Chapter 3: Alessia (Present Day)

As the morning light began to stream in through the windows, banishing the remnants of my restless visions, I blinked awake groggily. For a moment, I was disoriented before remembering where I was, and who I shared a bed with.

Like every morning since our marriage, Nico was already awake. The side of his bed was cool, letting me know he had risen early. We had that in common; neither one of us ever really finding a reprieve in sleep like most people do. Whereas Nico rose before the sun, I could hardly fall asleep at night. Living years on the edge would do that to you. The vulnerability of repose was too much of a liability, too long for someone to take their chance and strike.

In the first few weeks of our ‘marriage,’ Nico and I hardly spoke, communicating mostly in eye rolls, glares, and barely veiled insults. On the surface, Nico was charming, charismatic, and a huge flirt. He took great care in his appearance in the same way he held pride in the thoughtfully decorated house that I now called home. He had been respectful toward me, and that I was grateful for.

However, much to my amusement, as the weeks passed, he was getting increasingly annoyed that his flirtation was neither reciprocated or welcomed. I was sure that Nico was used to puttanas falling at his feet. He had a reputation with women. It was no secret that the Italian boss enjoyed indulging in more carnal pursuits. He had many lovers and apparently, was a good fuck.

I knew eventually, Nico’s patience for my adjustment period would dwindle. Soon, he would fully want to enjoy the physical benefits of having a wife and eventually ask me to pop out a few babies for him. He had another thing coming for him if he expected me to spread my legs whenever he wanted, just because I signed a fucking piece of paper.

I didn’t let his superficial attractiveness fool me. He was also arrogant, controlling, and constantly watching me. Every moment between us was filled with tension, an uneasiness as we continued to size the other one up. Because beneath the magnetism he possessed, Nico was dangerous. He was one of the most feared men in the city and he didn’t earn that respect by pure luck. Nico was ruthless, calculated, and didn’t hesitate to use violence or intimidation to maintain his power. The duality of his nature allowed him to navigate both the legitimate and criminal world with ease.

That’s what fucking intrigued me so much. It was hard to reconcile the man who winked at me an obscene number of times a day with the cruel boss that had grown men cowing at his whims. I wanted to see a glimpse of the darkness he held, to see if he was like me. But he was always so in control, and it was beginning to aggravate me.

I sat up in bed, my hair tousled, falling in dark waves around my shoulders. Blinking away the last vestiges of sleep, I took in the sight of Nico emerging from the bathroom, clad in a towel. Water droplets clung to his tan skin, his dark hair damp and messy, so different from the usual neat style he kept it in.

For a moment, I allowed myself to appreciate the view. Nico was the picture of masculine beauty, pure fucking temptation—sculpted and powerful, broad shoulders, carved abs that lead down to that devastating V-line that made it hard to look away. His body had that right amount of definition, like he was made from marble. He had a few scars sprinkled across his skin, a particularly deep one running down the right side of his ribs, another deep one on his left shoulder. They were a reminder of the brutality that was necessary to stay on top. He was strong and commanding, and the way he moved made him even more magnetic. He exuded a raw confidence that pulled me in, despite my better judgement.

I may have been married to him for pure strategy, but I was not fucking blind. Everything about him was electric—intoxicating even. He grinned as he caught me staring and I wanted to slap that smug look off his face.