Silent love

Chapter 21

On the previous chapter...

We fell into another uncomfortable silence. The weight of the day, of everything that had happened, pressed heavily between us. Eventually, I pushed myself up from my chair and began walking toward the water, the grains of sand shifting beneath my feet.

"Where are you going?" His voice was sharp, but I ignored it.

"Clearing my head." I glanced over my shoulder, meeting his gaze. "I need some space."

He didn't stop me, didn't say anything. Just watched as I walked away, further down the shore, where the sound of the waves drowned out everything else. It felt strange to be here, in such a peaceful place, with him.

Strangers on the same vacation, bound by duty, not choice.

But that was how life worked for people like us. Nothing was ever truly ours, every moment, every decision, dictated by someone else's expectations. And if this was the only way I could carve out a small piece of freedom, if this was the only way to breath then so be it.

Even if I had to share it with him.

               
                                                          ʚ FEDERICO'S POV ɞ

The Maldives had never been on my list of destinations. Paradise wasn't exactly something a man like me could enjoy.

My life existed of chaos, blood and power. I wasn't made for serenity. Still, as I sat on the lounger, staring out at the endless expanse of blue water, I couldn't deny the beauty of it. The sun painted the horizon gold, a sight that might have calmed another man.

But not me.

I glanced over at Yaqueline, her small figure perched on the balcony rail.

She didn't trust me.

Smart girl.

Trust was a weakness in my world, and I didn't expect her to hand it over freely. But I couldn't ignore the irony, we were tied together by a contract, by circumstances that left no room for trust.

This vacation wasn't about relaxation. It was a carefully organized move, one that served more than one purpose.

She thought I wanted to unravel her secrets, and while that wasn't entirely wrong, it wasn't the whole truth either. Yaqueline was a piece on the board, one I needed to understand to keep her alive and, by extension, to maintain my empire's stability.

But by knowing her, I could know how she thinks. Especially with my enemies. They will try to hurt her, to hurt me.

Not that I care about her, but it's all about the imagine. I can't let anyone hurt her and let them get away with it. I would look like a weak Don. If someone is under my protection, I would do anything to protect them, whatever I like them or not.

The dinner I had arranged for tonight is a test, a way to see what made her tick, what drew those rare moments of vulnerability from her. If I was going to keep her safe, I needed to know what made her strong and what could break her.

I need to understand her.

Her dress was a soft shade of blue, flowing like water around her as she moved. She had pulled her hair back, exposing the line of her neck and the faintest hint of jewelry glinting at her throat.