Page 90 of The Mafia And His Angel: Part 1 (Tainted Hearts 1)

Beautiful and colorful wildflowers surrounded the edge of the stream. They were all different colors. Purples, yellow, red, white. They only intensified the breathtaking beauty in front of me. On the other side of the creek, there was a field filled with the same flowers.

The only sound I could hear was the water moving and the sweet singing of the birds. I was completely awestruck and speechless.

It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

My body felt light and free. My stomach twisted with butterflies and I smiled widely.

“This is so beautiful,” I breathed. I felt Alessio moving closer. He was so close that I felt his heat penetrate my body.

“It is,” he agreed softly.

We were silent for a few minutes, both of us basking in the beauty.

“I come here when I want to clear my mind,” he said. Tearing my eyes away from the stream and the field, I turned toward him. He was already looking down at me, his eyes glistening in the sunlight.

Keeping his gaze on mine, he continued gently, “I thought that maybe you would want to see it. You need it more than I do.”

“Thank you.”

This made me deliriously happy.

“I thought this would help. I don’t know how to make you feel better. I’m at a loss, but maybe this can give you the peace that you need. Even for just a little while,” Alessio confessed, looking a little nervous.

He didn’t know that he already brought me peace. What he just gave me was more than I could ever ask for. He didn’t know, but he was my peace.

“Thank you,” I said again, my throat closing around the words. “This is truly so beautiful.”

Alessio nodded and stayed silent, his eyes never shifting from mine. But I was the one who broke the connection. Turning back around, I stared at the creek and field again, another smile stretching across my lips.

I turned my face up toward the sky and into the sunlight. Closing my eyes, I basked in the serenity and welcomed the warmth that brushed over my skin.

I was always trapped inside my father’s mansion. Never allowed to leave. I was only allowed to walk around in the backyard but never further away. When I escaped, that was the first time I had been outside the gates and into the real world.

Keeping my eyes closed, I felt Alessio watching me. He made me feel warm and happy. I opened my eyes but didn’t look at him. Instead, I stared straight ahead.

I didn’t know how long we stayed like that. Me admiring the beauty while Alessio kept his gaze on me. But after some time, my feet started to hurt from standing and I felt Alessio shift beside me.

“We should go back. It’s almost time for lunch,” he said, softly.

I turned toward him, and blinked up, disappointed. “We can come back tomorrow,” he suggested.

I nodded and then looked back at the stream. “C’mon,” he urged. When I felt Alessio moving away, a sudden panic filled my chest. I turned around to see his back to me.

I didn’t know what came over me, but I lurched forward and grabbed the back of his jacket, halting his movement.

Alessio glanced back toward me, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion and question. My hand was shaking and I didn’t know why.

I wanted…no…I needed something, but I didn’t know what it was. My fingers tightened on the fabric of his jacket and his eyes shifted to them. Alessio turned around and I had no choice but to let go. I felt empty.

Bringing my hand up, I placed it over my chest, trying to calm my wildly racing heart.

“Ayla?” he questioned.

His eyes were intense on mine as he waited for me to say something. Taking a deep breath, I stepped closer to him. His eyes widened slightly and he cocked his head to the side, waiting.

I stopped and then looked down.

“Can you please hold me?” I asked softly.

Alessio had given me this beauty but I needed something more.

I needed him, his warmth. His arms around me, holding me safely. I needed the peace that only he could give me.

I simply needed him.

When I felt Alessio moving closer, my heart stuttered. He stopped only an inch from me. I felt his finger on my chin and he slowly tilted my head up so that I was staring into his eyes. He seemed surprised.

“Are you sure?” he asked. I swallowed hard and then nodded. That was the only answer Alessio needed. He wrapped his arms around me, and gently pulled me into his body, holding me firmly in his embrace.

My head was right over his heart and I closed my eyes. His heart was beating just as loudly and fast as mine. Placing my hands on his chest, I curled into his body, sinking into his warm, gentle embrace.