256

256
Alaric’s POV
I knew what I had to do. The problem was that, deep down, I didn’t want to.
The air in the room felt suffocating, the walls closing in as I stood before the window, staring out into the night. The city lights flickered beneath the black sky like fireflies in the distance. It would have been beautiful to watch, but at that moment, I was thinking about something much more personal.
Alonso.
Every day that bastard continued to breathe, every time he spoke to Emilia, every time I saw him lurking in the shadows, I felt the weight of my own restraint grinding against my will. I hated him. I hated him more than I hated anything else. What he did to Emilia, how he treated her, how he dared to step in my way-there was no forgiveness for it.
I couldn’t let him live. Not anymore.
It wasn’t like I hadn’t thought about it. I’d spent hours planning, poring over resources and contacts, tracking Alonso’s movements, trying to determine the perfect moment to strike. I couldn’t trust anyone, not even those closest to me. But I knew I had to act soon. Emilia had already warned me about my temper, about how much my obsession with this revenge could cost me. But what did she know? What did anyone really know about the cost of betrayal?
I wasn’t going to let that man ruin anything else. He wouldn’t ruin her, and he sure as hell wouldn’t ruin me.
As I turned away from the window, I walked toward my desk. I had to move forward. No more hesitation. No more second-guessing.
The door creaked open behind me, and I didn’t have to look to know who it was.
“Allesio,” I said, my voice low, sharp. “We need to talk.”
I could hear him step inside, his boots scraping against the hardwood floor. He didn’t speak right away, and I could tell by the silence that he knew something was coming. He always did.
He was quiet, waiting for me to continue.
I glanced over at him, meeting his eyes. “I’m making preparations to eliminate Alonso.”
His reaction was subtle-just a tightening of his jaw and a flicker in his eyes-but it was enough to tell me that he wasn’t as on board with this as I’d hoped.
“Are you sure?” Allesio asked, his voice cautious, measured. “We’ve discussed this before. It’s not something you can take back once you do it. And you know that Emilia…” He trailed off, but I didn’t need him to finish. I knew exactly what he was thinking.
“Don’t bring her into this,” I snapped, more harshly than I meant. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to steady my thoughts. “She won’t understand. And I don’t give a damn about how she feels right now. This isn’t about her, it’s about what’s right.”
Allesio didn’t flinch, but his eyes narrowed. “You’re saying it’s about what’s right, but you know as well as I do that you’re letting your rage guide you. You’re letting it cloud your judgment.”
I shook my head, feeling the knot in my stomach tighten. “You don’t get it, Allesio. You don’t understand what it’s like to have someone like him come into your life and destroy everything. You didn’t see the way he treated her. How he manipulated her, used her against me.”
“I’m not defending him,” Allesio interrupted, his voice steady. “But I’m also not blind to the consequences of what you’re planning. You can’t just eliminate him and pretend everything will go back to normal. It’s not that simple.”
“You’re damn right it’s not simple,” I spat, my fists clenching at my sides. “But you’re forgetting one thing. He’s dangerous. He’s more dangerous than you think, and as long as he’s breathing, he’s a threat to her and to everything we’ve worked for.”
I watched him carefully, waiting for his response. I could feel the doubt seeping in. He wasn’t as committed to this as I was, and that made me uneasy.
“Alaric,” Allesio said slowly, his tone softer now. “I understand that you want to protect Emilia, but you’re not thinking this through. You’re acting out of anger, and that’s dangerous. Once you go down this path, there’s no coming back from it.”
I stared at him for a moment, my eyes hardening. I didn’t like where this conversation was going, but I wasn’t about to back down.
“I’ve made up my mind,” I said, my voice low and resolute. “And I’m doing this whether you approve or not.”
Allesio took a step forward, his gaze unwavering. “That’s not what I’m saying, Alaric. I’m not questioning your decision. I’m questioning your timing. You’re rushing this, and it’s going to backfire.”
His words made me hesitate, just for a split second, but it was enough to see that he wasn’t as sure of my plan as I’d hoped.
“Are you saying I’m making a mistake?” I asked, my voice tight.
Allesio didn’t answer immediately. His silence was enough to drive the point home. I could see it in his eyes, the hesitance, the doubt. For a moment, I felt a flicker of something-vulnerability, maybe-before I pushed it down. I couldn’t afford that now.
“Are you saying I’m making a mistake?” I repeated, the words cutting through the air, sharper this time.
Allesio exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing. “What I’m saying is that you’re not thinking clearly. You’ve always been calculated, Alaric, but right now… right now you’re blinded by rage, and you’re letting it dictate your actions.”
I clenched my fists, trying to keep my composure. This wasn’t the time for doubt. “I’m not blinded by rage. I’m doing what needs to be done. Alonso’s a threat. He’s always been a threat.”
“That’s not what I meant.” His voice softened. “I get that he’s a threat. I get that you want to protect Emilia. But you’re so focused on eliminating him that you’re not seeing the bigger picture.”
I took a step forward, my heart hammering in my ribcage. I hated the uncertainty in Allesio’s voice. I wasn’t used to hearing that from him. He was the one person I trusted completely, and now he was questioning me.
“You’re afraid I’m doing this for the wrong reasons,” I said, my voice low and calm, despite the fire in my veins. “You think I’m acting out of emotion, not logic. Well, maybe I am. Maybe I don’t care about the consequences anymore. Maybe I’m done letting people walk all over me, done being patient with people like Alonso who think they can just take what they want.”
“You don’t get it, Alaric.” He stepped closer, his voice tight with frustration. “It’s not just about him. It’s about the people who will come after him when you make this move. Do you really think eliminating Alonso will end things? Do you think it’ll make Emilia’s life easier? You’re forgetting what’s at stake here. You’re forgetting how much we’ve already lost.”
The words hit me harder than I expected. I wanted to dismiss them, to push them aside and move forward with the plan I had already set in motion. But I couldn’t. He was making sense, as much as I hated to admit.
I turned away from him, walking back to my desk, my fingers resting on the cold wood. “I’m not forgetting anything. But I’m done waiting. I’m done holding back for the sake of someone else’s safety, someone else’s comfort.”
I could feel his intense gaze on my back as he spoke again. “If you go through with this, you’re going to lose more than just Alonso. You’ll lose Emilia, too.”
I spun around, anger flaring in my chest. “What are you implying?”
“I’m saying that you’re so consumed with revenge and protection that you’re losing sight of what matters,” he said, his voice quiet but firm. “Emilia isn’t going to forgive you for this. You’re making an enemy out of her father, and once you do that, it’s going to cost you everything. She’s already torn between you two. This-” He paused, his eyes full of something I couldn’t quite read. “This could be the thing that drives her away for good.”
I felt my stomach drop. The thought of losing Emilia-the thought of pushing her away in a way that couldn’t be undone-was a pain that twisted deep inside me. I turned back toward the window, my fingers running along the glass, trying to keep my mind focused. Trying not to let the weight of his words crush me.
“I’m doing this for her,” I said, my voice tight. “For her safety. For her peace of mind. Alonso will never stop. As long as he’s alive, he’ll always be a threat to her. To both of us.”
“But what if it costs you everything?” Allesio countered. “What if this is the thing that breaks her trust in you?”
I felt a cold shiver run through me. His words echoed in my mind, but I couldn’t afford to show weakness. Not now. I’d come too far to turn back.
I slowly turned back to face him. “I don’t care what it costs. I’m not going to let Alonso win. I’m not going to let anyone threaten her again.”
Allesio stared at me for a long time, his gaze filled with a mixture of concern and something else-something I couldn’t quite place. Finally, he spoke again, his voice softer this time, almost resigned.
“Then you’re already too far gone, Alaric. And when it all falls apart, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I didn’t have an answer. I didn’t have a defense for what I was doing. Maybe he was right. Maybe this was a mistake. But I couldn’t stop now. I couldn’t let doubt paralyze me when I had made a decision.
Everything was on the line now-my relationship with Emilia, my future, the world I’d built.
I would do anything to protect her. Even if it meant losing her.
I nodded once, sharply, signaling the end of the conversation. “Get the resources ready. I’m not waiting any longer.”