The Mafia And His Angel, Part 3 by Lylah James

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 22

 

 

I opened the door quietly and walked inside. I stopped next to the bed, staring down at my Angel. She was sleeping peacefully, a tiny smile on her lips. She must be having a good dream.

Making sure I didn’t wake her up, I took a few steps back. I didn’t want her to see me like this. This was the last thing she needed.

I knew she wasn’t scared of me…of who I truly was. But I didn’t think she was ready to know the things I had done. And would keep doing.

In the end, I was truly a monster.

That was never going to change, and I didn’t want to change. It was who I was.

I stared at Ayla, and for a brief moment, I let myself think of a different possibility. What if I was different man? Someone Ayla could proudly say was her man?

Not a deranged monster. Not Alessio Ivanshov.

With a sigh and a heavy heart, I walked away. Closing the door of the washroom, I shrugged off my shirt.

I got into the shower, letting the cold water rain down on me, washing the blood away. Washing any evidence of what I had done in the past hours away.

With my hands pressed against the wall, I tried to breathe through my constricting chest.

I stayed there, not moving until I heard the door open. My eyes squeezed shut, knowing who it was.

There was some shuffling and then the shower doors opened. I felt a soft hand on my shoulder and heard her sweet voice.

The water went from cold to hot, and I knew she switched it.

“Alessio?”

I didn’t turn around. “Alessio, look at me.”

Not moving, I leaned against the wall.

“Please, Alessio.” As soon as the word please was out of her mouth, I swiveled around, facing my Angel.

She palmed my cheeks and stood on her toes. Ayla placed a soft, gentle kiss on my lips. It was a sweet kiss.

I couldn’t move. Her lips moved to my cheeks, kissing each side. She nipped playfully at my nose before kissing it.

And then her lips moved to my forehead. They lingered there for a second before she placed another soft kiss too.

My Angel wrapped her arms around my waist, her pregnant belly pressing against my stomach. She held me to her, her head over my racing heart.

She laid a kiss there and then hummed almost lovingly. “I missed you, Alessio.”

My throat closed up. The love in her voice made my heart leap. Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled Ayla against me.

We held each other like this, our arms firm around each other. We didn’t let go as the water cascaded around us.

She held me in her embrace, and I held her in mine.

“I love you, Angel,” I whispered in her ears. “I love you so fucking much.”