The Mafia and His Obsession: Part 1 (Tainted Hearts 4)

“He called Ayla a whore?” he asked again. I knew what he was doing. Alessio was using the words to fuel his anger, and the look in his eyes at the moment…it was deranged. Almost a wild look filled with promises of making someone bleed red.

He was a mad man. And Solonik made the worst mistake by going after Alessio’s Queen.

Moral of the day?

Don’t go after the Queen. The King will follow.

This was some Harley and Joker type of shit.

Taking a deep breath, I prepared myself to make it worse. “Worse than that.”

“Tell me. I need to know every single fucking detail.”

This was a bad idea. You should have kept your mouth shut, asshole.

“Alessio—”

“Tell me!” he bellowed, effectively cutting me off.

I did as I was commanded, spilling out every word. A year filled with hatred. I lived it. I breathed it. I became it so I could play with the Devil.

Alessio had no idea what type of shithole I was living in while he enjoyed the day with his Angel. Like a big fucked-up happily ever after.

He had no fucking idea. But he was about to know.

“He said all of that?” Alessio repeated when I fell silent. I nodded mutely, because for once I didn’t know what to say.

His breathing was harsher as he tried to control himself, the anger evident in his posture. His rigid shoulders told me he was about to lose it.

But now was not the time. We still had a long way to go before we reached where we wanted to be. With Solonik ten feet underground while I pissed on his grave and screamed fina-fucking-lly.

Reaching to his side, he threw the glass across the room. It slammed against the wall, breaking into pieces. “I’m going to fucking kill him and make him wish he was never born,” he snapped, punching the wall behind him.

Alessio’s face contorted in an all-consuming fury, his eyes flashing with killing intent, his nostrils flaring as his fists clenched and then unclenched at his sides. He looked very much like the ruthless made man he was. The one everyone feared and cowered underneath.

“Alessio.”

My eyes widened. I swiveled around to see Ayla peeking into the room from behind the door.

“Alessio,” she said again, her voice so soft like velvet. It caressed me in a soothing manner.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Alessio’s angry demeanor was instantly gone, the monster inside of him shackled yet again. Only from the voice of Ayla.

“Can I come in?” she asked quietly, still hiding behind the door.

Alessio smiled sweetly, making my head spin at how he could change so fucking fast. Placing his palm out, he beckoned for her to come forward.

“You never have to ask, Angel. Come in,” he replied, his voice soft yet still a little rough.

Ayla walked forward, practically skipping into Alessio’s arms. They hugged, her tiny body burrowed into his as he held her tightly in his arms. He placed a kiss on top her head, his hard eyes meeting mine briefly.

It told me everything I needed to know. The anger was still there, just hidden.

Alessio was a dangerous man when he was angry. A raging bull, a monster underneath ready to be unleashed. His judgments clouded by his fury. He was someone not to be crossed. Ever.

But there was only one person he would never take it out on.

If there was someone who has never felt the brutality of his anger, that would be his Angel. His woman. His wife.

Just like they say…a King only bows down to his Queen.

Witnessing such a moment, the sudden pang in my heart almost made me flinch. I fucking hated it. Watching them together. Watching them be so in love.

In their small world, nothing mattered. No one else could break what they had.

And I was just an outsider, taking a peek and wishing I had the same thing. Wishing I had her.

Ayla Ivanshov.

My brother’s wife.

The thought almost made me retch. Feeling disgusted at myself yet again, I turned away from them, looking into the distance.

She whispered something to him, too soft for me to hear. I wished it was me she was whispering to.

I wished it was me she was holding and showering her love upon.

Shut up! My brain screamed at the same time my heart squeezed painfully at the sound of her quiet laughter. While the Devil on my shoulder hollered with laughter.

Why was I torturing myself? Why couldn’t I just forget her? Every single time, just a glance in her direction, and my fucked-up heart would break again and again.

It knew I couldn’t have her, yet the yearning was still there. I still wanted her. So fucking badly that sometimes I wished I could…steal her away.

“So did you guys kiss and make up?” she teased loudly. “Please tell me you did. I can’t handle all the tension and brewing testosterone coming off you both.”