Page 121 of King of Obsession

Alessio paused, the pain of that betrayal still fresh in his mind.

I tagged and squeezed his hand, urging him to continue.

‘He couldn’t get to me, so he went after the people I loved most.’

Alessio’s voice cracked, and I swallowed hard against the lump in my throat, feeling his anguish. ‘He had them killed, Cleo. And it was all because of me. I should have eliminated Franco on the night I found him with you in Naples. Instead, I let the fuzz take him. Not knowing how he’d knife us in the back in the worst way possible.’

The words hung heavy between us, the weight of his confession almost suffocating.

My eyes glistened with unshed tears, my hand tightening around his as I processed the revelation.

‘Baby,’ I whispered, voice trembling. ‘I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine the pain you must have gone through.’

He shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at his sensual lips. ‘It’s grief I’ve carried with me every day since. A constant reminder of the consequences of my actions, of the price others paid for my mistakes.’

I reached up, palm cupping his cheek as I forced him to meet my gaze. ‘You can’t blame yourself, Alessio. You were doing your job, trying to bring a dangerous man to justice. What happened to your parents, that’s on Franco, not you.’

He leaned into my touch, drawing strength from my unwavering support. ‘I know that, logically. But it doesn’t make the guilt any easier to bear.’

‘Baby,’ I breathed, stroking his jaw.

‘What are you thinking?’ he rasped. ‘Does this change how you see me? Us?’

Silence stretched between us, and the only sounds were the distant chirping of birds and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze.

He turned to look at me, but I fixed my eyes on the road ahead.

When I spoke again, I kept my tone soft.

‘It changes us for the better. You risked your life for me, honey, then and now. For that, I love you even more.’

His voice hitched, a hoarse timbre dragging out of me. ‘You love me?’

I tapped my heart, giving him the fullness of my soul, smiling at him.

It’d been a short time together, but one so intense it felt like I’d known him for years. Which made my declaration that much more poignant given the shit we’d been through.

‘Fuck woman, stop,’ he grunted, those sensual lips curling, his leonine eyes flashing. ‘If you don’t, you’ll need to give me your heartbeat because you’re taking off with mine.’

He leaned in and took my jaw, gentle thumb caressing my cheek. ‘Ti amo. Sei la mia anima gemella, you’re my dream mate, Cleo.’

I slid across the truck’s bench seat, burying my nose in his nape.

He inhaled, and his musk and scent filled my lungs as he held me close. The scorching heat of his body against me was all I needed to exist.

Taking my time, I pulled back, his hands stroking my face.

‘I meant every word,’ he murmured. ‘Franco’s carelessness cost my parents their lives. Bringing him to justice is the only way to honor their memory.’

I exhaled, my shoulders rising and falling with emotion under my thin sweater. ‘Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Did you not trust me?’

‘No, cara, never that.’ Alessio reached for my free hand, lacing their fingers together. My skin was cool, the slim bones delicate beneath his rough palm. ‘I wanted to protect you from my past. From the man I was before.’

‘The man you are is all that matters to me.’ I shot him a glance, my eyes green and gold in the honeyed light. ‘No more secrets, Alessio. Promise me.’

‘No more,’ he vowed, lifting my hand to brush his lips across my knuckles. ‘From now on, you’ll know everything. My heart is an open book.’

I sighed and glanced away from him, eyes canted to the view outside the car window.

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