Aubrey POV

When Matteo walked out of the room I felt two things at once. One was relief, the other was sadness. Why was I sad? I wanted to leave right? Alessandro was in the Mafia. We couldn't be together. As if we didn't have enough things that made us different.

I always knew that we weren't meant for each other. It wasn't just the fact that Alessandro was in the Mafia. I always felt like I was the one who was never good enough for him. When I found out what he was,  it was obvious fate made the decision for me.

Alessandro told me countless times that he loved me. I never understood why. He claims he's never said it to another women, but I find that extremely hard to believe. Aside from the fact that he was in the Mafia, I always knew he was meant to be someone better than me. Someone prettier, who always dressed nice, who was skinny and beautiful. Not someone like me. Who wore jeans everyday, or was unfit.

I was finally able to fall asleep. I woke up the next morning and got up and made myself some breakfast. I promised Matteo to be my usual self before I left and I was going to keep that promise. Fortunately the maid told me Alessandro already left. I put on some shorts and a sport shirt and went swimming. It felt good to swim.

I took a shower and I made it back inside for some lunch. Matteo came home and said he was working on a plan to get me out of there but it was going to take a few days. I smiled and thanked him. We walked around the house and we joked around like old times.

I was really tired from today. I decided to skip dinner and headed to my room. I heard a knock on the door. I went to open it and called out "did you forget something Matteo?" I said as I opened it. To my surprise it wasn't Matteo. It was Alessandro.  We looked at each other for a second but I quickly looked away. I walked away from the door and sat on the couch next to the window.

"Aubrey." He whispered and walked inside and closed the door. Then he sat in the edge of the bed. "I heard from the maids that you finally left the room and you had breakfast and lunch. I'm so happy. I was so worried about you." He said. I could feel him staring at me. I just continued to sit down and look out the window.

I could feel him stand up and walk next to me. He kneeled down in front of me. "Aubrey please talk to me. Your indifference is killing me." He said.

I finally looked down on him. He looked like he aged in just a few days. "Alessandro." I said. "You need to let me go. I can't do this."

"Aubrey I wish I could, but I can't. I love you. I've told you countless times and yet you don't believe me" he said holding my hand with his.

I freed myself from him and stood up and sat on the bed. "Alessandro we're very different people. It's not just the fact that you do what you do" I sighed. "It's everything. We can't be together" I said looking at him.

"Aubrey, before you say anything else. Please listen to me" he said. I sat down on the bed and he sat in front of me. "My parents were killed when I was 16. I had no idea what my father did up until that point. My mother made him promise not to involve me in this business." He said. "Unfortunately someone killed them. My uncle Alfredo took me and my brother in and showed me the ropes of this business. Matteo was just a kid. I was just a kid." He sighed again and looked out the window and continued to talk. "It took my uncle two years to prepare me to be the head of this business. Then when I turned 18 I took over. I didn't want to but I had to. It was hard. I never imagined I would be doing all of this. To my dismay I was good at all of this. I was good doing businesses and no not dirty business. Mostly everything I do is legit. There is a very small part of this that I'm not proud of.  And believe it or not, the first man I ever killed with my hands was the one you saw me shoot the other day. Contrary to popular belief, I hated killing people. I did take out a few very bad men, but my men did that. The only reason I shot the guy was because he hurt you. Him and that other guy. I knew they beat you up, and I promised myself I would make them pay for what they did to you." He became silent for a minute. He continued to stare out the window. "I know you don't like what I do, but it's not who I am." He finally turned to look at me. "I learned that thanks to you. You'd showed me I could love someone. Of course I loved my brother and my uncle but I've never loved someone like I love you." He said looking intensely at me. "I know you want to leave. Matteo told me!and don't be mad at him, he tells me everything. He's also part of the reason why I came to the decision to let you go" he said.

"What?" I asked him, looking at him.

"Yes Aubrey. I'm letting you go." He said still looking at me. He held my hands. "Matteo made me realize that the only way I can show you that I truly love you is by letting you go and that's what I'm going to do. I arranged for my private jet to take you back home. The maids have already packed your luggage and Sandra is picking you up at the airport." He said to me.

He looked away again. " I won't be here tomorrow. Matteo will send you off. If I'm here I'll try to stop you and I can't do that to you." He looked at me again. He leaned in and kissed me. It was a small kiss on the lips and he backed away. "I needed one last kiss before you left." He said and got up from the bed and walked towards the door. Before he walked out he said "know that I will always love you Aubrey." Then he was gone.

I was in shock. He let me go. He let me go because he loved me. I cried myself to sleep and woke up the next morning. True to his word Alessandro wasn't here.

Matteo took me to the airport. We hugged then i got on the plane. I went into the suit, laid down and cried the entire way back.

I was finally home. The plane landed and Sandy was there. We ran to each other and hugged each other and once again I broke into tears.