Adriano gives me a sympathetic smile. “You know him. Burning the candle from both ends.”
I smile to hide my disappointment. “Then you and Eva and Mirabella should have the dinner.”
“Oh, no.” Eva shakes her head. “We can’t?—”
“Please. I don’t want it to go to waste.”
I return to the bedroom and arrange for a meal to be brought up to me so Adriano can enjoy dinner with his family.
“It’s okay, little one,” I say as I glance out the window hoping to see Alessandro return home. “He’ll be home at some point and I can tell him then.”
At ten, I’m too tired to stay awake so I prepare for bed. I’m not worried. Tomorrow, I’ll find the perfect time to share this wonderful news with Alessandro. As I fall asleep, my dreams are filled with visions of a happy, fulfilled life I never thought I’d have.
28
ALESSANDRO
It’s past ten when I return home, but my day isn’t done. I head straight to my home office with a glance toward the stairs and an urge to forgo the rest of my work to lie with my wife instead.
Unfortunately, there’s more to do and my first priority is the family business. To keep us prosperous and safe. I know Isabella understands. It’s partly what makes her a good wife. And I can’t deny that while the burden of responsibility is still heavy, there’s something about having her by my side that makes it more bearable.
As I sit at my desk, the memory of her coming to my office last night in her red lingerie and sucking my dick comes back to me.
"Fuck," I mutter, running a hand over my face. I can’t keep letting her distract me from my duty. My father would surely be disappointed to learn I was letting a woman cloud my mind.
Still, I can't bring myself to regret it. For the first time in my life, I'm allowing myself to have something of my own. Something that isn’t only about the family or business.
I rise from my chair, suddenly impatient to see her. The empire can wait until morning. Tonight, I just want to be the man Isabella sees when she looks at me. Not Don Dante. Just Alessandro.
The phone rings, and I answer without checking the caller ID, the late hour suggesting bad news.
"Don Dante."
"Boss, it's Adriano. We've got a situation at the south warehouse."
My stomach tightens. "What kind of situation?"
"Break-in. The security system was bypassed. You need to see this yourself."
Fuck. The south warehouse houses our largest shipment of imported goods, both legitimate and otherwise.
"Anyone hurt?"
"Three down but not dead. Whoever did this knew what they were doing."
"I'm on my way." I hang up, already moving toward the door.
The peace I felt moments ago evaporates. This is my reality, my duty. Not domestic bliss with Isabella, but vigilance over the business.
I grab my jacket and gun, checking the magazine before holstering it. As I pass through the main hall, I pause again at the bottom of the staircase, looking up toward where Isabella sleeps. I consider waking her, telling her I'll be late, but decide against it. Let her rest without worrying about this latest crisis.
Instead, I text my head of security to double the guards around the property. If someone's bold enough to hit my warehouse, they might try for my home next.
As I drive, I can’t help but wonder if this is Marco, fucking with me again. I still don’t have proof about the last attacks. But Marco has been suspiciously quiet since our last confrontation.
When I arrive at the warehouse, Adriano and Dario, a newly promoted captain, are waiting outside with four armed men. The warehouse looks untouched from the exterior.
"Show me," I command, following them inside.
