105

105
Rosa’s POV
The quiet knock on my door had me raising my head from my documents with a slight frown. Emilia wasn’t in the house, she couldn’t be the one. And it wasn’t any of the house workers or Irene. I just knew it. And I wasn’t expecting any visitors. So who could it be then?
I picked up the documents, walked to the closet and locked them in it just as another knock sounded on the door then I went to get it.
Opening the door, I found Allesio standing there, an uneasy expression on his face and it seemed like he was just about to walk away.
“Hi,” I greeted, resting against the door and folding my arms.
“Hey,” he grinned at me but he still looked uneasy.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, raising a brow. It bothered me that he wasn’t his usual jovial self.
“I…um well…I wanted to go into the city for a stroll. Clear my head. And I was wondering, do you want to come along or are you busy?” He asked, rubbing his hair casually but it wasn’t casual. He was nervous. Since when was he nervous?
I pursed my lips, considering if I could really abandon my dad’s paperwork and focus on something else just for a little while then I decided it wouldn’t hurt to go on a stroll with him. So I nodded my head. “Sounds nice.”
“Great. I’ll be waiting outside,” he replied with a nod and didn’t wait for me to reply before he practically took off. I closed the door as gently as I could and practically ran into the closet to check if I looked okay in the mirror. After that, I grabbed my phone and chucked it into the pocket of my joggers before running out of the room in flip flops.
I found him outside and we walked down the streets quietly. It was empty in this part of town, probably because Alaric lived here and his men usually patrolled this part.
I didn’t peg Allesio as the kind of guy who took strolls to clear his head. Yet here we were, walking side by side.
It felt oddly… normal.
“You know,” I said once we finally got to the busy part of the city, glancing at him as we made our way through the crowd. “I didn’t peg you as someone who’d enjoy a casual stroll through the city.”
His lips quirked up in a half-smile. “And what do you think I’d enjoy?”
I thought about it for a second, studying his profile. His jawline was too sharp, his posture too composed, like he was always ready for a fight or to bolt. Allesio didn’t seem like the kind of man who would stop to smell the roses-or even notice them.
“Guns, fights, and expensive whiskey,” I said, arching a brow.
He laughed, the sound unexpected and warm. “You think I’m that one-dimensional?”
“Aren’t you?” I teased, but my tone was lighter than I intended.
His smile softened, and he shook his head. “Stick around long enough, and you might be surprised.”
I wasn’t sure what to make of that. The man had been a constant enigma since the day I met him, all sharp edges and charm that felt too practiced. But now, walking next to him in the middle of a crowded city, there was something disarming about him.
We stopped at a street vendor selling fresh pretzels. The smell of warm dough and sea salt filled the air, and my stomach growled. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was.
“Two,” Allesio said to the vendor, handing over cash before I could protest.
I raised an eyebrow as he handed me one of the pretzels. “You’re buying me street food now? What happened to all that fine dining at the mansion?”
“Don’t knock it till you try it,” he said, breaking off a piece of his and popping it into his mouth.
I took a cautious bite, and the salty, buttery flavor melted on my tongue. Damn it. It was good.
“Okay,” I admitted, “not bad.”
His grin was smug, and I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help smiling.
We wandered further into the heart of the city, the conversation flowing more easily than I’d expected. He pointed out a few landmarks-an old church, a hidden bookstore tucked between modern buildings, a coffee shop he swore had the best espresso.
“Do you always pay this much attention to random places?” I asked as we stopped outside the bookstore.
“Not random,” he said, his tone light but serious. “Just things that catch my interest.”
I turned to look at him, narrowing my eyes. “And what catches your interest, Allesio?”
He met my gaze, his expression unreadable for a moment. “More than you’d think.”
For some reason, his words sent a shiver down my spine, though I wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad one.
We eventually ended up at a small park on the edge of the city, far enough from the chaos of downtown that the noise became a distant hum. A fountain stood in the center, its water glistening in the afternoon sun.
“This doesn’t seem like your scene,” I said, sitting on the edge of the fountain and dipping my fingers into the cool water.
“And what’s my scene?” he asked, standing a few feet away with his hands in his pockets.
“I don’t know,” I said, shrugging. “Something more… intense.”
“Intense?”
“You know what I mean,” I said, giving him a pointed look. “The kind of place where people whisper your name like it’s a warning.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “I think you’ve been watching too many gangster movies.”
I smiled, but there was something else behind his words, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
“Why’d you bring me here?” I asked, my tone softer now.
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he sat down next to me, his arm brushing mine.
“Maybe I wanted to see if you’d let your guard down for once,” he said, his voice low.
I stared at him, unsure how to respond. My guard was always up-it had to be. In our world, trust was a luxury few could afford.
“And what about you?” I asked. “Is your guard ever down?”
His eyes met mine, and for a split second, I thought I saw something vulnerable in them. But then he smiled.
“Maybe,” he said. “But not often.”
The walk back to the car Allesio had requested one of their men bring to where we were was quieter, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. I think something had shifted between us, though I wasn’t sure if it was for better or worse.
As we drove back to the mansion, the city lights blurred outside the window, and I found myself stealing glances at him. His hands gripped the steering wheel with the same controlled ease that seemed to define everything he did.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked, not taking his eyes off the road.
“Nothing,” I said quickly, though my cheeks warmed at being caught.
He glanced at me, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. “You’re a terrible liar.”
“And you’re insufferable,” I shot back, though there was no real heat in my words.
His laugh filled the car, and despite myself, I smiled.
By the time we reached the mansion, the sun had started to set. He parked the car and turned to me, his expression softer than I’d ever seen it.
“Thanks for coming with me today,” he said.
I blinked, caught off guard. “You’re thanking me?”
“Don’t get used to it,” he said, grinning.
I shook my head, laughing as I opened the door and stepped out.