On top of that, I didn’t think it was possible to say no to Maddie and Evaline.
I turned in Alessio’s embrace and faced him. “I already consider us married. We don’t need another wedding. The vows we made to each other are already enough.” I paused.
“You want the wedding?” Alessio asked.
“Do you?” I shot back. “If you don’t, then we won’t have one.”
“I don’t care either way, Angel. You are already my wife. No one else can say otherwise.” He shot everyone a glare.
“I want to wear a wedding dress,” I whispered shyly, feeling suddenly nervous. “And walk down the aisle for you. Again.”
I sucked in a quick breath when Alessio kissed me hard. “We’ll have a wedding then,” he announced loudly.
Evaline and Maddie squealed behind me.
I only smiled at my husband.
My heart was overflowing with love for this man.
How could he be a killer and so sweet at the same time…I didn’t understand. But I didn’t have to understand. I just needed him the way he was.
Dangerous, ruthless, yet sweet and loving.
He winked, and my stomach fluttered in response. My heart drummed faster at his smile and blue eyes.
“But bring down the guest numbers, and after Princess is born,” I said when I turned to face the others.
“Deal,” Maddie quickly agreed.
It looked like we were having a wedding after all.
Alessio placed a kiss on my temple. “You are so sweet, husband.”
He teasingly nipped at my ear. “Only for you, wife.”
I giggled…feeling so free…so loved…so treasured.
In Alessio’s arms, I was whole.
Chapter 31
Two weeks later
“Where are we going?” I asked for probably the tenth time.
“You’ll see,” Alessio simply replied.
Our hands were entwined together, and he was pulling me somewhere. Although I had no idea where that somewhere was…because he wouldn’t tell me.
We walked down the hall toward his office. “We’re going to your office?”
“No.”
I was about to ask again when we stopped two doors before his office. I glanced up at Alessio, waiting for him to explain.
“You have never been in here, right?” he asked, gazing down at me intensely.
I shook my head. “No. It’s always locked.”
“Today is an important day. I guess you can say this is another tradition,” Alessio explained.
Confused, I stared at the door as he unlocked it. He pulled me inside, closing the door behind us.
The room was dark, the curtains drawn down, hiding the sun. Alessio walked to the window and dragged the curtains away, letting the sunlight infiltrate the room. It cast a golden glow around us.
I had to blink several times, trying to adjust my eyes to the sudden light.
Alessio had made sure to position me toward the wall. Because of this, the first thing I saw were the large portraits.
My eyes widened, and I let out a barely audible gasp. There were two portraits that I realized were of Lyov and Maria. They looked young in the photos.
The first portrait had Maria sitting on a chair while Lyov stood beside her, his hand on her shoulder. They were both looking at the camera. Maria had a small smile on her face while Lyov looked intense and serious. Almost vicious.
The second portrait, there was only one addition. A small boy sitting on Maria’s lap. When I saw her rounded pregnant belly, I instantly knew the little boy was Alessio.
That portrait was taken when Maria was pregnant with her princess. Tears blurred my eyes at the thought. A princess they never got to meet.
Lyov had the same expression as the first. I wasn’t surprised that he looked like the very killer he was.
I stared at the second portrait for a long time, my eyes on Maria and Alessio. He was a chubby kid. Such a cutie.
He looked so serious in that picture, like he knew this was something important.
My heart ached at the thought. Alessio had to grow up so fast. He never had a chance to enjoy his childhood. His mother’s death had caused him to spiral down so fast toward the dark side.
I felt his warmth behind my back before he even pulled me into his embrace. Alessio wrapped his arms around my waist, his lips placing wet kisses down my neck.
He was always touching me, holding me, showering me with love. I was the happiest when I was in his arms.
“You were so cute,” I muttered, still staring at the portrait.
“Yeah?” he questioned curiously.
“Yeah. I hope Princess has your eyes,” I replied.
“Hmm…I’m hoping that she has yours.”
I cuddled closer into his arms. “Want to place a bet?”
Alessio paused. “You need to stop hanging out with the guys.”
I laughed at that one. “You’re cute.”
“No. I’m hot. Sinfully deliciously sexy. Remember?”
I shook my head. “I should have never said that. You’re always going to remind me of it, aren’t you?” I said with a sigh.
This man. He had such a huge ego and was so damn arrogant. I shouldn’t feed into this arrogance.