21

21
Alaric’s POV
I turned around on the bed, yawning and stretching, my limbs feeling loose. I felt relaxed. More relaxed that I had been in a very long while. And it was all thanks to Serena.
When I opened my eyes to check if she was still there, I realized she must have slipped out of the room and gone when I was still asleep. And then the mistake I made hit me so hard it made me blink in shock. I shouldn’t have brought her here. Gods. How could I have made such a stupid mistake? What if she was a spy for the other families and she had been there to spy on me? I’d have fallen right through her trap and she would have known all the perimeter of my house. We could be in danger right now. Francesca could be in danger right now.
I jumped out of my bed, racing out of my room and straight to Francesca’s bedroom. My heart was pounding hard in my chest as I pushed the door open and to my relief, she was still sleeping, curled up against Emilia.
A frown marred my face. Since when did Emilia start sleeping in my daughter’s room?
I turned around, walking out and closing the door as gently as I could so I would wake them up. Francesca was safe right now and that was all that mattered. I would deal with Emilia sleeping in Francesca’s room later. I walked back into my room, had a quick shower and dressed up before going out of the room and heading for my office. Allesio was standing outside and he had a smirk on his face as he opened the door for me. “Had fun with the pretty girl yesterday?” He asked, eyebrow raised and a grin taking over the smirk.
“We didn’t do anything,” I murmured, eyeing him as I stepped into my office and he stepped in with me. That was the truth. The girl and I didn’t do anything at all. We ended up drinking ourselves to stupor and falling asleep. That was very stupid and reckless of me though, and it would never be happening again. Which meant I would never be taking any advice from Allesio about what to do when I was stressed out.
“What do you mean you both didn’t do anything?” He asked, shock clear on his face.
“Exactly what I mean,” I answered, narrowing my eyes at him and opening my laptop, going straight to my mail to see if I have any unread one currently. “And you should be doing your job not asking me if I have done anything with a woman. Be professional, Allesio.”
I shot him a look and he bristled. “Whatever,” he murmured, and I could see him slip into his professional mask. “The shipment arrives tonight,” he reminded me. “What time do you want us to move?”
“Are our men already at the port? Watching?” I asked, raising a brow.
“Yes, boss,” he answered with a nod. “They’ve been there since yesterday along with the normal port guards. They reported back to me this morning and told me everything was fine at the port.”
“Good,” I answered, nodding. “When did Serena leave?”
“Oh so you and the girl are on a first name basis right now, and you mean to tell me that you both didn’t do anything? And I’m supposed to believe that?” He asked with a scoff.
I shot him a look, taking my hands off my computer and crossing my arms. “Is your job keeping a tab on my love and fuck life, or being my second in command? Because I think that you’re already getting the work mixed up.”
He rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. “She left early this morning and she bumped into Emilia and Francesca in the hallway. They were coming to your room,” he explained. “And she was leaving your room.”
I frowned. “They were coming to my room? Emilia and Francesca are still asleep. They never came to my room this morning.”
“Yeah they probably decided against it, and went back to bed. At least Emilia was civil with Serena but your little girl straight out ignored her. That was brutal,” he reported. “And awkward.”
“Civil how?” I asked.
“Oh she said a good morning. And after she walked away Francesca dragged Emilia back to her room and said she wants to sleep,” he answered.
“Why were they coming to my room this morning?” I demanded, raising a brow. I didn’t know what to think. Had Emilia turned Francesca against me? She had seen me and Serena yesterday and that look had crossed her face. That look that tugged at my heartstrings. She was hurt. And she left, going back to her room. That means she might have gone to Francesca’s room this morning or sometime in the middle of the night. That didn’t explain why Francesca would decide to go back to her room after seeing Serena this morning.
“I don’t know. Francesca didn’t look so good though. She ignored me too,” He shrugged.
“Didn’t look so good how?” I asked, alarmed as I sat straight in my chair.
“Calm down, Alaric. You know if she was sick I’d be the first to take her to the hospital. She’s fine, she just seemed dull. Maybe she wanted something from you,” he explained. “Or maybe she and Emilia had a fight.”
“Are they awake now?” I asked, still sitting stiffly in my chair.
He shook his head. “I haven’t heard them since then. They’re probably still asleep,” he replied.
“Keep an eye on Francesca though. If you notice any strange character, or that she’s reverting back into her old self, let me know. Is that clear?” I asked.
“Yes, boss,” he answered with a nod and turned around to step out. “And Emilia?”
“Ready the men for tonight,” I said instead, ignoring his question. “Ready more men. I don’t want to be on the loosing side if a fight will break out later.”