𝒫𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓃𝓃𝑒

Chapter 20

(This chapter brought me so much joy to write :D)

Alessio stood on the balcony behind his bedroom, gazing out at the private beach stretched before him. The waves crashed gently against the shore, a slow and rhythmic melody that usually brought him some semblance of peace. Tonight, though, the sound was drowned out by the thoughts swirling in his mind. The weight of the anonymous threat against Eleanor was heavy, pressing on his chest like an iron vice.

He hadn't slept much since the letter arrived. His instincts told him to protect, to keep her close, but something else was stirring within him—a deeper, more personal need to keep her safe that went beyond mere duty.

As he stared out at the dark horizon, the soft rustle of fabric behind him caught his attention. He didn't turn around, lost in his thoughts, until he heard a gentle knock on the glass doors leading out to the balcony. Alessio glanced over his shoulder, his brow furrowing slightly in surprise.

Eleanor stood there, her hand still resting against the glass, looking at him with those wide, curious eyes that had a way of disarming him. She must have been searching for him—his bedroom door wasn't one she often ventured near without reason. For a brief moment, a flicker of something warmer passed through him, but he quickly buried it beneath his usual stern demeanor.

He nodded for her to enter, watching as she slid the door open and stepped out onto the balcony. The night air was cool, but her presence seemed to warm the space between them. Eleanor hesitated for a moment, her fingers fidgeting slightly as she stood there, clearly unsure of how to begin.

"I was looking for you," she finally said, her voice soft. "I... I wanted to make sure you were okay. You weren't at dinner, and everyone seemed... tense."

Alessio's eyes softened, just a fraction. She was always so concerned, even when she had no reason to be. He hadn't realized how much he craved her presence until she was right there in front of him, grounding him in a way nothing else could.

"I'm fine," he replied, his voice low and even, though the tension in his body hadn't completely dissipated. "Just dealing with some business."

Eleanor nodded, but her gaze didn't leave his. She stepped closer, the moonlight casting a soft glow on her face as she looked up at him with that quiet determination he had come to admire. "If something's wrong, you can tell me, you know. I might not be able to help, but... I can listen."

Her offer was sincere, and for a moment, Alessio felt the urge to tell her everything—the threat, his concerns, the turmoil inside him that had nothing to do with business and everything to do with her. But he couldn't. She was already in too deep, and the last thing he wanted was to burden her with the darkness that came with his world.

"Thank you, Eleanor," he said, his tone softening despite himself. "But this isn't something you need to worry about. I'll take care of it."

She sighed, clearly not satisfied with his answer, but she didn't push further. Instead, she moved to stand beside him, leaning against the railing as she looked out at the beach. The silence between them was comfortable, the kind that spoke of understanding rather than the need for words.

Alessio glanced down at her, taking in the way her curls framed her face, the way the moonlight seemed to highlight the soft curve of her cheek. She was beautiful in a way that was almost painful to him—so pure, so untouched by the darkness he was steeped in every day. He didn't deserve her concern, her kindness, but he couldn't bring himself to push her away.

After a long pause, Eleanor spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. "You've done a lot for me, Alessio. More than I think I can ever repay. But I just want you to know that... I care about you too. And if there's anything I can do, even if it's just being here... I want to."