Leather Jacket

Chapter 32 Night

"Mind if I joined you ?"

"I don't know. That depends on if you're asking me or commanding me , boss. " I spat cold turning my head away from him.

"Alice," he said softly through a puff of air while he climbed the old rope ladder, sitting next to me. I didn't bother to look over at him or give him the chance. A shiver ran through my body as he almost immediately draped his leather jacket over my shoulders.

"I don't want it." I mumbled , stupidly taking it off and placing it back into his lap.

"Alice , please. " he pleaded while he draped it back over my shoulder - covering the flimsy night gown I had on - as I kept my eyes fixed on the forest. Neither one of said another word while we sat in complete silence.

"Alice I'm so sorry." He said , trying to catch my attention by putting his hand on my thigh. My eyes immediately dropped down to the familiar feeling though I tried to keep my face unfazed. I kept my eyes on his hand as I could imagine he was waiting for me to look up at him. He gave my leg a gentle squeeze as my eyes darted up to his , not because I had forgiven him but out of surprise. That was the last thing I had thought he would try to win me over with. A hug? sure . A kiss ? My biggest contender. But never this. It made me think back to our roadtrip to Miami. When he was driving and this was the only source of comfort and affection. It was a small gesture but an important one. To me it was atleast.

"I really am sorry Alice. I didn't mean to blow up at you. You didn't deserve any of that. "

"But why did you ?" I said finding my voice.

"I don't know. And I'm not going to make up ridiculous excuses in order for you to forgive me either. I just, I was so scared I had lost you." He said making the corners of my lips tug into a smile. "What ?" He said confused as I couldn't help but think back to what he told me yesterday.

"I thought Marco Romano doesn't get scared ?" I said earning a smile from him as well while he let out a breath.

"Not unless it comes to you and my family. I'll do anything for you Alice. I'd die if it meant you would live. And the same goes for each and every one of our children. I love you too much to lose you. The thought alone drives me crazy ." He said while I could see the pain swim around in his eyes. Every inch of my being called to me to just hug or embrace him in some matter. But there was still something I had on my mind I had let go of myself.

Taking his warm hands in my cold ones I look into his eyes , letting my gaze soften as I said ; " I don't ever want to hear that you think I'm under your control. " while he tried to speak up as I asked him not to with my eyes.
"I love you Marco. So much. But I thought the moment things were starting to get better that we were equal partners. I thought I've more than earned your trust by now ? " I said as I could see he was just itching to intervene and correct me.

"I'm not one of your men. I never was and I never will be. And if you want this marriage to work I need you to treat me as your equal. I know I messed up by not following your instructions. I realize that. But you also have to understand that I've got a  lot on my mind and that it's not my fault it slipped my mind to go. I don't want to lose you either. But I need you to treat me like your equal. Cause I'm NOT like everyone else in this house , and I never will be. " After I finished I thought he would have about a million things to say , to correct me and retaliate. But instead , he pulled me close to his chest saying; "I promise to make it up to you." And that was all I needed to hear to know he agreed with me and understood where I was coming from.

I didn't like being mad at him and the fights never came easy to me , but sometimes certain things just had to be said or else it would create an even bigger problem for another day.

Taking me by the waist, he lifts me down from the ledge as we walked back inside seeing the house look completely new , everything fixed - or replaced - while everyone was scattered around the house doing something .

"How about dinner tonight in my office ? Dom and Frankie can babysit." Marco suggested as we came to a hault.

"Sounds lovely. " I said with a smile matching his.

"Then it's a date." He said placing a kiss to the top of my head. He didn't even try to kiss me on the lips. He had something up his sleeve and only he knew what this date had in store for me.

****
Trying to squeeze myself into some jeans , I pop another button making it fly across the room.

"Come on !" I sighed in frustration as I lied back unto the bed. This was the third pair of jeans that couldn't button up. And I wasn't even showing that much yet ! Pulling a skirt from the dresser I pull it on feeling like I could breathe again as I did a once over in the mirror before walking downstairs , seeing Marco waiting for me.

"You look beautiful Alice." He said through a breath as I couldn't help the blush that rised to my cheeks.

"Thanks. Is Dante -"

"He's already with them. Let's not worry about him tonight. It's our night tonight. " he said as I linked hands with him walking to his office.

That's it ! Did you want the fighting to last longer? Do you even like it when they fight? Let me know in the comment section below. Thank you so much for reading. Until next time keep howling my wolves ❤🐺