106Allesio’s POV
The night was colder than usual, the kind that seeps into your bones no matter how many layers you’re wearing. The city streets were quieter too, save for the occasional hum of a car or the faint chatter spilling out from a bar a few blocks away. Rosa was ahead of me, walking with purpose, her steps quick but not rushed.
I shouldn’t have followed her, not like this. It was an unspoken rule not to meddle in someone else’s business unless it served the family. But Rosa had a way of making me break my own rules. Maybe it was the way she carried herself when she was leaving the house. Like she was up to nothing good and she didn’t want anyone knowing what it was. If not she wouldn’t have sneaked out without telling even her best friend where she was going.
I stayed close enough to keep her in sight but far enough not to crowd her. She’d made it clear she didn’t need a shadow. I ignored her.
When she turned down a quieter street, I quickened my pace, closing the distance between us. Something didn’t sit right. The air felt heavier, thicker, like the city itself was holding its breath.
And then I saw him.
A man stepped out from an alley, his movements too calculated to be innocent. Rosa slowed but didn’t stop, her hand subtly brushing against her bag in a way that made me sure there was a gun in there.
The man spoke, his voice low and slurred. I couldn’t make out the words, but his posture told me enough. He was too close, his stance invasive, his hand gesturing toward her in a way that made my blood boil. Rosa, to her credit, didn’t flinch.
I stepped in without thinking.
“Is there a problem here?” I asked, my tone calm but carrying enough edge to make the man look up.
Rosa turned, her eyes narrowing when she saw me. She didn’t say anything, but I caught the faint flicker of relief in her expression before she masked it.
“Mind your own business,” the man muttered, his bravado faltering as he glanced between me and Rosa.
“This is my business,” I said evenly, stepping closer. I wasn’t a fan of theatrics, but I’d learned long ago that sometimes all it took was the right look to make a point. I let the silence stretch, my eyes locked on his until he broke first, mumbling something under his breath before stumbling back into the shadows.
Rosa exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “I could’ve handled that,” she said, but there was no heat in her words.
“I don’t doubt it,” I replied, smirking. “But now you didn’t have to.”
She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, which I took as a win.
We walked side by side after that, the both of us not speaking a word to each other. Rosa kept glancing at me, her expression unreadable, and I wondered what was going through her mind.
“Do you make a habit of following people, or am I just special?” she asked, her tone light but probing.
“Special,” I said without missing a beat.
She laughed softly, shaking her head. “You’re insufferable, you know that?”
“I’ve been told.”
“You’re not going to ask why I’m out here alone?” she said, breaking the silence.
“Do I need to?”
Her lips quirked up in a small smile. “No, but most people would.”
“I’m not most people.”
She gave me a sidelong glance, her gaze lingering longer than usual. “That much is obvious.”
We ended up at a small coffee shop near the edge of the city. It wasn’t the kind of place I usually went to-too quaint, too… normal. But Rosa seemed comfortable here, and I wasn’t about to suggest otherwise.
The barista greeted her like an old friend, and I watched as Rosa ordered without hesitation, her voice softening just enough to feel personal. She glanced at me over her shoulder.
“Do you want anything?”
“Surprise me,” I said.
She arched an eyebrow but didn’t argue, returning a few moments later with two steaming cups. She slid one across the table to me before sitting down, her movements unhurried.
“Black coffee,” she said. “Figured you weren’t the latte type.”
“You figured right.” I took a sip, the bitterness grounding me in a way I hadn’t expected.
Rosa leaned back in her chair, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup. “So, are you going to tell me why you were really following me?”
I met her gaze, my expression neutral. “Would you believe me if I said I was just concerned?”
She tilted her head, studying me. “No.”
I chuckled. “Fair enough.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
“I saw you leave,” I said simply. “You looked like you had somewhere important to be. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but there was no anger in them, just curiosity. “Why do you care?”
It was a good question, one I didn’t have a simple answer for. “Let’s just say I have a thing for making sure people get home safe.”
“Is that part of your job description?” she asked, her tone teasing but with an edge of sincerity.
“Something like that.”
She didn’t press further, which I was grateful for.
By the time we left the coffee shop, the city had quieted even more, the streets nearly empty. Rosa walked a little closer to me now, though I wasn’t sure if it was intentional or if she even noticed.
“Thanks,” she said suddenly.
“For what?”
“For… stepping in earlier.” She glanced at me, her expression softer than usual. “I’m not saying I needed it, but it was nice to have backup.”
“Anytime,” I said, meaning it more than I should have.
She smiled, and for the first time, it felt like she wasn’t holding anything back. It was small, barely there, but it was real.
And as we walked back to the mansion, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d crossed some invisible line. Rosa was letting her guard down, and I was the one who’d made it happen.
But instead of feeling victorious, all I felt was the guilt of what came next.