Page 21 of Silent Night With Alessio

I nod, forcing myself to move, to dress, to pull myself together even as my heart feels like it’s breaking. I pick at the breakfast he’s arranged, but my appetite is gone, replaced by a hollowness that no amount of food could fill.

As I slip into my clothes, I feel the weight of his gaze on me, but when I glance up, he’s turned away, already walking toward the door. There’s no warmth, just a cold, clinical distance that leaves me reeling, wondering if I ever knew him at all.

We step out into the morning; the world feeling colder, sharper, as though someone stripped it of color. The drive to Bellini Lodge is silent, the tension thick between us, but I refuse to break it, refuse to let him see how deeply he’s hurt me.

I keep my eyes fixed on the road, my hands clenched in my lap, holding myself together even as every mile feels like it’s pulling us further apart.

9

Alessio

Ikeep my eyeson the road, but I can feel Isabella’s presence like a warm ember radiating through the silent car. It’s only been hours since last night, yet it feels like a lifetime away.

The way she looked at me, the way she held on, whispered my name, clung to me like I was the only thing keeping her alive…that image keeps creeping back, unbidden.

And the way she moaned, it’s… haunting. Sends a heat through me I can’t shake, something fierce and raw, not in a way I’ve ever felt before.

Damn it, Alessio, get a grip.

I shouldn’t have let things go that far. For her sake. Her life has already been in jeopardy just being around me, just by existing in my world. And I can’t let her get in any deeper.

I’m trying to keep her safe, to keep her at arm’s length.

But every time I look at her, the memory of her face in the dark, her voice in my ear, crashes over me like a wave I don’t know how to fight.

I’m driving us to the Bellini Lodge, but I feel like I’m heading into battle with myself.

When we pull up to the Lodge, the walk to the entranceway is brisk, my feet moving quickly almost to out run the awkwardness. We get to the hallway and I clear my throat.

“Wait here,” I say, keeping my voice even, businesslike.

She nods, but her eyes follow me, studying my face, and I know she’s still trying to read what’s going on beneath the surface. Hell, even I don’t know what’s going on beneath the surface.

I head deeper inside, making my way to the tech room where Luca and Nico are waiting. Luca’s got that usual brawny, no-nonsense air about him, built like a tank with a face like he’s carved out of stone.

And Nico, hunched over his equipment, with his thick glasses and easy smirk, has that brainy edge. And enough sharpness in his eyes to make you know he’s not to be underestimated. Just another cog in the Luciana machine, as ruthless and loyal as any of us.

“Alessio,” Nico greets, spinning in his chair to face me. “I hear you’ve got something for me to sink my teeth into?”

I hand him the flash drive, keeping my expression carefully blank. “Footage from the third jeweler’s shop. See what you can do with it.”

He nods, already slotting the drive into his computer, fingers moving swiftly over the keys. I turn to Luca, who’s leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his gaze cool and observant.

I can feel them both watching me, picking up on the turmoil I’m trying to hold down. Nico’s fingers freeze, and he glances up, brow furrowing.

“What’s with you, Alessio?” Nico’s voice has a lightness to it, but there’s a pointed curiosity in his eyes. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I keep my face impassive, trying to shrug it off. “Nothing. Focus on the footage.”

“Come on,” Luca says, raising a brow. “We can tell something’s up. Spill it.”

I clench my jaw, debating whether to say anything, but their eyes are steady, waiting. I’ve known these two guys for years. They know me too well, and if there’s one thing I know about them, it’s that they will not let this go.

I sigh, leaning against the desk, folding my arms.

“Fine,” I mutter. “I did something… impulsive last night.”

Nico smirks. “Impulsive, huh? That doesn’t sound like you.”

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