AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’d love that,” she replies with a smile.
“Great. Get ready, then,” I toss over my shoulder, already turning on my heel to leave. I have plans to make.
“You sure that’s wise?” an exasperated voice says as I shut the door.
I whirl around, hand already reaching in my suit jacket for my gun, but I relax slightly when I see Edo standing in front of me, arms crossed against his burly chest.
“Goddamn, Edo,” I snarl, my heart beating a staccato. “Don’t sneak up on me. I nearly shot you.”
Edo rolls his eyes. “You’re a terrible shooter anyway, Damian.” His face turns serious, though. “Are you seriously taking Alexis out of this house to a restaurant in this city? There’s a manhunt going on for her.”
I shoot Edo a quelling look, irritated that he’s questioning my decision. “Mind your fucking business, Edo.”
He opens his mouth like he wants to argue further, then seems to think better of it. I don’t stick around to find out. I have a reservation to make.
A few hours later, I’m holding the door open to the car for Alexis as she slides inside. She looks stunning in a deep green dress that brings out the golden flecks in her eyes.
“Where are we going?” she asks. The smell of her perfume is intoxicating.
“Basil and Olive,” I reply, unable to resist stealing glances at her out of the corner of my eye. She’s a vision in that dress, her hair slightly pulled back as one curl tumbles over her collar bone.
When we arrive at the restaurant, I inhale deeply as we enter its doors. Alexis, on my arm, gasps as we enter the main dining room. Basil and Olive has an atmosphere of nostalgia and timeless elegance. The dimly lit interior casts a warm glow over the polished mahogany tables draped with crisp white tablecloths, creating an intimate ambiance that seems to harken back to a bygone era.
The walls are adorned with black-and-white photographs of Italian landscapes, vintage posters, and framed newspaper clippings, hinting at the restaurant’s rich history and storied past. Soft jazz music plays softly in the background, adding to the allure of the place.
“I’ve always wanted to go here,” Alexis muses as she sits down in her seat, her face alight with joy. “I’ve heard it’s so good.”
“The best,” I confirm, already telling the waiter to bring a bottle of wine. “I come here often. Their lasagna is to die for.”
Alexis’s smile gets even wider as she reviews the menu, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
The meal is a jovial affair, filled with laughter and effortless conversation. I’ve never been able to connect with someone this way before.
As the evening wears on, I find myself letting my guard down in a way I rarely ever do.
“You know, this life…” I say at one point, toying with my wine glass. “It’s not an easy one. The blood, the fear, the constant looking over your shoulder. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love it, too. The power, the respect, the adrenaline rush.”
I meet her gaze steadily. “It’s in my veins, Alexis. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“No?” Alexis’s brow furrows at my words, clear disturbance flashing across her pretty features. “You’d never consider leaving this life behind?”
I scoff dismissively. The thought has never crossed my mind. “Of course not. I was born into this world, and I’ll die in it. It’s in my blood.”
Alexis worries her lower lip between her teeth, and I arch an eyebrow. Something’s bothering her about what I just said. “What is it? What’s on your mind?”
For a long moment, she’s silent, clearly weighing her words carefully. “I just… this life, Damian. The violence, the fear, the constant threat of death. Can you really stomach bringing someone else into that permanently?” Her gaze is earnest, almost pleading. “Isn’t there a part of you that dreams of something… more?”
Her questions make me pause, my mind immediately spinning to dark places. I’ve only ever dreamed of becoming Don of the Iacopellis, nothing more. Even Nat has never dreamed for more, or if she has, she’s never told me. We know our place in this life, and we belong to the Family.
But we grew up in this world and know it intimately. Could Alexis truly handle the visceral realities of being with me, of being part of the Iacopelli family? She’s proven to be tough, but there’s still an air of naivete about her, a lightness that this bloody life so often snuffs out.
Am I really willing to risk that for my own selfish desires? Could I ask a woman only used to violence to willingly spend the rest of her life in more violence?
I manage a tight smile, quickly steering the conversation into safer waters before Alexis can notice the direction of my thoughts. Thankfully, our entrees arrive at that moment and the waiter sets down a steaming plate of lasagna in front of her.
She takes a bite and her eyes flutter close in pure bliss. “Oh, my God, Damian,” she murmurs once she’d swallowed. “This is the best lasagna I’ve ever had in my life.”
A smug grin tugs at the corner of my mouth. “I know,” I reply, leaning back in my seat confidently. “It’s one of the reasons I love this place so much. When it comes to culinary tastes, I’m never wrong.”
