121

121
Allesio’s POV
I leaned against the balcony railing of my room, staring out at the sprawling estate below, its manicured lawns and glimmering lights feeling more like a gilded cage than a place of power. The phone in my hand buzzed again, Alaric’s name lighting up the screen.
I let it ring, debating whether I even wanted to answer.
Eventually, I swiped my thumb across the screen and held the phone to my ear.
“Finally,” Alaric snapped, his voice sharp enough to cut glass. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten how to pick up a damn phone.”
“Been busy,” I replied evenly, staring out at the darkened horizon.
“Busy cozying up to Rosa, I assume?” he said, his tone laced with something between sarcasm and irritation. “Because that’s the job, Allesio. Or have you forgotten that, too?”
My jaw tightened. “I haven’t forgotten.”
“Good,” he said. “Then maybe you can explain why I’m hearing whispers that you’re dragging your feet. You’re supposed to be gathering intel, not playing house.”
“I’m doing what I can,” I shot back, my voice colder than I intended. “You think this is easy? You want results, you let me do this my way.”
There was a beat of silence, heavy and menacing, before Alaric spoke again.
“Your way, huh?” he said, his tone dangerously low. “Let me remind you, Allesio, that your way isn’t an option. We have a timeline, and every second you waste getting lost in Rosa’s eyes or her bed puts us further behind.”
“I’m not wasting time,” I said through gritted teeth. “But if you think rushing her is going to get us anywhere, you’re delusional. Rosa isn’t stupid. She’ll see right through it.”
“And what about you?” Alaric asked, his voice suddenly sharp. “You getting too comfortable, Allesio? Starting to like her a little too much?”
I gripped the railing tighter, the cold metal biting into my palms. Alaric’s words hung in the air like a noose tightening around my neck.
“This isn’t about liking her,” I said evenly, though even I wasn’t convinced by the steadiness of my voice.
“Isn’t it?” Alaric’s tone was mocking now, cutting through my defenses like a blade. “I’ve seen this before, Allesio. You get too close, you lose focus. And then you make mistakes. Costly mistakes. You’re playing with fire, and if you burn this operation to the ground, it won’t just be your neck on the line.”
The unspoken threat lingered between us, and I felt my pulse quicken. This wasn’t just about me anymore-Alaric made that clear the moment he looped me into his web.
“What do you want me to do?” I asked, forcing my voice to remain calm.
“Step up,” he snapped. “Push her. Get her to talk. Use whatever leverage you have. I don’t care if you have to make her fall in love with you or break her heart-just get the information we need.”
A sick feeling coiled in my stomach at his words. The thought of manipulating Rosa any further, of using her trust against her, made me want to smash the phone against the wall.
“I’ll get it done,” I said finally, my voice flat.
“You’d better,” Alaric said. “Because if you don’t, someone else will. And trust me, they won’t be as… delicate about it.”
The line went dead, but his words echoed in my mind long after the call ended. I shoved the phone into my pocket and pressed my hands to my face, exhaling slowly.
The next morning, I sat across from Rosa in the sunlit dining room. She was distracted, scrolling through her phone while picking at a croissant, her dark hair cascading over her shoulder. There was something so natural, so unguarded about her in moments like this that it made it harder to reconcile what I was doing.
I’d spent my life lying, manipulating, and maneuvering through dangerous territory, but Rosa was different. She didn’t deserve this-not the deceit, not the betrayal I knew was coming.
“Allesio,” she said suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts. Her dark eyes met mine, sharp and questioning. “You’ve been quiet. Something on your mind?”
I hesitated for a fraction of a second before flashing her a faint smile. “Just tired. Didn’t sleep much last night.”
Her gaze softened, and she tilted her head slightly, studying me. “Anything I should be worried about?”
Her concern was genuine, and it hit me harder than it should have. I shook my head. “No. Just some old ghosts, I guess.”
She nodded, accepting the vague answer, but her eyes lingered on me for a moment longer, as if she could sense there was more I wasn’t saying.
“Maybe you need a distraction,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“I’ve got plenty of those,” I replied, my voice light.
Her laugh was soft, and for a moment, the tension inside me eased. She had a way of doing that, of making me forget what I was supposed to be doing. But then her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen, her expression shifting.
“Duty calls?” I asked, masking my curiosity.
“Something like that,” she said, standing up and smoothing her dress. “I’ve got a meeting with my father. You know how it is.”
I nodded, even though I didn’t. Not really. Her world was one of power and loyalty, of alliances and rivalries, and I was just a trespasser in it.
“Try to get some rest,” she said as she walked past me, her hand brushing lightly against my shoulder.
I watched her leave, a knot forming in my chest. Every step she took away from me felt like a countdown ticking closer to the inevitable moment when she’d realize who I really was.
Later that evening, I found myself pacing in my room, Alaric’s words replaying in my head. I was supposed to push her, to dig deeper, but the thought of betraying Rosa any further felt like carving out pieces of myself.
When I finally stopped pacing, I pulled out my phone and stared at the screen. My thumb hovered over Alaric’s number, but I couldn’t bring myself to call him.
Instead, I opened a blank message and stared at the blinking cursor. What could I say? That I was losing my grip? That I wasn’t sure I could finish what we started?
Before I could decide, a knock at the door startled me. I shoved the phone into my pocket and crossed the room, opening the door to find Rosa standing there.
“Hey,” she said softly, her expression hesitant. “I know it’s late, but I thought… maybe you could use some company.”
My chest tightened at the sight of her, and for a moment, I couldn’t find the words.
“Of course,” I said finally, stepping aside to let her in.
She walked into the room, her gaze taking in the scattered papers on the desk, the half-empty glass of whiskey on the nightstand.
“Rough day?” she asked, glancing back at me.
“You could say that,” I replied, shutting the door.
She sat down on the edge of the bed, her hands resting in her lap. “Want to talk about it?”
I hesitated. There were a million things I wanted to say, but none of them were the truth.
“Just work stuff,” I said finally, sitting down beside her.
She nodded, her expression thoughtful. “It’s strange. Sometimes I feel like I know you so well, and other times…”
Her voice trailed off, and she glanced at me, her eyes searching mine.
“Other times what?” I asked, my voice quiet.
“Other times, I feel like there’s this wall between us,” she said, her words hesitant but honest.
Her vulnerability cut through me, and for a moment, I thought about tearing down that wall, about telling her everything. But the risk was too great-for both of us.
“I don’t mean to keep you out,” I said, my voice low. “Sometimes it’s just… hard to let people in.”
She nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to her hands. “I get that. I do. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this life, it’s that trust goes both ways.”
Her words hit harder than she probably realized, and I felt the weight of my deception pressing down on me even more.
“I trust you,” I said, the lie burning my throat.
Her lips curved into a small, sad smile. “I hope so.”
For a long moment, we sat in silence. And for the first time, I wondered if I’d already gone too far-if there was any way to salvage what was left of my soul.