35. Alexis

35

After we had tucked a sleepy Katie into a hotel bed, Damian received a text that set his face into a grim line.

"We're needed downstairs," he tells me after I reassure Katie that we will be back with some pizza and ice cream. "The interrogation has begun."

Damian, Nat, Edo, and I head down to the basement, where Vincente and Emma are being held in a windowless, soundproof room. The air is thick with tension as we enter, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on all of us. Damian takes my hand in his, lacing our fingers together.

Vincente sits before us, his face bloodied and bruised, the evidence of his torture clear. Emma sits in the chair beside him, her face white with panic. When she sees me, her eyes bulge and her screams are muffled by the gag.

I turn my head away from her.

Bobby regards Vincente with a cold, unrelenting gaze. "Talk," he demands, leaving no room for defiance.

Vincente glares back, his expression defiant despite his battered expression. "I won't tell you a fucking thing," he spits.

Bobby raises an eyebrow. "No? Let's refresh your memory, then." He presses Play on a recording device sitting before him. Vincente's voice echoes through the basement room.

"Poor little Alexis had been so frightened after I killed her mother. I was supposed to kill Alexis too, but she managed to escape me. But now I'm so glad I didn't. She's so much more useful to me now."

As the recording cuts off, Bobby's gaze settles on Vincente, his expression transforming into something truly terrifying. The Don of Invicta is no longer a distant, unreadable figure but a true embodiment of menace and rage.

Damian's grip on my hand tightens, a silent gesture of support. I'm left reeling as I hear Vincente speak so callously about my mother's murder, to know that he had intended to end my life as well.

The air in the room seems to grow even thicker with tension, the weight of the revelation and the palpable threat of violence hanging heavily upon us all. I find myself holding my breath, bracing for whatever retribution Bobby has in store for Vincente.

"You let your own brother take the fall for your actions," Bobby says silkily, dangerously. I can't help but shiver at the pure fury in Bobby's voice. "Lorenzo had nothing to do with Rebecca's murder."

Nat's face crumples in anguish.

"Yes," Vincente snaps, his eyes wild. "But Lorenzo had proof that he didn't order the hit and was going to tell Bobby. I couldn't have that, especially when word got out that the Iacopellis and Invicta were going to form an alliance. I couldn't have that, especially if I wanted to take over."

"So you decided to wipe out your brother, his wife, and his children," Bobby says flatly.

Nat cries out, the anguish etched into every feature. "Why did you kill Alessandra? She was only a child!" she screams, her voice laced with raw, unrestrained fury.

Vincente shrugs. "She was collateral damage," he replies, his cold, callous words cutting like a knife. "She shouldn't have been home sick to be a witness."

Nat surges forward, her eyes wild with hatred, but Edo quickly moves to hold her back, struggling to keep her from lunging at Vincente.

I stare at Vincente in a daze, my mind reeling from the sheer callousness with which he describes the murders of my mother and his own family. It's as if he's talking about the weather, completely devoid of any remorse or humanity.

How can a person be so utterly twisted, so heartless in the face of such unspeakable acts?

Beside me, Nat is barely being held back by Edo, her anguished screams echoing through the basement. The raw pain and fury in her voice is palpable, a testament to the devastation that Vinny has wrought.

And then, there's Emma, who has somehow managed to get the gag out of her mouth.

"Alexis, please," she begs. "We're sisters. Have mercy on me. You know I didn't mean it."

I feel nothing but revulsion toward this woman who has tormented me for so long. Her pleas for mercy only serve to heighten my disgust.

"I'll show you the same mercy you showed me when you fucked my boyfriend and agreed to sell me to The Brotherhood," I reply, my voice devoid of any emotion.

Emma's face crumples, and I watch, unmoved, as she descends into tears and desperate, futile pleas. I can't bring myself to feel an ounce of pity for her, not when she has inflicted so much pain and suffering upon me.

In the face of such profound betrayal and anguish, any empathy I might have once felt has been extinguished. Their callousness toward my mother, toward me, has stripped me of my humanity, leaving me a mere shell of the person I once was.

I can feel Damian's gaze upon me, his concern palpable. But even his touch, his silent support, does nothing to alleviate the overwhelming sense of loss and isolation that envelops me.

Turning to Damian, my voice is laced with a weary finality. "I'm done with this conversation."

He looks at me with concern, no doubt sensing the shift in my demeanor. "Let's get you out of here. An execution is about to take place."

Emma's eyes bulge, and she starts to scream for help, but an Invicta soldier stuffs the gag back into her mouth. She whips her head back and forth, trying to remove the gag, but is unsuccessful.

I stand firm, my gaze unwavering. "I want to watch."

He looks at me with concern, no doubt sensing the shift in my demeanor. "Alexis, are you sure? This isn't something you need to see."

But I stand resolutely. "I need to see it, Damian. I need to see Vincente and Emma get what they deserve."

I can see the conflict in Damian's eyes, but he knows better than to try and dissuade me. He wraps an arm around me, pulling me close to him, but doesn't try to take me out of the room.

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a subtle nod from Bobby. It's a silent acknowledgment, a tacit approval of my decision to stay.

And in that moment, I feel a strange sense of power, a twisted validation that I'm finally taking control of my own fate.

Bobby stands, his gaze sweeping over the room. Reaching down, he offers a second gun to Damian and Natalia.

"I told you that Scarlett and Vinny were mine to kill," he says, his voice cold and authoritative. "But I wasn't expecting the girl."

Nat's eyes blaze with a fierce determination as she seizes the weapon. "The kill is mine too," she declares, her grip tightening around the gun.

Damian glances at her, his brow furrowed with concern. "Nat, are you sure?"

But Nat's response is unwavering. "Yes," she says, her voice trembling with barely contained emotion. "This is for our parents. For Alessandra."

The weight of her words hangs in the air, the pain and anguish of their shared loss etched into every syllable.

As Bobby and Nat raise their guns, I steel myself, bracing for the inevitable. I don't flinch, not even as the shots ring out, echoing through the cavernous basement.

Vincente and Emma fall to the ground, their lives snuffed out in an instant. A part of me feels a twinge of satisfaction, a sense of justice being served. But it's quickly overshadowed by the overwhelming sense of loss and anguish that has become my constant companion.

I watch dispassionately as their bodies lie motionless, the finality of their demise settling heavily upon me. This is the end of a twisted chapter, but it offers little in the way of closure or relief.

Damian's hand finds mine, a silent gesture of support. I squeeze it in return, drawing strength from his presence. In this moment, I know that I'm not alone, that he will always be by my side as I navigate the uncertain path that lies ahead.

I will carry on, even if the road ahead seems shrouded in darkness. I have to for my baby.

With a deep breath, I turn to Damian, my resolve hardening. "Let's go," I say, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within me. "There's nothing left for me here."

Damian nods, gently squeezing my hand. "Alright, let's go."

As Damian moves to guide me toward the exit, I hesitate, my gaze drifting back toward Bobby. My father—the Don of Invicta—stands there, his eyes pleading with me to stay.

But I'm not ready. Not yet. The weight of everything that has happened—the near-sale, Scarlett's death, the execution of Emma and Vincente—it's all too much. I feel raw, exposed, on the verge of shattering.

"I'm not ready," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "I need time, Bobby. I need time to process all of this."

The hurt that flashes across his face is palpable, but I can't bring myself to feel sympathy. Not now, not when I'm barely holding myself together.

Damian squeezes my hand gently, but Bobby nods.

"Take all the time you need, Alexis. I'll be here when you're ready."

I nod, grateful that he won't push me. I see the desperation in his expression, the yearning to reconnect with me.

But the wounds are too fresh, the betrayal too deep. I need space, time to heal, before I can even begin to consider forgiving him, let alone build a relationship.

"I'll come back," I promise, though the words feel weighty, uncertain. "But not today. I just… I can't."

Bobby nods again. He knows, as well as I do, that pushing me now would only drive me further away.

With a final, lingering look, I turn and allow Damian to lead me out of the basement. Each step feels like a weight lifted, a chance to breathe, to process the maelstrom of emotions swirling within me.

As we reach the main level of the hotel, I feel a glimmer of hope, a fragile promise that I can move forward, one step at a time. With Damian by my side, I know I'm not alone in this journey. And that knowledge, more than anything, gives me the strength to keep going.

Damian guides me upstairs to a lavish hotel room, the weight of the day's events palpable between us. As the door closes behind us, the tension in the air is heavy, a silent acknowledgement of the profound experience we've both endured.

He reaches for me, his touch gentle and soothing. In his embrace, I feel a sense of comfort and safety that I haven't known in far too long. The fear, the anguish, the overwhelming sense of loss—it all seems to melt away.

We stand there, holding each other, drawing strength from the simple act of being together. No words are needed, for in this moment, our connection transcends spoken language.

Damian pulls back slightly, his dark eyes shining with a mix of tenderness and vulnerability. "Alexis," he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion, "When you were missing, I… I went crazy."

I listen, my heart aching at the pain etched into his features. "I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, couldn't function without you at my side. I've never been so scared in my life as when I saw you on that stage, about to be sold."

His hand trembles as he cups my face, his thumb caressing my cheek with reverence. I lean into his touch. "I thought I was going to lose you, Alexis. I couldn't bear the thought of living in a world without you in it."

The raw honesty in his words catches me off guard, and I feel tears prick at the corners of my eyes.

"Damian," I breathe, my own hands reaching up to cover his. "I'm here, I'm safe. You found me."

He nods, his forehead coming to rest against mine. "I'll always find you, Alexis. No matter what, I'll never stop searching, never stop fighting to bring you home."

The depth of his conviction, the fierce protectiveness in his voice, ignites a fire within me. In this moment, I know with absolute certainty that Damian will be the constant, the unwavering anchor in the stormy sea of my life.

Closing the distance between us, I press my lips to his in a tender, searing kiss. It's a silent promise, a declaration of the bond that tethers us together.

He guides me toward the bed, our movements unhurried, almost reverent. As we sink into the plush mattress, I feel the weight of the world lift from my shoulders, replaced by a profound sense of tranquility.

Damian moves from my mouth down to my neck, his hot mouth lavishing kisses to my skin. I moan and plunge my fingers into his soft hair, tugging on the strands. I want more. I want to feel as close to him as possible after everything.

"Damian," I moan, arching against him, desperate for any friction as his hair tickles my chin. "Take me."

He stills and looks up at me, his eyes dark with desire. "Oh, I plan on it, Alexis."

He resumes his attention to my neck, his hands sliding down my breasts and stomach before reaching the end of the short red dress I was forced into. Breaking away from me, he yanks the dress off me, throwing it somewhere onto the floor, leaving me only in my underwear.

"I'm burning that fucking dress," he growls before capturing my lips in a heated kiss again, his tongue sliding along the seam. I immediately comply, opening my mouth eagerly as our tongues battle for dominance.

His hands slide down to my breasts, kneading them before taking a nipple into his mouth, rolling the sensitive bud between his teeth. I moan again, thrusting my hips up against him. I honestly feel like I could burst and all he's done is kiss me.

Damian removes his mouth from my nipple and the cool air causes it to pucker. I gaze at Damian through heavy-lidded eyes as he unbuttons his shirt and takes off his pants. His erect cock strains against his boxer briefs, and my mouth waters at the sight.

It's time for me to show him just how much I love him. How grateful I am for rescuing me. For being my everything.

Before Damian can kiss me again, I sit up, lightly pushing him back until he's lying on the bed. His eyes are wide as he looks at me.

"Alexis, what the…?"

I pay him no mind as I kiss down from his neck, down to his sculpted yet scarred body, my tongue swirling over some of the scars mapping his torso. I rain kisses past his belly button, my chin moving against the rough material of his boxer briefs.

"You're wearing entirely too many clothes," I murmur, ignoring the fact that he and I are equally clothed. I pull his underwear down slowly, watching with delight as his giant dick stands at attention before I toss his boxer briefs onto the ground.

Reaching out, I run my hand down his shaft, smiling as I hear Damian hiss and tip his head back.

"Fuck, Alexis."

Encouraged by that reaction, I lean down and press kisses to his head, licking up any precum leaking from the tip. Damian moans, his back arching as he brings his penis closer to my mouth.

I've never really done this before, but that's not going to stop me. I want Damian to feel good.

I relax my throat as I take him deeper into my mouth, moving my lips up and down his shaft as my tongue swirls around his hard length. My hands cup his balls as I roll them between my fingers.

"Oh, fuck, Alexis!" Damian moans before seizing my hair and guiding me up and down his shaft. "Holy fuck, yes. Yes, right there. Oh, fuck, don't stop."

He's gripping my hair so tightly, my eyes are watering, but I refuse to quit, sucking his penis with all I have, bobbing my head up and down in the way he seems to like. I take him deeper into my throat, breathing through my nose as my lips nearly touch his balls.

Damian's moans and hisses are music to my ears. I'm making him feel this good. I'm the reason he's getting so much pleasure from this.

He continues to spasm and groan as I work his shaft, his fingers digging nearly painfully into my hair, but I don't care. His hips move rhythmically as he fucks my mouth. I slow the pace a little before speeding up again, smiling as he moans loudly.

"Fuck, I'm going to come, Alexis," he pants, his hips moving wildly.

Oh, no. We can't have that.

I remove my mouth from his penis, releasing him with a wet Pop. He glares at me. I smile sweetly at him.

"That was just an appetizer," I respond.

Growling, Damian pounces on me, pinning me to the bed. Our skin touches, and goosebumps erupt on my flesh. His touch always causes such reactions in me.

Damian kisses me, his hands caressing my breasts again. He's moving deliberately slow, taking his time. I feel like I could burst. I'm ready and eager, but he's savoring every single touch.

It excites me how he looks at me like I'm a valuable treasure. It fills me with such joy and confidence.

It looks like he really loves me.

His hand moves between my thighs before ripping my underwear off me. I gasp, but it turns into a moan as his fingers rub against my clit. I convulse as he increases speed, sending jolts of pleasure through me.

I grab him by the arms. "Take me, now," I pant.

Damian smirks but does as I ask, sliding his throbbing erection into me effortlessly. He fits perfectly.

He looks at me as he begins to thrust. He pushes hard and then slowly pulls back. Harder, and then gently pulls back, again. It's exciting and frustrating at the same time. I moan into his ear.

His hands move up to my face, and he holds my head in his hands as he grinds in and out of me. My fingers begin to claw at his back as he increases his speed.

Damian releases my face and moves his hands to my breasts, gently massaging and squeezing them before clamping his mouth over a nipple and sucking eagerly.

The stimulation overpowers me, and I twitch beneath him, arching my back and gripping him against me.

"Yes, Damian, don't stop!" I cry.

Damian increases his speed again, pounding enthusiastically as I moan and squirm. I never want him to stop.

"More, Damian. Harder!" I beg, and he happily obliges. The more I cry out, the more aggressive he becomes. Finally, his mouth moves up to my throat, and he bites me playfully, causing me to gasp.

"Yes, Damian!" I cry out breathlessly.

Damian abruptly pulls himself out of me.

"What are you doing? No, please don't stop." I whimper, and he flashes a devilish grin before getting to his knees and flipping me onto my stomach.

I gasp again, and he chuckles before putting his hands on my hips and moving me up on all fours. "You're mine," he purrs before he enters me from behind.

Damian pushes harder and more profoundly than before, and I cannot control my screams of pleasure.

"Yes, Damian! Yes, take me! I'm yours!"

His skin slaps against my ass as he grinds into me over and over. His fingers dig into my hips. I've never felt like this before. He brings me to new levels of ecstasy.

I feel my orgasm growing inside me, and Damian seems more excited the harder he pounds me.

"I'm going to come," I whimper as I can no longer keep it inside. I cannot fight this one. It's overtaking me. I am at its mercy.

"Me, too," he pants as he growls, spilling his seed inside me.

I scream as my muscles contract against his stiff shaft. Finally, the warmth spreads inside me, and I feel satisfied. Complete.

Damian collapses over my backside, his skin slick against mine as he catches his breath. My arms are shaking from holding my body weight up, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

That was amazing.

Slowly, Damian pulls himself out of me and lies down beside me.

I rest my head against Damian's chest, feeling the comforting thrum of his heartbeat. His arms are wrapped around me. I can't help but marvel at the profound change I've witnessed in him. I remember vividly the first time we had sex, how he had retreated afterward, refusing to partake in the simple intimacy of post-sex cuddling.

At the time, I had been confused and hurt, unsure of how to navigate this man who seemed to keep me at arm's length.

But now, as he holds me close, his fingers tracing gentle patterns along my skin, I realize just how much he has grown, how he has allowed himself to be vulnerable in a way he'd once resisted.

Damian's walls have come down, and in their place, I see the depth of his love and devotion. The fierce protectiveness he displayed earlier, the raw honesty with which he confessed his fears of losing me—it's a stark contrast to the guarded, distant man I first knew.

I reach up to caress his cheek, marveling at the softness in his expression, the warmth that radiates from his very being. This man—this man who has become my everything—has truly opened his heart to me.

"Damian," I whisper, my voice laced with reverence. "You've changed so much."

He turns his head slightly, pressing a gentle kiss to the palm of my hand. "For you, Alexis," he murmurs. "Always for you."

In that moment, I'm struck by the realization that our journey, our bond, has been a transformative one—not just for me, but for Damian as well. He has shed his armor, his defenses, and in doing so has allowed me to see the depth of the man he truly is.

Damian deserves to know the truth. I can no longer keep this secret from him, not when he's proven time and time again that he is my unwavering rock, my fiercest protector.

Summoning my courage, I lift my head to meet his gaze. "Damian?" I murmur, my voice soft yet resolute.

He looks down, his eyes filled with warmth and adoration. "Yes?"

Taking a deep breath, I hold his steady gaze. "I'm pregnant."