Sabrina, the sweet, bubbly girl next door, never imagined being pulled into a world of danger. But meeting Julian, a captivating mafia member with a dark past, changes everything.
As she falls for him, she's torn between love and the dangerous secr...
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I wake up slowly, feeling warm and safe in Alejandro's arms, his steady breathing against my back.
For a moment, I keep my eyes closed, pretending I'm still asleep, just so I can stay here a bit longer.
It feels good—really good—to be held like this. Without even thinking, I snuggle a little closer, letting myself relax into him.
Ale stirs behind me, his arm pulling me even closer. He doesn't say anything, just holds me tighter, like he's content staying exactly like this.
Then, right in the middle of the peace, my phone starts blaring.
The ringtone feels way too loud, and Ale groans, burying his face in the pillow.
I reach over to grab my phone, squinting at the screen. It's Val. I pick up, trying to keep my voice steady. "Hey, Val."
"Hey! Sorry if I woke you," she says, sounding bright but hesitant. "I just wanted to see if we could meet up later? Thought maybe we could talk."
I hesitate, glancing at Ale, who's watching me with a sleepy smile. "Yeah, sure," I say to Val, feeling a little pang of guilt. "I'll see you later."
After I hang up, Ale stretches and runs a hand through his hair. "Guess that's our cue to get up, huh?"
"Yeah," I say, sitting up, but I don't feel like moving just yet.
It's one of those mornings where everything feels a little too good to let go.
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I'm at work, drowning in paperwork, but I can't concentrate. My thoughts keep dragging me back to last night.
Sabrina leaving with Alejandro, the way she looked at me—hurt, frustrated, done.
And I put that look there. I don't even know why I said half the stuff I did.
Jealousy got the better of me, and I blew up on her like some kind of idiot.
Then Matteo shows up, crossing the floor with that casual confidence he always has. He sits down across from me, studying me like he already knows I'm barely holding it together.
"You look terrible," he says, half-joking but serious. "Rough morning?"
I run a hand over my face, not even sure where to start. "Matteo, I messed up. I really messed up with Sabrina last night."
He raises an eyebrow, and I know he doesn't need me to spell it out. He saw the whole thing, probably had front-row seats to my outburst.
But he lets me talk anyway, lets me get it out, and the weight of it all feels like it's crushing me the more I say.
"I don't know what came over me," I admit finally, my voice raw. "I know it sounds pathetic, but seeing her with Alejandro just... it set something off in me. I said stuff I didn't mean, stuff that I know hurt her, and now she's probably never going to forgive me."
Matteo leans back, taking it all in. "Look, you blew up, sure, but you've got to stop acting like that's the end of it," he says firmly. "Val's going to talk to her today. She's not going to let Sabrina walk away from you without at least giving you a shot to explain yourself."
I nod, feeling a tiny spark of hope, but it's buried under all the frustration and self-hatred. "I don't even know how I let it get to this point, Matteo. I feel like I'm losing her, and it's all my own damn fault."
He watches me, sympathy in his eyes, but he doesn't sugarcoat it. "Maybe you need to figure out what's really going on with you, Julian. But don't throw in the towel just because you messed up. If you want to make it right, you're going to have to face her, and own up to everything."
"Thanks, man," I say quietly, not knowing what else to say.
AUTHORS NOTEE
Okay how do we actually feel about Sabrina and Ale cause I'm low key here for it!! Julian messed up yes but he's gonna fix himself eventually he knows he's wrong!! Sorry short chapter.
