Page 36 of Angelo

Mierda.

“Naturally,” he grunted as though it explained everything. “It was not like I had time to go hunt him down in New York.”

“What did you want with him?”

“Take a guess.”

Elyse froze for a moment as her suspicions became a reality. “Stefano is no longer alive, is he?”

Alessandro grinned viciously. “I am simple man. I live by one rule. Anyone who hurts you—dies.”

“Let me get this straight,” she gulped. “Valentina and her friend were fucking in the shower while you were trying to kill Stefano?”

“Do not worry,” Alessandro assured her as though it made everything better, “he was already dead by the time she barged into the villa. Like I said, I left to take out some trash.”

So Stefano had walked in the door on two feet and left in a body bag. With an incredulous expression, Elyse muttered, “I assume she was more interested in fucking her friend than helping you dispose of his body.”

Serenely, he confirmed, “She is truly useless when there is a mess to clean up.”

Frowning, her mind backtracked for a moment. If Valentina liked women over men, forcing her to marry Gaspare seemed wrong on an unforgivable level. "Wait, if Valentina refused to marry you for power, what makes you think she’ll walk down the aisle with Gaspare?”

“Valentina only refused to marry me because I rejected her first. That bitch would do anything for power.”

“Even if she has to marry a man?”

“Even that,” he confirmed with a grimace. “In her eyes, marriage is a business contract. It will not stop her from living the life she wants.”

“How do you know?”

“I… decided to take your advice."

"You did?"

"After speaking to Valentina, I decided to give the bitch a chance to prove her worth." His cheeks flushed with a hint of shame. "I should not have acted like an ass after my father died, but your words stayed with me even while I tried todismiss them. Especially after we learned the truth about Aberto. I do not know what kind ofcapoI will be, but, no matter what, I cannot let you feel ashamed to be my wife.This is why I must never become my father.”

Elyse's face softened. She reached for his hand. "Alessio..."

He gazed at her with uncertainty. "Do you still want me? Knowing that I am so… lost?"

Alessandro stared at her expectantly, but she didn’t answer right away. Instead, Elyse reached for him. Her hand found the inscription inked across his bare chest. She pressed her palm gently against the words.Aut inveniam viam aut faciam.Elyse recognized the Latin from her college days.I shall either find a way or make one.Its meaning struck a chord.

“This one,” she murmured in soft tones. “When did you get it?”

A rueful corner of his mouth lifted. “The first time my brothers tried to kill me.”

“Yet, they are gone,” Elyse emphasized resolutely, “and you remain.”

“What are you trying to say, wife?”

Like her, he didn’t know the meaning of surrender. Against all odds, they would find a way to survive.

“Know that you’re a force to be reckoned with,” Elyse finally answered, “and no man is more deserving of my love than you.”

His larger hand closed over hers. “When we are together, you make me feel like anything is possible.”

Then, Alessandro dropped his head to kiss her. She kissed him back. A poignant sweetness flowed between husband and wife. The discord from her grandfather's house all but vanished. When they pulled apart, Alessandro's mood seemed to have recovered significantly.

He spoke with more confidence even while bearing bad news, "You should know that Monte has reported back about Aberto's involvement with the Santos brothers. It seems our fears are valid. The De Leóns can no longer be seen as friends."

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