Page 2 of Alessio

“Les.”

“Ignore me,” he muttered. “Thinking out loud.”

But also not a lie.

This wasn’t a happy day.

And tomorrow didn’t look good, either.

Welcome to his life, lately.

“Why don’t you take a break, come back here for a bit, and reset—”

“That’s Alessio?”

Cree.

In the call's background, Dare confirmed what Cree asked. A shuffle of the phone sounded before more movement echoed through the speakers. Alessio heard the slam of a door before Cree came onto the phone.

“Where are you?” Cree demanded.

Alessio arched a brow over at Gian. The man didn’t even glance his way. “Away.”

“Doing what?”

“Thinking.”

Cree let out a harsh sound. “You don’t call people?”

“I’m a grown man, I can—”

“Tell the people who give a fuck that you’re safe, Les.”

His throat jumped as he swallowed back a biting retort that would have only saved his pride but hurt someone else. “I’m safe.”

A second passed. Cree sighed. “Good.” Then, after a brief pause, he added, “Corrado called two days ago looking for you. You should at least tell him where you are, Les. You don’t have to go back—I understand things are going on that hurt you, but he’s worried.”

Good for him.

Because he hadn’t given a shit about Alessio before.

As fast as the seed of doubt drifted through his mind, the pain following behind just as fast, Alessio tipped his head down, and shook it away. It wasn’t true, and a huge part of why this happened was because Corrado hadn’t wanted to hurt him.

Yet, here they stood.

The same result.

Alessio didn’t do well with pain, and especially not if someone he loved caused it. He had a handle on this shit—this thing between them. He assumed they were comfortable, but this had taught him he had been lying to himself.

Complacent.

It took nothing to be ruined.

Nothing but a woman.

“I’m not calling him,” Alessio said, “there’s nothing for me to say.”

Hadn’t he said enough when he showed up to the penthouse over a week ago? He believed so. His words had cut with each one said—landing like knives against the man he loved to the ends of the earth and back. Alessio didn’t need Corrado to tell him how much he hurt him with the things he said. He was aware.