Page 38 of Angelo

"What kind of task?"

"They have been helping me look into ways to legitimize some of my family's businesses."

She gasped. "What?"

This was the first time Elyse had ever heard her husband mention such a thing. She felt somewhat blindsided by the notion. "Which businesses?"

He coughed. "The bars, the clubs, the hotels..."

"What about your other ventures?" Elyse paused before adding, "The drugs, especially?"

"I will not be able to step away from my ties with the cartel so easily," Alessandro murmured, "but it is my intention to do so. Little by little. Even if it takes a lifetime."

Elyse's heart flipped inside her chest. Breaking the very bones of the mafia to rebuild the systems in place sounded like a futile undertaking. But the idea moved her deeply. "I wasn't aware you possessed this intention at all."

"I promised you paradise, did I not?"

He was doing this for her?Mierda. Elyse whispered, “You did.”

His jaw clenched with determination. "If I can gain enough influence ascapo, there is a possibility for me to forge new ways to make money. Legal, safer channels. I do not think my allies care how we make the money as long as they do not suffer losses."

Alessandro's words filled her with wonder. The anger in her chest gentled to a quiet simmer. Begrudgingly, she felt her heart grow warm in an entirely different way. It now glowed with love and respect for her man.

It was clear Alessandro had bared a very personal part of himself to her, a most intimate goal, and this dream of his now felt as precious to Elyse as all the riches in the world. This was theshineMalina had been talking about. Elyse wassure of it.

She rose on her toes and showered him with sweet, adoring kisses. "I love you, Alessio, for the man you are now and the man you will become."

To her, his dream was worth dying for.

“Un diavolo non merita un angelo.”

“What did you say?” she asked while feigning ignorance.

“A devil does not deserve an angel,” he translated, brown and blue-gray eyes glistening with emotion. "I know how blessed I am to call you mine, Elyse. I should have never dragged you into these fires, but I will free you from hell even if it is the last thing I do."

“Don’t make promises that might tempt fate,” warned Elyse. “I have no intention of losing you.”

“Cuore mio…”

“We’ll build a new paradise together,” she vowed. “Now, tell me, how much do you trust Valentina to uphold her end of the agreement?”

"Apparently, she has been wanting to legitimize our businesses for years. She even approached the Toussaints for support shortly after my father’s diagnosis. I believe she was hoping to use Célia's business and political connections in her favor."

Nervously, Elyse asked, "What if she turns the Toussaints against us?”

"Even if she tries to fuck us over, our objectives are aligned for the moment, which makes her more useful than not. Until the playing field shifts again, I will not burn bridges. Instead, I will continue to survey the pieces on the board and decide when they can be moved—or removed—in our favor.”

It seemed her husband had truly taken her advice to heart. He was starting to think and act like a real fucking king. Pride shone from her green eyes as she gazed at him. "You mentioned that Valentina warmed up to Gaspare. How did you manage to persuade her?"

Alessandro replied, "Valentina seems intrigued by the idea of infiltrating the De León clan as Gaspare's wife. It will allow her to gain influence. She is looking forward to the challenge."

This strategy seemed fucked up on so many levels yet kind of genius at the same time. They could reclaim the De León clan through Valentina as long as the blue-eyed blonde didn't betray them.

Elyse frowned slightly. "I'm surprised that Valentina is willing to sacrifice herself for a man that she neither desires nor loves."

Alessandro lifted an eyebrow. "Who says she will be married for long?"

The edge in her husband's tone sounded a bit insidious. Suddenly, understanding smacked into Elyse. Fuck. "Are you guys planning to get rid of Gaspare?"

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