Page 131 of The Devil's Fire

“Who told you?” He demanded.

“Damiano, it’s fine. I know you’re worried about what I will think of it. What I will think of you… But I know who you are.” I said softly.

He didn’t say anything for a while. I knew he didn’t want me to see that side of him. The much darker and more twisted side of him; to see what he was truly capable of. A man so dangerous and so deadly, yet he was gentle with me and allowed me to see the softer side of him he didn’t allow others to see.

He was my villain, who would do anything for me.

“Damiano, I’m not going anywhere.” I smiled as I imagined the frown on his face slowly disappearing.

“…You better come back to me.” His tone was low and soft, having my heart flutter.

“I will always come back. I promise.”

forty-one

Althaia

It has been a week since I got home, and even though I miss the others terribly, it was good to be home and spend time with my mother. It has been crazy busy at the boutique, and I felt terrible seeing how exhausted my mother looked. I was happy to return to work next week, letting my foot rest so it could heal faster.

I was sitting on the couch in the living room as I watched the Seven Deadly Sins while eating a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast. Just as I took a big bite of my bagel, the doorbell rang. I let out a noise of annoyance, trying to chew faster as I made my way to the front door.

Who would be coming at this hour, anyway?

I brushed away any crumbs around my mouth and quickly made sure I looked decent enough to open the door.

“Delivery for Miss Althaia.” The man said and handed me the biggest arrangement of red roses I had ever seen.

“From... who…?” My voice died down as he was already making his way back to his car.

I stared in awe at the huge flower arrangement as I walked back to the living room. I placed it on the coffee table, admiring the beautiful red roses. There were even a few white orchids on the side, making it look so beautiful.

A fancy crystal vase, adorned with a silk ribbon, held it all together. There was a small note peeking out from beneath the ribbon. I took the note, and a smile spread across my lips at the words.

I couldn’t stop smiling as I kept reading the note over and over again, filling my heart with infinite warmth and happiness. I clutched the note to my chest as if burying the words into my heart while I carefully touched the rose petals with my fingertips.

I placed the note back as I made my way upstairs to my bedroom with the flowers. I wasn’t going to leave it in the living room or on the dining table for my mother to see. If there was one thing I would like to keep to myself, it was my relationship with Damiano.

She wasn’t thrilled when she found out that Cara was marrying into la Famiglia Bellavia. Her reaction didn’t exactly make me want to jump up and down in eagerness to tell her I was dating someone from the family as well.

The Mafia Boss to make it worse.

I placed the vase on my desk, pulled out my phone, and snapped a photo of the flower arrangement to send to him.

Althaia: Thank you.

I love them so much!

But I love the words even more.

Damiano: Hmm, if I knew you would

like the words this much,

I would have written you a hundred more.

Althaia: Oh, really?

That would have been quite some

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