself bitches, we have an Alessio pov)

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

This morning started like any other, but it quickly spiraled into a nightmare. We received an anonymous letter containing pictures of Eleanor at the university. My heart sank as I looked through the images, each one more alarming than the last. Someone had been following her, documenting her movements with disturbing precision. It was a clear message that her safety wasn't guaranteed—and that infuriated me beyond measure.

My mind raced as I stared at the photographs, each one showing Eleanor in various locations around the campus, oblivious to the threat lurking just out of sight. How had they managed to get so close without being detected? The thought of someone compromising her safety sent a cold shiver down my spine. She was under my protection, and now someone had dared to cross that line. The audacity of it enraged me.

I immediately called a meeting with my most trusted men. The house was now a whirlwind of activity, with everyone scrambling to assess the situation and put a plan into action. I needed to make sure Eleanor was safe and figure out who had the balls to pull this stunt. There were too many variables, too many unknowns, and it was my job to navigate through the chaos.

Jay, Luca, and Matteo were all engaged in frantic discussions, piecing together any information we had about potential threats. I had instructed them to double the surveillance around the university and to keep a close eye on Eleanor's movements. I would not let her become a pawn in someone else's game.

As I paced the room, the stress was almost unbearable. My mind was a storm of thoughts and plans, each one more urgent than the last. The sound of the living area door opening snapped me out of my reverie. I glanced over to see Eleanor walking in, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. I could tell she had picked up on the tension but had no idea what was going on.

She looked beautiful, but today, I couldn't afford to be distracted by anything else. I needed to focus on the threat at hand. The worry for Eleanor was consuming all of my attention.

"Alessio?" Eleanor's voice was soft, hesitant. "Is everything okay?"

I turned sharply to face her, the frustration and anger still simmering beneath my calm exterior. "Not right now," I said curtly. "There's been a situation. I need to deal with it."

Her eyes widened, but she didn't press further. I appreciated her respect for my boundaries, but it did nothing to ease the weight on my shoulders. I watched as she walked back upstairs, a small knot of worry in her eyes. I knew she cared, and it was a small comfort amidst the storm.

The meeting dragged on, every detail being scrutinized and every potential lead explored. We had to act fast and decisively. There was no room for error. As soon as the meeting ended, I made my way back to my office, trying to focus on the next steps.

But the images of Eleanor in those photos kept replaying in my mind. I couldn't shake the image of her being so vulnerable. It was my job to ensure the safety of everyone under my protection, and right now, it felt like I was failing.

I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone, dialing Marco to check on the status of the surveillance team. Every second counted, and I needed to make sure we had every resource working on this.

I clenched my jaw as I listened to the updates. We had a plan in place, but the urgency was undeniable. This was more than just a breach; it was a direct threat. And I would make sure that whoever was behind this would pay dearly.

As the day wore on, the pressure only seemed to increase. The stakes were high, and I couldn't afford to let my guard down. The safety of those I cared about depended on my ability to stay focused and to take decisive action.

As I continued to navigate through the chaos of the day, my mind kept drifting back to Eleanor. It was strange how someone so new could so easily become such a focal point in my life. Before she arrived, my days were driven by a relentless routine—meetings, business dealings, and the occasional diversion to manage the intricacies of our world. But since Eleanor stepped into the picture, things had changed in ways I hadn't anticipated.

When she first came into my life, it was like throwing a wrench into a meticulously oiled machine. Everything was disrupted, and while I tried to maintain control, there was something about her presence that had seeped into my system. If I was in a foul mood, a single glance at her could shift my mood in ways I could hardly explain. The way her smile could cut through the tension, or how her laugh—bright and genuine—could momentarily chase away the shadows of my day.

Yet, Eleanor had the power to infuriate me like no one else. Her defiance, her curiosity, her insistence on pushing boundaries—all of these things would spark an anger in me that was more intense than I felt with anyone else. If anyone else dared challenge me or act in such a way, they would face severe repercussions. But with Eleanor, my reaction was different. Instead of wanting to exert control or punish, I found myself wanting to understand her, to engage with her.

It was a constant battle between wanting to protect her and the frustration of her relentless curiosity and disregard for my rules. It was an emotional dance that left me both exhausted and exhilarated. The very traits that might have driven me mad with anyone else were the same ones that kept me coming back for more with her. I was inexplicably drawn to the way she could challenge me, push my buttons, and still manage to win a piece of my heart in the process.

When Eleanor walked through the door after her college classes, it was like a breath of fresh air. The house would light up with her presence—she had a way of brightening the space just by being there. I found myself waiting for her return with a sense of eager anticipation, as if her presence was a balm to the relentless pressures I faced daily. Her excitement, her chatter about her day, and even the little things—like the way she would twirl around or the way she'd complain about mundane things—had become a part of my routine in a way I hadn't expected.

As I reflected on the day's events, I realized how much she had come to mean to me. The anonymous letter had shaken me, not just because it threatened her safety, but because it reminded me of just how much I cared. There was a protective instinct within me that I didn't fully understand, but I knew it was there. I was compelled to keep her safe, to shield her from the world's darker aspects, and to ensure that nothing harmed her.

Eleanor had become more than just someone I had to protect; she had become someone I looked forward to seeing every day. She had managed to infiltrate my world in ways I hadn't expected. Even as I dealt with the stress and danger surrounding her, I couldn't deny that her presence had brought an unexpected warmth into my life.

The thought of her—her voice, her laughter, her very presence—was a constant reminder of how things had changed since she came into my life. The emotions she stirred within me were a mix of frustration and desire, of anger and affection. And as I prepared for the inevitable confrontation with those responsible for the threat against her, I knew that my resolve was not just about duty. It was also about something deeper, something more personal.

The house felt different when she was away, and it was a stark contrast to the brightness she brought when she was here. I was constantly on edge, knowing that anything could happen, but I was also driven by a fierce determination to keep her safe. Because, for all the trouble and the challenges, Eleanor had become a crucial part of my world—a world I was fiercely committed to protecting.

(This chapter is shorter as I wanted it to be short and sweet.)