Page 115 of Contract of a Billionaire

“If you count not having a mother around because she was busy paying off a debt,” Bianca noted softly. “But yes, I was lucky to have my grandmother and father.”

It was then that I could see it on every single face at this table. Every single man and woman carried a bit of tragedy and brokenness in their eyes. Much like Alessio’s.

“You’re a lucky girl,” Vasili remarked.

“Yes,” his wife agreed. “I had my mother but even she had her issues.”

“I’m sorry you didn’t have that,” I said. I meant it too. Maybe we’d have a better world if we started with our children. I knew my parents fought to raise me away from all the cruelty they’d seen in their lives. “Everyone deserves a happy and safe childhood.”

And as I said those words, Alessio’s hand squeezed mine underneath the table. We didn’t need words, because I knew exactly what he was thinking about. I brushed my thumb over his thumb, hoping that he understood how much I loved him.

“That’s what I want,” Branka uttered, shattering the moment. We all glanced in the direction of her finger, pointing to the screen that was frozen on the faces of my parents. “The way he’s watching her, it’s like they just met. Like she’s his sun. Even though her cooking sucks and she put him in the hospital a few times.”

My lips curved. Chuckles filled the room. But my eyes were locked on the screen.

My parents happily-ever-after stared back at us.

* * *

We wereon our way back home.Home.

Strangely, the penthouse was home. Alessio was home. It was when I saw my parents’ happiness staring back at me from Branka's clip that I realized he was my happily-ever-after. All his broken pieces, his darkness. All of it.

I just wanted him.

“You better not be fantasizing about Killian goddamn Brennan,” Alessio grunted.

Killian Brennan was mouthwatering, that was for sure. But he didn’t make time stand still, nor did the world fade when I looked at him. He didn’t take my breath away.

That was all Alessio.

My lips curved. “Alessandro Russo, are you jealous?”

“No.” Sharp. Clipped.

I put my hand on his thigh. “Nobody compares to you,” I told him seriously. “Not for me.”

The moonlight highlighted his sharp features. Unlike the Nikolaev or even the King brothers, Alessio was more clean cut. Kind of like Nico Morrelli. And Byron Ashford. Although I knew they were all just as ruthless.

Alessio was more my type. I liked his clean cut look but also the bad boy ruthlessness underneath it all. There wasn’t a single piece of him I didn’t love.

“I love you,” I murmured softly.

I only had one glass of wine when Branka arrived, but I found it relaxed me. In barely a week, I had become accustomed to living in his penthouse. But more than that, I grew used to our routine. I loved waking up in his arms. I loved seeing him with Kol. Then the kiss as he dropped us off at my parents’ house. And most of all I loved our dinners and what followed once we tucked Kol in.

His eyes grew dark, then reached out his hand and took mine. “I love you more.”

My heart fluttered.He loves me.Alessandro Russo loves me.

“Even if the Nikolaev men are pissed off at me?” I jabbed playfully.

His eyes flicked my way and then back to the road. “They are not, but they think you’re hiding something,” he stated. “With Sasha.” I scoffed, but I didn’t answer. “Whatever it is, it will come out.”

“And when it does?” I asked curiously. I’d never rat out Branka, but I happened to agree with Alessio. Things would eventually come out. It’d be hard to hide Branka carving out Sasha Nikolaev’s heart.

I’d still watch it, I thought to myself amused.

He just shrugged. “I guess we’ll see. But you’re my woman and you’ll always come first. You and Kol.”