Adriana's POV
The warm water had done little to ease the soreness in my body.
I stood in front of the mirror, brushing my damp hair over one shoulder while Alessio leaned casually against the bathroom door, watching me with that infuriatingly handsome smirk.
"What?" I asked, catching his reflection in the mirror.
"You."
I rolled my eyes.
"I'm literally doing nothing."
"Exactly."
I frowned.
"I like watching you."
The corners of my lips twitched despite my best efforts.
"You flirt too much."
"I'm married."
He pushed himself away from the door and slowly walked toward me.
"I'm allowed to."
He gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear before pressing a soft kiss against my forehead.
"Finished?"
"Mhm."
I reached for the doorknob.
The moment I took one step...
A sharp ache shot through my legs.
"Oh..."
Before I could lose my balance, strong arms wrapped around me.
"I told you."
I sighed dramatically.
"I was doing perfectly fine.
"You almost fell."
"I didn't."
"You were about to."
"I would've caught myself."
"You would've hit the floor."
I glared at him.
He only laughed.
Without another word, he slipped one arm beneath my knees and the other around my waist before lifting me effortlessly into his arms.
"Alessio!"
"What?"
"Put me down."
"No."
"I can walk."
"No, you can't."
"You're impossible."
"So I've heard."
I folded my arms across my chest with a fake pout.
"I don't like you."
"Liar."
"...Maybe a little."
He chuckled, carrying me back into our bedroom.
Instead of putting me down immediately, he carefully sat me on the edge of the bed.
"I'll get your clothes."
"I can do that myself."
"You can barely stand."
"I'll manage."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Would you like to demonstrate again?
I narrowed my eyes.
"...No."
"I thought so."
A victorious smile crossed his face as he opened the wardrobe.
He took his time searching through my dresses before finally pulling out a simple cream-colored one, but then put it back.
I blinked.
"You chose my outfit?"
" Wait darling!"
He opened his closet and gave and took out of his white shirt.
"I have excellent taste."
"You have expensive taste."
"Same thing."
I laughed softly.
He came to me and helped me put on his shirt.
His fingers worked carefully, fastening each button as though he had all the time in the world.
When he finished, he looked at me for a long moment.
"What?"
"You look beautiful."
My cheeks warmed instantly.
"You say that every day."
"Because it's true every day. You always look perfect."
I shook my head, smiling to myself.
" You are so annoying. I think marriage has made you even more shameless."
"No."
He leaned closer until our foreheads almost touched.
"It just means I don't have to hide it anymore."
My heart skipped a beat.
Before I could reply, he bent down once again.
"...What are you doing now?"
"Picking you up."
I burst into laughter.
"Alessio!"
"What?"
"I can at least make it downstairs."
"I disagree."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
In one smooth motion, he lifted me into his arms again.
I let out an exaggerated groan.
"People are going to see."
"They've seen worse."
"I doubt that."
"I don't."
Laughing quietly, he carried me out of our room and toward the staircase.
As we descended, every guard we passed immediately straightened.
"Good afternoon, Boss."
"Mrs. De Luca."
I smiled politely, trying not to hide my embarrassment.
They all looked completely unfazed...
Unlike me.
"I told you," Alessio whispered near my ear.
"They're used to it."
"I'll never get used to it."
"You will."
"I won't."
"You already are."
I rested my head against his shoulder, giving up.
Maybe arguing with him was pointless.
The dining room was filled with the comforting aroma of fresh food.
Zia Maria looked up from her plate the moment we entered.
The second her eyes landed on us...
A slow smile spread across her face.
"Oh..."
She placed her fork down.
"So that's why the two of you took forever."
I nearly choked on my own breath.
"Zia..."
"What?" she asked innocently.
"I'm simply making an observation."
Alessio calmly pulled out a chair for me before finally setting me down.
"You enjoy teasing her far too much."
"I do," she admitted with a smile.
"It's entertaining."
"I noticed."
She looked at me again, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"So..."
"How are you feeling today, cara?"
I shot Alessio a murderous glare.
He knew exactly what she meant.
"I'm... fine."
"Mhm."
Zia nodded knowingly.
"Of course you are."
I wanted to disappear.
Alessio looked perfectly relaxed, casually pouring coffee into my cup.
"You're not helping."
"I wasn't trying to."
I kicked his leg beneath the table.
He didn't even flinch.
Instead...
The idiot smiled.
"You two are unbelievable," Zia laughed.
For the first time in what felt like forever...
The mansion echoed with something other than gunshots, arguments, or fear.
Laughter.
And somehow...
It felt like home.
Just as I reached for my glass...
One of the guards hurried into the dining room.
His expression was unusually tense.
He stopped beside Alessio.
"Boss."
Every conversation died instantly.
Alessio looked up.
"What is it?"
"A package has just arrived."
"No sender."
"It was left at the front gate."
A strange silence settled over the room.
Alessio's expression became unreadable.
"Bring it here."
The guard nodded once before disappearing.
I glanced at Alessio.
Something had changed.
The warmth in his eyes was gone.
The loving husband sitting beside me had vanished.
In his place sat the Don.
Cold.
Calculating.
Waiting.
Less than a minute later, two guards returned carrying a sleek matte-black box tied with a crimson ribbon.
No address.
No company logo.
Nothing.
Only one name...
Alessio De Luca.
The room fell deathly silent.
He untied the ribbon himself.
Lifted the lid.
Inside...
Rested two handcrafted chess pieces.
A black king.
A white queen.
Beneath them...
A single black card.
Without a word, Alessio picked it up.
His emerald eyes scanned its contents.
His jaw tightened.
I swallowed.
"What does it say?"
Slowly...
He turned the card toward me.
Only one word had been written in elegant silver ink.
' Check '.