Page 5 of Angelo

"Nothing."

"Fucking say it," demanded Alessandro.

"Icarefor you," she offered after some reluctance, "more than I ever expected."

He gave her a hard, piercing look. "Is that all?"

Green eyes flicked up to his face. Her voice caught with emotion. "N-No. There's more. So much more. You have no idea."

Indeed,now, Elyse cared so much to the point where her husband's welfare, his sorrows, and his joys were intimately embedded with hers. Elyse feared for his life as much she feared for her own. He was her man, she was his woman, and Elyse was more than willing to burn alongside him.

Alessandro drew in a sharp breath. His gaze continued to bore into her. "Tell me,cuore mio. Per favore.I wish to hear it."

"I can't," Elyse murmured, shying away from him, "not yet."

She'd tell him once the worst of their storms passed. Right now, it felt too dangerous to hand over her whole fucking heart when he might not live to see tomorrow morning. Everyone was out for his blood. She was acting like a coward. But Elyse didn't know if she could survive the heartbreak if Alessandrodied on her.

Disappointment clouded Alessandro's features. He scoffed, "Cruel wife."

"Not cruel butfrightened," Elyse flung back, "I'm terrified for us."

Terrified of losing you.

He winced. "I will not let anything harm you, I promise."

"It'syouthat I'm worried about," Elyse said with a sigh, "which is why I want us to be careful with every decision. Let me deal with your stepsister, so you can focus on more important things."

Alessandro appeared to be weary of their conversation. "Cuore mio..."

"Give me some time to investigate before marrying her off."

"No."

"Just a few days?Please."

He ground out, "Why does she matter so much to you?"

Exasperation drew her mouth into a scowl. Did she have to spell it out?Valentina mattered because she was their first test. If they didn't pass with flying colors, neither of them would live to see the aftermath.

Alessandro claimed that his stepsister hired a hitman to kill him in New York.

If Valentina was, indeed, guilty, she deserved a punishment far worse than a shitty marriage. They'd need to make a violent and savage example out of her.

If his stepsister hadn't sent the hitman, however, forcing her to tie the knot with Gaspare would be overkill, and it'd give a vengeful woman, such as Valentina, the perfect excuse to join hands with Domenico and retaliate against them.

Elyse expressed firmly, "The way I see it? If you already found evidence that Valentina paid Tommy Wilkes, she'd be dead by now. The fact that she's still breathing tells me that you're questioning her loyalty, but her betrayal has yet to be proven. I think, deep down, you know these first steps will set the tone for the rest of your days ascapo. Don't rush into battle until the war is ours to win. If we fuck up now, we're fucked all the way through."

"I amcapo," Alessandro countered, "even when I fuck up, I am never wrong."

"Is that what you believe?" she challenged. "Or what your father believed?"

His brow pinched. "Basta, Elyse. That is enough."Stop.

"Alessio—"

In dismissive tones, he didn't let her finish, "Funerals don't plan themselves."

With a tight expression, Elyse growled, "Fine. I should get going."

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