Page 62 of Taken By the Underboss

Alessandro lowered his hand to my head, gently stroking my hair. It felt strange and out of character but as he gently stroked my cheek, I realized that he was trying to comfort me in a way that wouldn't show weakness to that man.

"Trust me." His voice came out contrastingly hard compared to his touch and I tensed. "I'm going to have plenty of fun breaking her all on my own."

Domenico laughed, releasing me, and I sank back onto my heels at Alessandro’s feet, practically clinging to his leg for protection.

A sickening feeling twisted in my stomach.Did he really mean what he was saying or was that just for show to appease the men present?

Either way, I felt safer beside him than with any of those other men and I didn't want him to take his hand away.

Domenico and his men didn't stay for more than one hand of cards. It was clear that he only wanted to make an appearance and wasn't really on an innocent outing.

Once he and his men left, the tension eased, and all the men began talking about what happened but not Alessandro. He turned to me, lifting my chin with two crooked fingers and studied my eyes for a long moment before speaking in a low, gentle voice.

"Are you alright?"

I nodded, my throat still too thick with emotion to speak.

"I need to go call Teo and let him know what happened. Will you be okay here with Luca while I'm gone?" He nodded to Luca who smiled reassuringly at me, and I knew why he'd picked him.

“I'll be okay.” I assured him. He cast one more glance at Luca and nodded before walking out.

I knew why he'd chosen Luca to watch out for me. We'd become friends and there was a special bond after I managed to save his life but there was something else. Luca had a lighthearted presence that put me at ease.

Once Alessandro walked outside, Luca smiled comfortingly at me. “Why don't you come sit beside me?”

He patted the seat beside him where the Romano man had sat between him and Alessandro. I smiled gratefully and moved to the seat.

“I think you need a drink,” Luca said thoughtfully before waving over a waitress.

"How can I help you,signore?" She asked Luca with a flirty tone, and he flashed her a charming smile.

He looked at me and tilted his head toward her. “What would you like to drink,bella?"

"Wine, please? Red," I clarified.

The waitress finally looked at me and smiled before giving a nod. “Of course, I'll be right back with that.”

She scurried away and Luca placed his arm around me, pulling me closer. “Are you sure that you are okay?” he asked softly, nodding to my hands in my lap.

I followed his gaze to my trembling hands. “This whole night has just been ... too much. This whole month has been too much. I ran my hands through my hair and sighed.

“There's been a lot for you to adjust to.”

“I thought Alessandro was a good man in a bad situation. Now I'm wondering if he isn't just a bad man and a bad situation.” Tears sprung to my eyes at the admittance.

“You were right the first time,” Luca said with all joking and light-heartedness aside. “Alessandro is one of the best men I know. He is loyal, honorable, brave, and fiercely protective over those he loves.”

“How much did he pay you to say all that?” I teased.

Luca let out a soft chuckle before looking at me earnestly. “He cares about you, and I know you care about him too. I can't give you all the answers that you're looking for but know this, if Alessandro couldn't let you go, if he brought you back here, he had a good reason. He would not be doing any of this lightly.”

“I can't imagine what good reason he would have for holding me here against my will, for humiliating me like he did tonight.” I nearly spit out the words. “I don't belong to him. I'm not some possession that can be kept and owned.

“I know that. Alex knows that too.”

“He doesn't act like it.”

“Just know that he has his reasons.”

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