The Mafia Boss's Sweet Secret

Chapter3.

Lily's POV.

The tall handsome stranger and I walk down the deserted street, hand in hand. We walk together in complete silence. He doesn't look at me. He is too focused on his surroundings. A cop car speeds past us on its way to the alley where the short man is lying dead on the ground. I feel a mixture of fear, nervousness, and excitement mixing in my stomach.

I use this time to examine the tall stranger's chiseled profile. He really is very handsome. The personification of tall, dark, and handsome. I look down at our hands. He hasn't let go of mine yet, and I don't let go of his either. His hand is warm. His skin is soft, but not too soft. I get the feeling that he's worked with his hands before. Perhaps he still does. I like being with him. I feel sort of comfortable in his presence. He makes me feel safe somehow.

Another cop car is on its way towards us. They must have spotted us walking down the street because they slow down slightly as they drive past. The tall stranger tightens his grip around my hand. He must be feeling nervous now. He knows that the cops will be looking for him by now. The cop car slows to a stop in front of the entrance to the alley, but instead of the cops getting out, the car turns around and starts heading towards us again. The tall stranger begins to run and drags me with him. I don't fight him. I just run with him. He rounds the first corner we find and pulls me in behind a tree. He presses me up against it with his body and puts a lean finger to his full lips, gesturing me to be quiet. I don't make a sound. I don't move at all.

He smells good. Really good. Like musk and leather and masculinity. His body is warm and hard against mine. A warm, tingling sensation washes over my entire body and a slight shiver runs down my spine. My stomach is turning, but in a delicious sort of way. Up close, I can see that he has deep, molten hazel eyes. They have a certain kind of sadness in them. I find myself wanting to stay in this moment with this tall stranger forever.

The cop car passes our street and drives on. They won't stop looking for us now. We need to get off the street.

Suddenly, the tall stranger turns his gaze towards me. He looks deep into my eyes. It feels like he's trying to look into my soul. I gulp nervously. I can feel my cheeks flush as the blood rushes towards them. The tall stranger smirks at me. This action turns my insides to liquid. No man has ever had this kind of effect on me. I find myself wanting to tear his crisp white shirt off and run the tips of my fingers over his bare skin. I want to know what he feels like. I want to kiss him and glide my tongue in between his full lips and into the warmth of his sensual mouth. I want to know what he tastes like.

I think that I might have the same effect on him because he still has me pinned up against the tree with his body, and he makes no attempt to move away. He still stares into my eyes while his grows dark with a dangerously seductive promise. His eyes slowly begin to drift over my face and finally settle on my mouth. He licks his bottom lip with the tip of his tongue. I wonder what it would feel like if he licked my lip. The atmosphere between us becomes charged with a sultry anticipation. I take a deep breath and clear my throat to break the tension because I simply can't take it anymore. It's just too much.

The tall stranger blinks and sighs heavily. Like he's just woken up from some sort of trance. He smiles at me. It's a sweet smile. He takes a step back and runs his fingers through his thick black hair. I might not know it at the time, but this is a gesture that I will grow very fond of.

"Alessio." "Alessio Valentini." He holds out his hand for me to take. Even his name is sexy and seductive.

I place my hand in his. I feel silly, giving him such a mundane name, but I do it anyway. "Lily Evansong."

He raises my hand to his mouth and kisses the back of it softly. My skin tingles where his lips touched. He looks up at me again with a strange yet soft look in his eyes. "Your name suits you perfectly, Lily Evansong. Beautiful, just like its owner."

It's a cheesy line, but it doesn't sound cheesy coming from him. I blush and have to look away. Alessio lets go of my hand and looks up and down the street.

"Come, Lily. We need to get off the street." He takes my hand without waiting for my response and starts to walk down the street towards the next corner.

I let him lead me. Walking hand in hand with him feels so natural. It feels so right.

Alessio reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out his phone. He dials a number and the person on the other end answers almost immediately. Alessio barks something at the other person. He's speaking Italian, so I don't understand a word of it, but he sounds pretty upset. They exchange a few words and Alessio puts the phone back in his pocket. He has a deep frown between his perfect brows as we reach the corner. He stops and so do I. He seems to be lost in thought. I can't stop looking at him. I feel a little starstruck.

"Does it hurt?" I ask a little breathlessly as I notice his blood-soaked shoulder. I touch my fingers to the gaping wound.

Alessio takes my hand in his and smiles down at me. "Nothing I haven't felt before." His eyes look sad again.

We stand in silence for a few more seconds. Then a black SUV pulls to a screeching stop in front of us. A large, angry-looking man with a bald head, dressed in a black suit, climbs out. He greets Alessio in Italian and gives me a suspicious look. He then opens the back door for us and Alessio ushers me inside. We speed away again as soon as the man climbs back in.

We drive by another cop car with its flashing lights and howling sirens and I can't help wonder what the hell I've gotten myself into.