The Mafia And His Angel: Part 3 (Tainted Hearts 3)

My eyes opened to see Ayla sound asleep. She was holding her bump, and my throat felt tight.

Ayla should have been loved, cherished, and pampered all through her pregnancy. She should have been waited on hand and foot, treated like a queen.

But instead, she had to live through hell. He broke her.

I took a step toward the bed, fighting the tears. If only I could rewrite the past.

Don’t stop loving her.

Never. I could never stop loving her. It was impossible. She was under my skin, etched deep in my heart. Ayla had broken through my walls and was there to stay.

My father was right. I was incomplete without her.

Ayla was like a drug. The most addictive kind.

Stopping in front of the bed, I caressed Ayla’s hair. She moaned sleepily and didn’t wake up. Smiling, I climbed on the bed and pulled her into my arms.

Ayla settled in my embrace and wrapped her arm around my waist. She pushed her face in my chest and sighed sleepily.

Ayla once said that she was fire. I had to agree. She was fire. We were both burning, but it was too late. There was no stopping our love—it was indestructible.

Chapter 12

Ayla

Do you want to play?

I ran my fingers on the keys but never pressed down. Opening my eyes again, I looked directly at Alessio. He was staring at me intently, waiting.

With our gazes still connected, I let my fingers move. Softly. Gently. And a sweet melody came through. The music washed around us like a slow, gentle wave, and I smiled.

You can keep playing the piano if you want.

Play for me, Angel.

I want to hear you play.

I woke up with a start, my eyes snapping wide.

Do you want to play?

The words resonated in my ears.

Play for me, Angel.

I looked down at Alessio and saw him waking up too. He quickly sat up, staring at me in confusion.

“Angel?”

Play for me, Angel.

I rubbed at my chest, trying to get rid of the tightness there.

You can keep playing the piano if you want.

My eyes moved to the door, my breathing coming out faster than before.

“Ayla, what’s wrong?” Alessio asked.

Play for me, Angel.

My fingers were itching. The urge was fierce and intense. My body was humming with the need to play. I didn’t understand the feeling.

But it felt like I would suffocate if I didn’t play.

Alessio’s voice kept ringing through my ears.

All the memories were coming like flashes behind my eyes.

Play for me, Angel.

I gasped, trying to breathe as my lungs constricted. Without thinking, I got out of bed. I felt a sharp pain in my stomach but ignored it.

I heard Alessio calling my name…I ignored him too. I ran out of the bedroom, my feet taking me to the piano room. I opened the door and walked inside.

I turned on the lights, and the room was instantly illuminated. I felt Alessio behind me, and my tensed shoulders started to relax.

Taking a deep breath, I walked further inside and stopped in front of the piano.

“Angel,” Alessio whispered. I could hear the surprise in his voice.

Do you want to play?

Yes. Yes. Yes. I wanted to play. There was a fiery desperation in my heart. I wanted to break down and cry from the feeling. It was too much. It felt too much.

Play for me, Angel.

I wanted to. I wanted to play for Alessio.

But I didn’t know how.

I closed my eyes, feeling a slow ache in my temple.

Play for me, Angel.

I sat down on the bench, keeping my eyes closed.

The moment my fingers made contact with the piano, I was lost. Lost in this feeling that took over me.

I was no longer my own. My mind went back to so many days ago.

My fingers glided over the piano. I didn’t think. I just let it happen.

Softly. Gently. I played.

Notes kept spilling from the piano, and a sweet melody came through. The music washed over me like a sweet, gentle wave.

I opened my eyes and made direct contact with Alessio’s blue ones. He was sitting on the couch, his expression filled with astonishment.

I saw it change into something else. I didn’t understand what it was, but his face softened, and a smile played across his lips.

He brought his fists to his lips. I noticed his hands shaking.

My lips moved…I was smiling.

With the melody playing around us, I stared at Alessio.

We stared at each other.

Blue to green.

It felt like I could finally breathe.

In that moment, I forgot everything. Every hurt. Every pain. Every bad memory.

Only this moment existed.

Me playing the piano. Alessio watching me.

I felt…peace.

I didn’t realize the song had ended and I had stop playing until Alessio stood up. Snapping out of my daze, I watched him move beside me.

Alessio knelt down beside me and took my hands in his. “Do you remember, Angel?”

My heart sank at his question. Shaking my head, I closed my eyes in despair.