Page 102 of Doll's Eye

No one speaks as his shoulders visibly sag. “Okay,gattina. Have a seat.”

Wow. Two for two now. Wait. Three for three. First, Tullio including me, then Massimo not stopping me, now this. I’m finally getting somewhere. At almost twenty-five years old, I’m finally getting some respect. Respect I should not have to still fight for.

I yawn for the fifth time in ten minutes when Massimo says we’re calling it a night and the room empties. I know we’re both too tired to argue tonight, but I’m still fucking bitter.

“Alessia,” Massimo says firmly, demanding my attention.

Anger sizzles on the surface as he stares at me, and I avoid eye contact. “Let’s just go to bed, Massimo.” I stand up and finally look at him.

“Not until you speak your mind,” he says casually, remaining cooly seated behind his desk.

“It can wait until tomorrow. We’re both tired and you need to put ice on your eye again. Come on.” I turn and begin to head towards the door.

“Alessia, we are not going to bed until you get what it is off your chest,” he says so vehemently I come to an abrupt halt.

Slowly, I spin back around to face him, now wide awake and the anger that was sizzling is now boiling. “Fine. You want to have it out with me right now?” I stomp forward and startpointing my finger at him. “You wereagaingoing to leave me out!”

“And you were right, so I conceded,” he tries to cut me off with.

“After I invited myself into your little secret meeting! I shouldn’t have to at this point, Massimo. Either see me as your partner, or I swear to God I am gone,” I threaten.

He stands up quicker than I thought possible despite all his fresh wounds and injuries. His eyes now just as ablaze. Exhaustion completely obliterated as rage feeds us the strength we need for this blowout.

“Gone,gattina? And where would you go?” he taunts.

“Anywhere I fucking want!”

“And you think you’ll find someone out there that’ll see you as I do? As the woman you are?” he says lowly as he begins to circle his desk.

My eyes widen in outrage. “I don’t need anyone, especially a fuckingman, to tell me who I am, and what I am worth,” I seethe.How fucking dare he?!I used to think I needed to marry into power to gain power, but after being on my own, I’m acutely aware I can embody regal status solo.

His expression crumbles as he positions himself before me. Suppressing my emotions from spilling over in the form of tears consumes what little energy I have left. “Alessia,” he says with less anger. “I—”

I recoil, fighting the rise of sadness that’s rapidly replacing my anger. Each shake of my head brings me closer to breaking down. “That might be one of the most hurtful things you have ever said to me,” I strain through a sore throat. “To imply that I need you, oranyone, to be someone.”

He deflates all together and takes a soothing breath. “I did not mean that,cara.”

“Then what did you mean?!” A rogue tear escapes, running down my cheek.

He glares at me for a solid moment. “I didn’t mean anything by it. It was my anger speaking. The thought of you trying to leave me…” he visibly swallows hard. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

I don’t move or make a noise. If I do, I might shatter.

“Alessia,” he says my name so softly as he cautiously takes a step forward. “I did not mean that. You don’t need me, or anyone, or money, or an eminent surname, or fucking cock to prove yourself.” He brings himself toe to toe with me. “You are ungodly revered, Alessia.”

“Don’t patronize me, Massimo.”

“I would never.” He shakes his head slowly with a straight face. His arms tenderly slip around my waist, and I again have to fight the tears. “I’m so sorry,amore.” His eyes plead with mine and his face drops closely. “Please understand I am just under a lot of stress, and combined with the lack of sleep and—” he stops to take a deep breath and I can feel his utter exhaustion. “Forgive me,amore. Please.”

I nod my head silently, mentally lashing my temper to stay down.

“I love you so much, Alessia.” He presses his soft lips to my forehead, causing my eyes to close in reaction. “I guess you discovered another one of my weaknesses.”

That has me smiling and rearing back to see him. “Yeah? What’s that?”

He scowls at me, but there’s no real threat behind it.

I bite my lip to resist a giggle. “I won’t taunt you with it, I promise.”

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