Page 22 of Defying Love

I fell back against the bed, my heart thundering, Alexa's head finding its place over my racing pulse. Her breaths, soft and rhythmic against my skin, were the only sound in the otherwise silent room. I wrapped my arms around her, the warmth of her body seeping into mine, grounding me after the storm of our passion.

Lying there, with the woman who had become my wife nestled against me, a profound realization settled in the depths of my being. Life was irrevocably altered. The presence of her, the touch, the taste—the sheer existence of Alexa by my side promised a future rife with both conflict and bliss.

The stark dichotomy of my world, one foot in darkness and the other in the light she brought into it, was a reality I now embraced wholeheartedly. She was mine, and I… I was undeniably hers.

In the hushed darkness of the room, the soft cadence of Alexa's breathing melded with the distant hum of the city beyond. Her body, a gentle curve against my side, rose and fell in the peaceful rhythm of slumber. I traced the line of her jaw with the back of my fingers, marveling at the delicate strength within her. The silken strands of her hair fanned across my chest, each breath stirring them like whispers of devotion.

I was filled with an emotion that was foreign yet fiercely possessive; she was a light in my shadowed existence—a beacon I had no intention of relinquishing. The weight of her trust, nestled against my rib cage, bore down on me with the gravity of the vows we'd exchanged. She was mine, wholly and irrevocably, and that knowledge coursed through me with a potent mix of tenderness and ownership.

The world outside beckoned with its siren call of duty—urgent and unyielding. Reluctance clawed at me as I peeled myself from the warmth of our tangled sheets, my skin mourning the loss of her touch. With each step away from the bed, I felt the chasm of our separate worlds yawning open between us.

My office, cloaked in shadows, was a reminder of the life I led—one steeped in peril and power. I sank into the leather chair, the coolness of it a contrast to the heat of Alexa's embrace. My hands found their way to the array of papers and reports strewn across the desk, but my thoughts refused to be tethered to the ink and numbers. They rebelled, drifting to the woman who now wore my ring, whose heart beat in time with mine.

The demands of my position within the mafia—an empire of influence and intimidation—clashed with the newfound desire to shield Alexa from the very darkness that fueled my ascent. Each decision, once made with clinical precision, now seemed laced with risk, every potential threat magnified by the thought of her being caught in the crossfire.

A sigh escaped me, a sound muffled by the thick walls of the mansion that served as both fortress and cage. The balance between duty and desire teetered precariously, my instincts torn between the man who commanded respect through fear and the husband who yearned for nothing more than to lose himself in the solace of his wife’s arms.

As I poured over the documents, the ghost of her touch lingered on my skin, a haunting promise that bound me to her even as I navigated the treacherous waters of my birthright. The duality of my existence had never been more pronounced; the underworld boss and the devoted lover waging a silent war within the confines of my chest.

The heavy oak door to my study burst open without warning, an intrusion that echoed like a gunshot in the silence of the night. He stood there, my father, with the weight of generations carved into the deep lines of his face and the chill of disapproval radiating from his icy glare. His presence was an omen, a shadow stretching across the room to wrap its cold fingers around my heart.

"Explain yourself," he demanded, his voice gravelly with barely contained fury. The air seemed to thicken, heavy with the scent of old leather and the unspoken threat that lingered on his tongue.

I rose slowly from behind the mahogany desk, the papers I'd been perusing now inconsequential. "You don't need an explanation. It's done," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside me.

"Marriage is not child's play, boy. And Alexa Monroe? A nobody. What the fuck were you thinking?" His scorn sliced through the room, each word a barb meant to wound. "She will be your downfall. You're aware of what's at stake. She doesn’t know anything about our world."

"She's my wife. I made a promise to protect her. You thought I’d actually kill her because of my stupid-ass decision? Come on, you can’t be that naive." I countered, shoulders squared against the barrage.

"Promises are as fragile as glass in this life we lead," he sneered. "Your heart has made you weak. Alexa could be our undoing. And she very well may be. But I’d also advise you to watch your fucking tongue or I’ll have Selio come in here and cut it out, son.”

"I've made my choice. I'll protect her from anything and anyone, even if that includes you."

His eyes narrowed, dark pools reflecting the decades of ruthlessness that had secured our empire. "Do not forget who you are," he hissed, a serpent poised to strike. “What it means to be a part of the family name and legacy.”

"How the fuck could I ever forget that? You have been manipulating me into this world since I was five. Trying to earn a part in this legacy is all I’ve ever been asked to do. But I will not kill an innocent woman because of a mistake I made. You might not have any problems taking lives, but I won’t take innocent ones. Not gonna fucking happen… not even for you.”

It was time I stepped up to my father. This was getting out of hand with him showing up at my house at midnight like he owned the fucking place. My place was clear in this legacy of Gambino’s, but I wouldn’t ever let him near Alexa. She was the only pure, angelic thing in my life and I’d keep it that way.

We stood locked in a silent battle of wills. Then with a final glower that promised retribution, he turned on his heel and stalked out, leaving the specter of his wrath lingering in the room like smoke. He wasn’t used to anyone talking back to him. The taste of defiance was bitter on my tongue, yet beneath it lay the sweet undercurrent of victory—he knew, as did I, that my resolve was ironclad. Alexa would be shielded from the darkness, no matter the cost, for she was the beacon that guided me through the night.

I had found the woman who would stand by my side as my queen and not one motherfucker was taking that from me.

Chapter Fifteen

Alexa

The thump of bass reverberated through my rib cage, a primal drumbeat that set the pace for the writhing bodies on the dance floor. Neon lights sliced through the dimness, casting transient glows on the faces lost in ecstasy and excess.

I weaved through the chaos, a specter of sobriety among the inebriated. My tray was a lifeline, steady and sure amid the undulating sea of dancers. A shout cut across the clamor, a demand for another round, and I nodded, scribbling the order with practiced ease.

“Vodka tonic, two tequila shots, and…” I shouted back.

“Make it three,” slurred a patron, his eyes glazed with the beginning of oblivion.

My fingers danced over the bottles, pouring and mixing with mechanical precision. The club’s pulse was my own, each beat propelling me forward, one drink, one order at a time.

My life was forever changed now. Dominic told me it was best not to tell anyone at the club yet. Why were we keeping our marriage a secret if he truly wanted me? Yet I did as he asked. My only comeback was that if someone asked me about us straight out, I would tell the truth. I laughed because who here would think the boss would even go for a girl like me? Hell, I’m still in shock. Everything happened so quickly but our first night together showed me a different side to the man under the armor.

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