Alessandro
The gym smelled like metal, sweat, and frustration.
My knuckles slammed into the punching bag again.
Thud.
The chain above it rattled violently as the bag swung back.
I barely gave it time to return before hitting it again.
Thud. Thud.
Each punch carried a piece of the anger building inside my chest.
My breathing was heavy now, sharp bursts of air leaving my lungs as my fists collided with the leather surface over and over again.
But it didn't help.
Nothing helped.
Because the problem wasn't something I could punch.
It was something I couldn't even see.
Someone was after Zola.
And I still had no idea who.
My jaw tightened.
The French spy from last two days flashed through my mind.
"He is coming… He knows about her… He will kill her…"
Then the man died before saying the name.
I hit the bag harder.
THUD.
"Damn it."
The bag swung violently, almost hitting me back.
Not knowing who my enemy was felt like fighting in the dark.
And I hated that feeling.
I had enemies. Many of them.
But enemies were predictable.
They attacked money.
Power.
Territory.
They didn't go after family.
My fists tightened.
Zola wasn't part of this world.
She never had been.
And I had made sure of it.
But somehow… someone knew about her.
Someone patient enough to aim for my weakness instead.
Zola.
My chest tightened slightly.
Another memory surfaced.
Her voice earlier that morning.
"I'm a strong independent woman!"
My fist stopped mid-air.
I exhaled slowly.
She had been holding back her tears the entire fight.
A bitter feeling settled in my chest.
I hated that.
I hated seeing her upset.
I hated knowing I was the reason.
I dragged a hand through my hair, staring at the punching bag.
"Damn it, Zola."
Why did she have to be so stubborn?
Why did she have to grow up?
She used to follow me everywhere when we were younger.
Always smiling.
Always talking.
Now every conversation with her felt like a battlefield.
And every time she looked at me like I was her enemy…
It felt worse than any bullet.
I hit the punching bag again.
But this time my anger shifted.
Because another thought crept in.
Dante.
My jaw tightened immediately.
Dante had been spending too much time around her.
Too close.
Too comfortable.
Too familiar.
I knew him.
We had built this empire together.
He was loyal.
Deadly.
Reliable.
But Dante was also reckless.
Arrogant.
And very good with women.
I knew that better than
anyone.
And the way he looked at Zola sometimes…
It made something dark stir in my chest.
I hated it.
Not because I didn't trust him.
But because I did.
Which meant he was the only one I could trust with her safety.
And that thought irritated me more than anything.
I punched the bag again.
Then again.
Then again.
Eventually my arms slowed.
The bag swung lazily in front of me.
My breathing steadied.
Silence filled the gym.
I leaned forward slightly, resting my forearms against the bag.
My thoughts returned to Zola.
Her birthday.
Her excitement.
Her hope.
And I had crushed it without hesitation.
Because I was scared.
I exhaled slowly.
Maybe…
Maybe I was being too harsh.
Maybe I should just let her go out.
Just for a day.
Just for her birthday.
The thought lingered.
But my mind immediately rejected it.
No.
Too risky.
Too many unknown enemies.
Too many possibilities.
Anywhere outside the estate could become a battlefield within seconds.
No.
Nowhere was safe.
My gaze drifted across the gym floor.
Nowhere safe…
Except—
My thoughts stopped.
The company.
The security there was tighter than most government facilities.
Armed guards.
Surveillance systems.
Private security teams.
Biometric access points.
It was practically a fortress.
Safer than any mall or street she wanted to visit.
Slowly, the idea formed completely in my mind.
I straightened up.
Maybe…
Maybe that could work.
She wanted to leave the estate.
Fine.
I could take her with me to the company.
Just for the day.
She'd see the outside world.
Walk around.
Maybe even visit a few places nearby under heavy security.
My chest loosened slightly.
It wasn't perfect.
But it was something.
Something that would make her happy.
Something that would stop her from looking at me like I was her jailer.
There was only one problem.
Dante.
If Zola went with me, someone had to stay with her the entire time.
Someone capable enough to protect her if anything happened.
Someone I trusted completely.
And unfortunately…
Dante was the only name that came to mind.
I sighed.
I didn't like the idea of the two of them spending even more time together.
But my personal feelings didn't matter.
Zola's safety did.
Always.
I grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from my face.
Decision made.
Tomorrow morning I'd tell her.
She could come with me to the company.
And Dante would be in charge of watching her.
Just for one day.
Just one.
Hopefully that would be enough to make her smile again.