Chapter 9: Shattered Glass
Midnight
The master bathroom was silent except for the sound of running water.
I stood in front of the marble sink, holding a damp washcloth. Alessandro sat on the edge of the large soaking tub, his elbows resting on his knees, his head bowed.
His knuckles were split open, bruised purple and oozing blood.
He had spent two hours in the basement with the men who had tried to take Emma. I didn't ask what he did to them. I didn't want to know. All I knew was that he had walked out, dismissed his security, and locked the doors to our wing.
"Give me your hand," I said softly.
Alessandro didn't look up, but he extended his right hand. I gently dabbed the warm, soapy cloth over his torn knuckles. He didn't flinch. He just watched my fingers moving over his.
"I failed you today," he rasped, his voice raw. "I promised you were safe, and they breached my gates."
"You came back for us," I replied, applying antiseptic to a cut. "You protected us. My whole life, no one has ever protected me, Alessandro."
He finally looked up. His dark eyes were shattered, filled with a vulnerability that tore at my chest.
"When I got the call," he whispered, staring at my lips. "When Marcus said they were in the garden... my heart stopped, Clara. If I had lost you. If I had lost Emma..."
He couldn't finish the sentence. The king of the East Coast, the man who crushed billionaires for breakfast, was terrified.
I dropped the washcloth onto the counter. I didn't think about the risk. I didn't think about the boundaries between employer and employee. I just stepped forward and framed his face with my hands.
"We are right here," I whispered.
Alessandro groaned, a deep, desperate sound, and pulled me in.
His lips crashed down on mine. There was no hesitation, no gentle buildup. It was a collision of relief, fear, and absolute need. His hands tangled in my hair, pulling me flush against his chest, while my arms wrapped around his neck, holding on for dear life.
May you like
It was a kiss that promised ruin. A kiss that erased the world outside the reinforced walls. When he finally pulled back, we were both gasping for air.
"You belong with me," Alessandro stated, his forehead resting against mine. It wasn't a question. It was a vow. "And tomorrow, I am going to make sure the entire city knows it."
