BETWEEN LOVE AND RUIN

014

(Alexander's POV)

The heavy oak doors of my father’s study loomed before me, their dark wood polished to a mirror shine. I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the brass handle. I knew what awaited me on the other side—another interrogation, another test of loyalty. My father never summoned me for pleasant conversations.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room was as imposing as ever, the walls lined with shelves of ancient tomes and the faint scent of cigar smoke lingering in the air. My father sat behind his massive desk, his sharp blue eyes fixed on me as soon as I entered.

“Alexander,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “Sit.”

I didn’t argue. I never did. I took the seat across from him, my posture stiff, my hands resting on my knees. The weight of his gaze was suffocating, but I refused to show any sign of discomfort.

“The mission in Berlin,” he began, leaning back in his chair. “How did it go?”

I kept my expression neutral, though my mind raced. The mission had been a success, but it had left a bitter taste in my mouth. The governor’s blood still felt like it was staining my hands, no matter how many times I scrubbed them clean.

“It went as planned,” I said, my voice steady. “The target was eliminated. No complications.”

My father nodded, his expression unreadable. “Good. I expected nothing less.”

There was a pause, heavy and deliberate. I knew what was coming next. My father never let an opportunity pass without digging deeper, without peeling back the layers to see what lay beneath.

“And Maria,” he said, his tone shifting slightly. “How is she?”

I stiffened, my jaw tightening. “She’s… adjusting.”

My father’s lips curved into a faint smirk, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Adjusting? Is that what you call it?”

I didn’t respond, my gaze fixed on the edge of his desk. I knew where this was going, and I wasn’t ready for it.

“You’ve grown attached to her,” he said, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife. “Haven’t you?”

I shook my head, my denial immediate. “No. She’s part of the plan. That’s all.”

My father leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. “Don’t lie to me, Alexander. I can see it in your eyes. You’ve developed feelings for her.”

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “I haven’t. She’s a means to an end. Nothing more.”

My father’s smirk widened, and he leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving mine. “You’re a terrible liar, Alexander. Always have been.”

I didn’t respond, my chest tightening with a mix of anger and frustration. He was right, and I hated it. Maria had become more than just a pawn in this game, more than just a tool for the family’s ambitions. But admitting that to my father—to anyone—felt like a betrayal of everything I had been taught.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said finally, my voice low. “She’s part of the plan. That’s all that matters.”

My father’s expression darkened, and he leaned forward again, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “And what if I told you that Leonardo has decided to train her? To make her one of us?”

My heart skipped a beat, and I stared at him, disbelief and anger warring inside me. “What?”

My father’s smirk returned, cold and calculating. “He believes she has potential. That she could be an asset to the family. And he’s offered to help her take back her mother’s company.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Leonardo had no right to make that decision, no right to involve Maria in this world any more than she already was. And the idea of her becoming one of us—of her being trained to kill—filled me with a mix of dread and fury.

“He had no right,” I said, my voice trembling with anger. “She’s not ready for that. She’s not—”

“She’s not what?” my father interrupted, his tone sharp. “Strong enough? Capable enough? Or are you just afraid of what she might become?”

I didn’t answer, my jaw clenched so tightly it ached. My father’s words cut deeper than I wanted to admit, and the thought of Maria being dragged further into this world—of her losing the last remnants of herself—was almost too much to bear.

“You’re dismissed,” my father said, his tone final. “But remember, Alexander—this family comes first. Always.”

I stood abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. I didn’t wait for his permission to leave. I turned on my heel and stormed out of the study, my mind racing, my chest burning with anger.

I found Leonardo in the training room, his back to me as he adjusted the straps on a punching bag. He turned as I entered, his expression calm but with a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

“Alexander,” he said, his tone casual. “What brings you here?”

I didn’t answer. I crossed the room in a few quick strides and grabbed him by the collar, slamming him against the wall. His eyes widened in surprise, but he didn’t fight back.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I snarled, my voice low and dangerous. “You had no right to make that decision. No right to involve her in this.”

Leonardo’s expression hardened, and he shoved me back, his strength surprising me. “I had every right,” he said, his voice cold. “She’s part of this family now, whether you like it or not. And if she’s going to survive, she needs to learn how to fight.”

I shook my head, my chest heaving. “You don’t get to decide that. You don’t get to decide what she becomes.”

Leonardo’s lips curved into a faint smirk, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “And what would you have me do, Alexander? Leave her defenseless? Let her be crushed by the weight of this world?”

I didn’t answer, my fists clenched at my sides. He was right, and I hated it. But the thought of Maria being trained, of her becoming one of us, filled me with a mix of dread and anger that I couldn’t shake.

“Stay away from her,” I said finally, my voice low and dangerous. “Or I’ll make you regret it.”

Leonardo’s smirk widened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re welcome to try.”

I turned and stormed out of the room, my mind racing, my chest burning with a mix of anger and frustration. I didn’t know what to do, how to protect Maria from the world she had been thrust into. But one thing was certain—I wasn’t going to let Leonardo destroy her.

---

Back in his study, my father leaned back in his chair, a slow, evil smile spreading across his face. He took a sip of his brandy, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and calculation.

“I wonder how things will develop,” he murmured to himself, his voice low and filled with dark anticipation.