Shadows of Affection (GxG)

Chapter 44: Cracks in the Armor

"I'll try," Alessia finally said, though the words felt hollow. She wanted to believe them, but the mountain of obligations that awaited her each day felt insurmountable.

Lily could sense Alessia's internal conflict, and while it hurt, she also understood. She knew how much the mafia demanded from Alessia, how much it took from her. But that didn't make the distance between them any easier to bear. "I know you will," Lily whispered, even as her heart ached with uncertainty.

They sat in silence for a while, the tension between them palpable. The love was still there, but it was strained, tested by the constant demands of a world neither of them could fully escape. And as much as they wanted to hold on, the cracks in their relationship were becoming harder to ignore.

Alessia squeezed Lily's hand one last time before standing up, her eyes clouded with a mixture of guilt and determination. "I'll figure this out, Lily. I promise."

But as she walked away, the unspoken fear lingered between them—what if the mafia, and the world Alessia was born into, was too much for their love to withstand?

Lily watched her go, her heart heavy. She loved Alessia deeply, but she couldn't help but wonder how much longer they could keep this up before the distance between them became too great to bridge.

-

Alessia walked down the hallway, her mind swirling with everything that had just happened. Her conversation with Lily had been short, but it cut deep. The weight of her responsibilities seemed heavier than ever. Each step she took away from Lily felt like another step into the dark, tangled web of her mafia world. She hated it. She hated that this life, one she never chose, was taking her further from the one person she wanted to protect and love the most.

But she had made her promise. She would try.

As she reached her office, her phone buzzed on the desk, its harsh ring shattering the quiet of the room. Alessia glanced at the screen, her heart sinking as she saw the name flash: Marcello Devereux. The leader of the French mafia, a man as ruthless as he was necessary for maintaining the balance of power across the Atlantic.

With a heavy sigh, Alessia answered. "This is Alessia Sorento."

"Bonsoir, Sorento," Marcello's voice purred through the phone, laced with an accent both smooth and commanding. "We need to meet. There's been a shift in territory disputes, and our previous agreements need... adjustments." (Good evening)

Alessia's stomach dropped. She knew what this meant—two weeks, at the very least, in France negotiating, defending her position, and keeping the Sorento Mafia intact. It was the kind of thing that couldn't be put off or handled remotely. Marcello's faction was critical to their stability.

"Quand?" Alessia asked, already knowing the answer. (When)

"Demain," Marcello said. "You'll need to be here for at least a fortnight. We have many things to discuss." (Tomorrow)

Alessia closed her eyes, the exhaustion weighing her down like a lead blanket. "J'y serai," she replied flatly, ending the call without further discussion. (I'll be there)

Her fingers tightened around the phone, her knuckles turning white as a flood of frustration, remorse, and guilt washed over her. Two weeks. Two weeks away from Lily when they were already on shaky ground. She could already picture the look on Lily's face when she told her. The quiet resignation, the sadness Lily would try to hide. It tore at Alessia's heart.

As she leaned back in her chair, staring blankly at the ceiling, her mind began to spiral. A dangerous, treacherous thought bubbled up, one she had tried to bury deep inside for months. What if she hadn't fallen for Lily? What if Lily hadn't fallen for her? Her principessa, her sweet girl, would have been happy—free from this world of blood, danger, and power struggles. Lily could've had a simple, peaceful life. She could've been spared the violence, the fear, the endless waiting.