Page 105 of Sovereign Oaths

They got out, while he and I stayed. He pointed to the table where one of ours was already sitting. “Sit in that chair. They’ll come from your left.”

I nodded. We’d gone through the plan enough for me to memorize it, but it was soothing to do it one more time with the pieces all in place.

“Kick, scream, knock the chair over. Do whatever you need to make it seem real.”

“Got it.”

He squeezed my arm. “This will be over soon.”

I met his eyes. “See you on the other side.”

Before he could respond, or I could change my mind and beg him to drive away, I got out and walked across the open pavilion to the café. I ordered an iced tea, and when it was ready, the man saving my spot casually stood and threw away his empty cup. I took his place and stared ahead, waiting.

The world around me was a muted, blurred backdrop that felt a million miles away. I had dozens of eyes on me, hidden and in plain sight, but I didn’t look for them.

It didn’t take long for Alessio to arrive. We picked a spot just down from his house so we wouldn’t have to wait.

“Amor.” He took my hands and kissed me deeply before kneeling before me. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”

I bit my lip, fighting to control my emotions, then I remembered I didn’t have to. “Alessio, I’m so sorry.”

He pulled me into his arms, and I clung to him. He was thinner. He felt as fragile as I did.

He stepped back and sat in the chair to my right, positioned so my left would be open and vulnerable.

“No, I’m sorry. It was one of my own that betrayed me.” He dropped his head, focusing on our joined hand as he brushed his thumb over my knuckles. “I’ll never forgive myself. My pride cost me my sister.” He sucked in a breath. “And my mother.”

“What?” I gasped. “What happened to Maria?”

A tear fell between us. “Her house was attacked. They killed her and all the men guarding her.”

I bent forward, resting my head on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”

He leaned into me, pulling us together. “I’ve lost nearly everything. I can’t lose you too.”

I lifted his chin to make him look at me. “I love you too much to walk away.”

He closed his eyes as his shoulders dropped. “That’s all that matters to me.”

“But Alessio, I can’t continue like this.”

He straightened, squeezing my hands. “It’s all different now, amor. I took care of my enemies. They are gone. No longer a threat to us.”

I furrowed my brow. “Brazzi?”

His eyes darkened. “Dead.”

“Michael?”

“Dead.” He kissed me. “You are safe. It’s just me and you now. That’s all that matters.”

At what cost? His family was gone. His business was depleted. His few standing men were ready to turn. Didn’t he see that?

He was so desperate to hold on to me, he burned down the rest of his world.

He lost everything but was desperately clinging to the idea of Millie.

The Velez Mafia, my Pack, had ripped everything away from him. Piece by piece.

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