120

120
Rosa’s POV
The wine was warm in my glass, the edges of the city lights blurring as the night deepened. It had been one of those rare evenings when everything seemed to align-quiet laughter over dinner in my balcony, a shared look that lingered too long, and the comfortable rhythm that only comes when someone feels like less of a stranger and more of a constant.
Allesio leaned back in his chair, his eyes on me, his gaze heavy with something I couldn’t quite name. He had this way of looking at me, like I was a puzzle he couldn’t wait to solve. Tonight, though, I didn’t mind being seen. Maybe it was the wine, or maybe it was just him, but my usual guard felt lighter.
“Your family fascinates me,” he said, breaking the silence. His voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it, something calculated.
I raised an eyebrow, smirking a little. “Fascinates you? That’s an interesting word for it.”
“Well, it’s true,” he said, shrugging as if the words didn’t weigh much. “You’re like this unstoppable force, running the show, keeping the Smith legacy alive. It’s… impressive.”
“Impressive,” I repeated, rolling the word over in my mouth like a bitter pill. “You make it sound so glamorous.”
“Isn’t it?”
I snorted, shaking my head. “No. It’s exhausting. Every move we make is under scrutiny-every deal, every handshake, every silence. People think power is all glitter and gold, but they don’t see the price you pay for it.”
He tilted his head, studying me. “What’s the price?”
“Everything,” I said simply.
The word hung between us, but he didn’t look away, didn’t offer hollow reassurances. Maybe that’s why I kept talking.
“When I was younger, my father made a deal with the Vasquez family,” I said, leaning forward slightly. “It wasn’t just a business partnership; it was a lifeline. Our family was strong, yes, but there was a time when we were… vulnerable. The Vasquezes helped solidify our territory, gave us the backing we needed to stand against some of the other families.”
His eyebrows lifted slightly, just enough for me to notice, but he stayed quiet, his expression neutral.
“At the time, it seemed like the right move. And maybe it was. But alliances like that… they come with strings. Expectations. My father always says loyalty is currency in our world, but I think he forgets that debt is part of that equation too.”
“What do you mean?” Allesio asked, his tone careful, measured.
I hesitated, swirling the wine in my glass as I chose my words. “There are expectations to fulfill. Favors owed. Decisions we didn’t want to make but had to because of that alliance. It’s not as simple as just shaking hands and walking away.”
His gaze didn’t waver, but I could see the gears turning in his mind. It struck me then how intently he listened, how every word seemed to matter to him. It wasn’t something I was used to, this feeling of being heard.
“I can’t imagine it was easy,” he said finally.
“It wasn’t,” I admitted. “Especially for me. My father’s always been the one making the big decisions, but as I’ve gotten older, he’s started pulling me into the fold more. He says I need to learn how to play the game.”
“And do you want to play it?”
His question caught me off guard. I blinked at him, momentarily stunned.
“Want doesn’t really factor into it,” I said. “It’s not about what I want-it’s about what’s necessary. My family’s legacy is bigger than me. My feelings don’t matter.”
“They should,” he said, his voice softer now.
I looked at him, and for a moment, the walls I kept so carefully constructed wavered. There was something about the way he said it, like he believed it. Like I mattered.
I shook my head, trying to brush off the weight of his words. “You’re really really good at this, you know.”
“At what?”
“Making me feel like I’m not completely insane for hating this life sometimes.”
He chuckled, a low, warm sound that felt like it belonged in the quiet of the night. “You’re not insane, Rosa. You’re human. There’s a difference.”
The way he said my name, the way it rolled off his tongue-it made my chest tighten in a way I wasn’t ready to acknowledge.
“It’s just… complicated,” I said, leaning back in my chair and taking another sip of wine. “Everything in this world is. Alliances, loyalties, betrayals-they’re all tangled up together. And if you’re not careful, one wrong move can unravel the whole thing.”
“I can imagine,” he said, and for the first time, there was something in his voice that sounded… off. Like he wasn’t just saying it to fill the space.
I glanced at him, narrowing my eyes slightly. “What about you?” I asked. “You’re always so calm, so collected. Have you ever felt like the weight of the world was on your shoulders?”
His smile faltered for a split second-so quick I almost missed it. But then it was back, charming and easy, like it had never slipped.
“Maybe,” he said vaguely. “But I’ve learned to manage it.”
“That’s not an answer,” I pointed out.
“Maybe not,” he admitted, leaning forward slightly. “But tonight isn’t about me. It’s about you.”
The way he said it made my heart stutter, and I hated that it did. I hated how easily he disarmed me with his words, his smile, the way he looked at me like I was the only person in the world who mattered.
“Careful, Allesio,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “You’re starting to sound like you actually care.”
“Maybe I do,” he said, his voice soft but steady.
I literally felt the air shift between us, an unspoken understanding passing in the silence. I didn’t know what to say to that, so I didn’t say anything.
Instead, I let myself enjoy the moment-the quiet, the warmth of the wine, the way his presence made me feel less alone.