124

124
Allesio’s POV
The day started like any other, but I had a strange feeling in my gut-one that had nothing to do with the usual syndicate tension and everything to do with Rosa. She’d told me we had plans, but she hadn’t been specific. That alone should have been a warning. With Rosa, surprises were rarely casual.
When she appeared in the doorway, wearing a tailored navy suit that managed to look both lethal and elegant, I knew whatever was coming wasn’t small.
“You clean up well,” I said, giving her a slow once-over.
She smirked, fixing one of her earrings. “You’re not so bad yourself. You ready?”
“For what?” I asked, slipping my jacket on.
Her smirk deepened, and she walked past me, the faint scent of her perfume lingering in the air. “You’ll see.”
She led me outside, where her driver was already waiting. As we settled into the car, I kept my face neutral, but my mind was racing. Rosa had a way of pulling me into her world without warning, and today felt like one of those days.
“Care to share what’s on the agenda?” I asked casually.
“You’ll meet someone important,” she said, looking out the window. “He’s been like family to me. Loyal, trustworthy, and… protective.”
Protective. The word hung in the air like a threat.
I kept my expression calm, but inside, I was already preparing myself. Whoever this man was, he wasn’t just anyone. And if Rosa trusted him enough to bring me into the fold, this was a test-whether she realized it or not.
When we arrived at the restaurant, it was clear this wasn’t just any meeting. The place was discreet, the kind of spot that catered to people who valued privacy over ambiance. Rosa’s world in a nutshell.
We were led to a private room in the back, and when the door opened, a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair and a sharp suit stood to greet us. His presence filled the room, the kind of quiet authority that didn’t need to be announced.
“Rosa,” he said warmly, pulling her into a brief hug. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too, Carlo,” she replied, her voice softer than I was used to hearing. She turned to me, her hand brushing my arm. “Carlo, this is Allesio.”
Carlo’s eyes flicked to me, sharp and assessing. He didn’t extend a hand, and I didn’t offer one. This wasn’t the kind of man who needed pleasantries to size someone up.
“I’ve heard about you,” he said after a moment.
“Good things, I hope,” I said lightly, keeping my tone respectful but not submissive.
“We’ll see,” he said, his gaze lingering on me for a beat longer before he gestured for us to sit.
The conversation started harmlessly enough-business updates, mentions of mutual acquaintances, the kind of coded language that masked the darker undercurrents of their world. I stayed quiet for the most part, observing.
Carlo’s loyalty to Rosa was obvious. He watched her with a protective air, like a father or an older brother, but there was also a sharpness to him. He wasn’t just here for Rosa’s sake; he was evaluating me, deciding whether I was worth the risk.
“So, Allesio,” Carlo said eventually, his attention shifting fully to me. “What brings you into Rosa’s life?”
The question was blunt, but the intent behind it was sharper.
“I’d like to think I bring balance,” I said, keeping my tone even. “She’s got enough chaos in her world. Maybe I’m her reminder that not everything has to be so complicated.”
Carlo’s lips twitched, though I couldn’t tell if it was amusement or skepticism. “A bold claim. Rosa doesn’t strike me as someone who needs reminders.”
“She doesn’t,” I said, glancing at her. “But even the strongest people need someone in their corner.”
The words felt heavier than I intended, and when Rosa looked at me, there was a flicker of something in her eyes-something that made my chest tighten.
Carlo leaned back, his gaze shifting between us. “Well, if Rosa trusts you, that’s enough for me. For now.”
It wasn’t approval, not really, but it wasn’t rejection either. And in this world, that was as close to a win as I was going to get.
The rest of the meal passed in a blur of guarded conversation and subtle power plays. By the time we left, I felt like I’d been through a gauntlet.
In the car, Rosa was quiet, her expression unreadable.
“You didn’t tell me Carlo was going to interrogate me,” I said eventually, breaking the silence.
She smirked, glancing at me. “He wasn’t interrogating you. If he were, you’d know.”
“Comforting.”
She laughed softly, and for a moment, the tension in my chest eased.
“He likes you,” she said after a pause.
I raised an eyebrow. “That’s his way of liking someone?”
“He’s cautious,” she said, her voice quieter. “But if he didn’t trust you, he would’ve said so.”
Her words hung in the air, and I realized how much it meant and just how fast things were going. Rosa wasn’t just bringing me into her life; she was bringing me into her family’s world.
And that should have been a victory. Carlo was a key player in her syndicate, someone who could provide invaluable insights into their operations. This was exactly what Alaric wanted-what I was supposed to want.
But as I looked at Rosa, sitting beside me with a quiet confidence that masked her vulnerability, I couldn’t shake the guilt that gnawed at me.
She trusted me, more than she should. And I was using that trust to dismantle everything she’d built.
The car pulled up to the mansion, and Rosa turned to me, her expression softening.
“Thank you,” she said.
“For what?”
“For today,” she said. “For not making it complicated.”
Her words hit harder than they should have, and I forced a smile. “Anything for you.”
As she stepped out of the car, I stayed behind for a moment, watching her walk toward the house.
Anything for her. The words felt like a lie and a promise all at once.
And I wasn’t sure which one scared me more.