Mafia's Embrace

**Chapter 18: Breaking the Silence**

The days continued to drag on, each one longer than the last. Faith remained distant, her heart and mind still locked in turmoil after Alexander's last words. She needed time, but the isolation she'd created felt like a prison. Every time she saw him, she felt the weight of her confusion. The walls of the mansion seemed to close in on her, suffocating, reminding her that she was no longer in control of her own life.

Alexander had kept his distance, though he made sure to be nearby, a constant but silent presence. He was giving her space, as he had promised, but Faith could feel the tension growing between them. She sensed his frustration, the way his gaze lingered on her, the unspoken words hovering just beneath the surface whenever they crossed paths.

It was driving her crazy. She hated the way he made her feel—both infuriatingly trapped and inexplicably safe at the same time. It wasn't logical, and that was what scared her the most.

One morning, after another sleepless night, Faith found herself wandering the mansion's sprawling hallways. The air was thick with the weight of things unsaid, her heart racing with the need to breathe, to feel like herself again.

She needed to leave, to find some small sliver of freedom amidst the chaos. She headed toward the front door, hoping to at least take a walk through the vast gardens. But as her hand reached for the door, she heard his voice behind her.

"Leaving again?"

The tone wasn't accusatory, but it was laced with something—concern, perhaps, or maybe resignation.

Faith paused, her hand still on the door handle. She hadn't expected him to be there. She took a deep breath before slowly turning around.

Alexander stood at the base of the stairs, his hands in his pockets, watching her with that same intense gaze that never failed to unsettle her. He was dressed casually, in dark jeans and a fitted black shirt that showed off his broad shoulders, but even in his relaxed appearance, there was something dangerous about him. Something inescapable.

"I just wanted to get some air," Faith said, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't know why she felt like she had to explain herself, but under his gaze, everything seemed to need an explanation.

He stepped forward, his eyes never leaving hers. "You've been getting a lot of air lately."

Faith clenched her jaw, the slight bite in his words igniting the spark of defiance she hadn't felt in days. "I needed space, Alexander. You said you'd give me that."

He stopped a few feet from her, his expression unreadable. "I did. But you've been avoiding me, Faith. There's a difference."

She swallowed hard, her mind scrambling for a response. He was right, of course. She had been avoiding him—because facing him meant facing everything she didn't want to admit.

"I'm trying to figure things out," she said finally, her voice small. "I don't know how to do this... with you."

Alexander's jaw tightened, and for a moment, he looked away, as if trying to compose himself. When he looked back at her, his expression had softened, though the frustration was still there, simmering just beneath the surface.

"I don't want to pressure you, Faith," he said quietly. "But I need to know where your head's at. I need to know if I'm just wasting my time."

His words hit her like a punch to the gut. Was he wasting his time? Was this all just a temporary battle, destined to fail?

Faith's breath caught in her throat as she stared at him, struggling to find the right words. She didn't know how to answer him, because she didn't know how she felt. Every time she let herself feel something for him, her mind would scream at her, reminding her of how all of this had started.

But then there was the way he looked at her, the way he had been patient, even when she didn't deserve it. The way he made her feel safe, despite everything.

"I... I don't know," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't know what I'm supposed to feel."

Alexander's expression darkened, but there was no anger in his eyes—just a deep, raw pain that she hadn't seen before. He stepped closer, closing the distance between them, and when he spoke, his voice was low, almost pleading.

"I don't want to force you into anything, Faith. But I need to know that you're not just waiting for a chance to leave."

Faith felt a pang of guilt at his words. She had thought about leaving, more times than she could count. But something always held her back, something that went beyond fear or obligation.

She didn't want to admit it, but part of her didn't want to leave. Part of her was drawn to him in a way she couldn't explain, a way that scared her more than anything.

"I don't know what I'm doing," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm just... confused."

Alexander reached out, gently taking her hand in his. His touch was warm, grounding, and she found herself leaning into it, despite everything.

"I get that you're confused," he said softly, his thumb brushing against the back of her hand. "But I need to know if there's a chance. If you can feel anything for me."

Faith's heart pounded in her chest as she looked up at him, her throat tightening. She didn't know how to answer. She didn't know how to tell him that she was scared of feeling anything for him, because once she did, there would be no turning back.

"I don't know," she whispered again, her voice breaking. "I don't know what I'm feeling."

Alexander's grip on her hand tightened slightly, and he leaned down, his face inches from hers. "Then let me help you figure it out," he said, his voice low and dangerous, but not in a way that scared her. In a way that made her heart race with something else entirely.

Faith stared up at him, her breath catching in her throat. She didn't know how to respond, didn't know if she could. But in that moment, with his hand holding hers and his eyes locked on hers, she realized something.

She didn't want to run anymore.

Before she could say anything, Alexander leaned down, his lips brushing against hers in a gentle, tentative kiss. It was soft, almost hesitant, as if he was waiting for her to pull away. But she didn't. She couldn't.

Instead, she leaned into him, letting herself fall into the kiss, letting herself feel.

And for the first time in days, Faith didn't feel lost. She didn't feel confused.

She just felt.