AVELINA'S POV

The house is quiet

Allessandro and i haven’t spoken a word since our conversation last night. He is barely beside me as he is busy pacing, talking with Emilio on the phone. Everytime i enter the room he either talks in low tune or ends the call.

He doesn’t look at me the way he used to. It’s not hatred anymore—it’s something worse. Curiosity.

I sit on a wooden chair at the balcony with a book in hand. Mornings were my favourite time of the day but now it only reminds me of pain. I miss my father and my freedom. Now i just sit in silence reminiscing the old days.

“I brought you breakfast.” I hear Allessandro say behind me.

“I am not hungry.” I say looking down the hill from the safe house.

“Eat something Avelina. You can’t afford to loose your strength,”

“What do i need my strength for.? Are you planning another escape.” I ask with widened eyes.

He places the tray on the wooden table totally ignoring my jabs. “Eat up” He says sitting down beside me.

I place my book on the table and turn to look at him. He had eye bags under his eyes which was indicated he hadn’t sleep.

“You haven’t slept all night.?” I asked with concerned eyes.

“I am just bad at taking care of myself. I can see you are too.” He says giving a faint smile.

“You think i do not care about you, that is not true.” He says, i could see his smile fading faster than it appeared.

“You do not care about me. This is a marriage of convinence.” I say with cloudy eyes.

“Maybe it was a marriage of convinence. But things have changed.” He stays pulling his chair closer to mine. I could barely breath as the air thickens around me.

He sits so close to me that i can smell the cigar on him and the scent of his cologne tries to mask it. My head tells me to turn away but my eyes says otherwise.

“What is running through your head?” I ask in a whisper.

“I am trying to remember the last time i meant ladies as stubborn as you. Pretty too.” He says staring at me.

I rolled my eyes. "Well, have you ever wondered why you don’t remember?"

“I have met a lot of ladies. But they only want me because of what i can offer.” His beautiful green eyes peering at me heatedly. He answered when he noticed how sassy i was. He raised a brow when he noticed a hint of sassiness.

"What are you implying?” I asked.

“I need to put an end to this hide and seek, So we go back to our normal lives.”

I rolled my eyes again.

He suddenly pulled me closer to him. His movement was fast as though it was calculated.

He tightened his hold when his eyes travelled down to my lips. My breath becomes heavy.

“Don’t try to make me feel pity for you.” I say trying to break free.

“You think i need your pity.?” He asks

“Good,” I snap. “Because I don’t have any left to give.”

The silence in the room could be felt from miles away. He doesn’t move. His eyes follows me across the balcony as though waiting for my next move.

“Let us move breakfast indoors.” He says breaking the silence. “I have a feeling someone is watching us.”

“Why should i believe you?” I asked with my hands folded on my chest. “You always find ways to confine me in a hole.”

“Because i want you to live.”

He turns to go inside. I did not know why i follow him in but i do. Immediately we get indoors the rain starts as thunder cracks outside, The rain drips down the windows as i stand to look outside from it.

“Do you ever wish to go back to the past? How things were.” He asks, standing by me.

“I do. I miss my father. I miss my home.” I say.

He doesn’t look at me.

“You do not wish so?”

His gaze finally shifts from the window to my face. “I miss it. But i do not regret anything. Regret is for men who can afford it.” He says as his jaw tightens.

He stares at me as my heart begins to skip a beat. My breath becomes hard to catch. For a moment i felt a tension between us.

He lifts his hand slowly, brushing a strand of hair from my cheek. His fingers linger. And they finally land on my lips. I pull my lips apart. My throat patched.

“Oh Allessandro...”

“Don’t. You make me want to do things to you.’’ He says.

My heart beats becomes irregular and faster. I can see him struggling within himself.

He leans closer, his cold lips presses against my neck. My knees threaten to give out.

The feelings wear off as his phone rings.

He curses under his breath before answering it and walking away. Leaving me in my feelings.

I take a step away, forcing air back into my lungs. I shouldn’t be disappointed, but I am.

He walks back into the hall, glancing at me as his expression hardens.

“We need to leave. Go take what you want.” He says with a cold expression.

“Why.?” I ask with my stomach in knots.

“They found our location again.”

“Who are these ‘they’ you keep talking about Allessandro.?”

“Go get your things and stop questioning me. You wanted freedom, Avelina? You’re about to have it.”

It sounded like a threat more than an honest answer.

He walked out the hall before i could even get a chance to say anything more.

How did i end up here? This wasn’t the beautiful life my father promised me. I said silently under my breath.

Then i suddenly realized that freedom with him does not guarantee safety.

And love—if I’m foolish enough to feel it—will never mean peace.