Chapter 5 - BLOOD IN the WATER
The breaking of the Romano alliance sent shockwaves through Milan's underworld. The other eleven families demanded a sit-down, outraged by Alessandro's erratic behavior. A mafia don did not break a blood pact over a housekeeper. The pressure was mounting, and the villa was transformed into a fortress. Snipers were positioned on the roof, and the perimeter was locked down.
Alessandro moved us from the guest suite into his own master bedroom at the center of the estate, refusing to let us out of his sight. The sheer intimacy of sharing his space—breathing his scent on the pillows, seeing his weapons laid out on the mahogany dresser—created an electric tension between us.
"They are calling for your head," I said one night, watching him load a tactical rifle by the fireplace.
He didn't look up. "Let them try."
"You're risking your empire for a woman you barely know and a child who isn't yours. Why, Alessandro?"
He finally stopped, setting the magazine down. He walked slowly across the room, stopping mere inches from me. The firelight cast sharp shadows across his striking face. "Because for the first time in thirty years, I have something worth fighting for. This empire is built on blood and lies. But you... you are real. Emma is real."
He reached out, his calloused thumb gently tracing the line of my jaw. The touch sent a jolt of electricity straight to my core. I leaned into his hand, closing my eyes, terrified of my growing feelings for a man who ordered executions before breakfast.
Suddenly, the night was shattered by the sound of sirens and screeching tires. An explosion rocked the eastern wing of the villa, throwing me off balance. Alessandro caught me, instantly pulling me to the floor.
"The Romanos," he growled, pulling his sidearm. The intercom on his desk crackled to life.
"Boss!" a panicked voice shouted. "It's a coordinated strike! The Romanos and Don Ricci's men! They've breached the outer gate!"
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Don Ricci. The oldest boss. The realization hit us both simultaneously. "Ricci is the traitor," Alessandro said, his eyes narrowing with lethal intent. "He allied with Vivian's family to stage a coup."
Alessandro grabbed my hand. "We have to move. Now."
