Chapter 4 No Mercy in the Mafia

Alessio's Pov

A week later

"The Russians need to be taken care of before they become a bigger problem," Vincenzo, one of my investors said, his face laced with worry.

I hummed, nodding my head, barely paying attention to what he said. My thoughts kept drifting to Gabriella. She was a drug I didn't want to be addicted to. Everything about her from her scent, down to her curves pissed me off.

That was why I avoided her.

Every morning, she prepared meals for me, but I made sure to leave before she woke up and return late at night. I needed distance. She was getting under my skin, and I hated that.

"Alessio?" Vincenzo's sharp voice cut through my thoughts.

I blinked, forcing my focus back to the conversation. "Go on."

"Like I said," he began. "If you want our continued support, you need to guarantee that we can call upon your services when needed. Can we count on you?"

I nodded. "Sì. (Yes)"

The Russians had started crossing into our territory, and that was unacceptable. A war was near, I could feel it but I wasn't stupid enough to fight it alone. That's why I had arranged this meeting, to secure support from another Mafia family.

"So, we're in agreement?" Vincenzo smirked.

I picked up the contract and signed it without hesitation. "Consider it done."

As soon as the deak was finalized, Carlo approached me, his face troubled. I knew that look, it meant bad news.

He bent down to my level whispering. "Don, there's something you need to know."

I excused myself from Vincenzo before following Carlo outside. "Talk."

"It's your wife Don," he whispered. "She went into the dungeon and unchained two men."

I clenched my fists, looking Carlo deadly in the eye. "What do you mean?"

Carlo lowered his gaze. "She set them free but luckily the guards caught them before they could escape."

"And where the hell were the other men when she wandered to the dungeon?" I asked Carlo who didn't say a word.

What the hell was Gabriella thinking? I'd specially given her rules to follow and she's broken one of them. Disobedience had consequences and now it's about time she'd learnt that.

I returned to Vincenzo, closing the deal swiftly before heading straight to the car. Carlo remained silent beside me during the drive, but I could feel his wary glances. He knew better than to speak when I was this furious.

Why the fuck would Gabriella even try to go against my rules? Was she naive or just stupid? She had no clue.

I stepped out of the car, the moment we arrived at the mansion. My men greeted me but I ignored them. I had important things to take care of, but I'd certainly deal with them later. I stormed upstairs to my bedroom and without knocking I pushed the door open.

My gaze instantly locked on Gabriela who sat on the edge of the bed, flipping through a book as she frowned. She looked so gentle as if she hadn't done something reckless a few minutes ago.

Her eyes widened the moment she saw me. "A-Alessio?" She stammered, getting off the bed, fingers tightened around the book.

I clenched my fists, taking a minute to observe her. She was dressed in a tank top and a pair of shorts that barely covered her ass. My eyes darkened at the thought of my men seeing her dressed like this. Did she seem to forget she's now my wife? That I'm the only one allowed to see her like this.

I took slow, deliberate steps towards her, halting when I was a few inches from her. "You have one minute Gabriella, one minute to tell me what the fuck you were doing in the dungeon,"

"I......" she stammered. "I heard noises. I didn't know what was down there, so I went to check."

"And you thought unchaining them was a good idea hmmm?"

She hesitated. They begged me," she said softly. "They told me they had families. That they didn't deserve to be locked up like that."

I took another step closer. "And you believed them?"

She flinched. "I....I don't know. I just...."

"You don't know?" My voice boomed. "You don't know that those men would have slit your throat the second they got free? That they're traitors?"

I let out a humorless chuckle. "So, that's all it takes? A few desperate words and you go against my rules?"

Her mouth parted open, unsure of what to say. Gabriella had unleashed something in me and now she's about to witness something she'd probably hate me for.

I grabbed her wrist, my firm grip but not tight. "Come with me."

"No......wait! Alessio!" She struggled, but I didn't let go.

I dragged her downstairs, ignoring the watchful eyes of my men. We reached the dungeon, where the two traitors were kneeling, their faces bloodied from earlier beatings.

Gabriella stiffened beside me, her face flickering between me and the men.

Lifting my shirt up slightly, I pulled out my gun and pressed it on the head of one of the traitors.

Gabriella's eyes widened. "Alessio, please, this isn't the way to........"

"These men betrayed the De Luca clan," I cut her off, my finger tightening around the trigger. "They aligned themselves with the West Merger, knowing it meant war. La lealtà non è qualcosa che si può scambiare e il tradimento non è ciò che perdono. ( Loyalty isn't something to trade and betrayal isn't what I forgive)."

"Still think they deserve mercy?" I turned to Gabriella who stared at me with fear. Good, I wanted her to hate me.

Without a second thought, I pulled the trigger.

Her scream tore through the room, raw and piercing.

The body collapsed, blood spreading like a dark omen across the floor.

The second man trembled, his hands raised in desperate surrender. His pleas were nothing but wasted breath. I never granted mercy.

I pulled the trigger once more, silencing his pleas.

I turned to Gabriella. Tears slipped down her cheeks as her hand flew to her mouth.

"This is what my world looks like, Gabriella," I said, wiping the blood stain off my gun. You don't get to change the rules."

"Just stay away from me, Alessio." She turned, looking for an escape. But there was none.

I grabbed her wrist, leading her back to the bedroom. When we arrived, I shut the door behind me, locking it instantly.

Gabriella turned to face me, her body shaking slightly as she held the bead stand for support.

"You went against my rules, bella." I said, taking slow steps towards her.

She took a step back. "I didn't know...."

"You knew!" I cut her off, slamming my fist into the wall. She flinched. "You fucking knew the dungeon was off limits, yet you chose to disobey me," I closed the distance between us, caging her against the wall. "And now Bella, you're going to pay for what you did."

I moved my lips closer to her neck, inhaling her scent. She smelled of vanilla which was sour but Intoxicating at the same time.

She lifted her face to mine, her lips parting open as I brushed her lips with the corner of my mouth.

I moved back, staring at her lips as I whispered. "Do you know what happens to disobedient little girls?"

"No," she said, her body trembling beneath my touch.

Smirking, I traced her arms, my touch gentle and smooth. "I show them who they belong to."

With that being said, I slammed my lips fiercely against hers, pouring all my hunger and frustration into it. I wrapped my hand around her waist, pulling her close as I slipped my tongue into her mouth.

A whimper escaped her lips which made me groan. Gabriella's hand flew to my chest, pushing me back. I ripped her hands off my chest, pinning them above her head..

"Alessio......." she moaned, struggling against my grip.

I pulled back, staring at her lips. "Beg me to stop." I gritted out, earning no response from her.

Smirking, I lowered my lips to her ear. "No?" I asked, my fingers trailing up her thighs.

"Please..." she whispered. I couldn't tell if was pleading for me to stop or for something else entirely .

I pressed my body against hers. "Please what? Say what you want Bella. Tell me." I teased, trailing kisses down her neck.

"Beg me," I growled, my eyes flickering to her plump lips.

I kissed her once again, this time fiercer and demanding. But before I could deepen the kiss, Gabriella bit down on my lower lip, forcing me to stumble back.

"There is nothing you can do to make you love you again, ever," She panted, her breathing coming in short gasps as she stared at me with disgust.

Chucking, my tongue ran over my bottom lip and I could taste blood. " You're playing a dangerous game with me."

"I'm done playing your games, Alessio." She spat.

I stepped closer, pressing her against the wall, my voice low and dangerous. "Then I hope you're ready for mine, princess... because I never lose."