POV: Angelo

The way Aletta spoke to me yesterday was a real wake up call for me.

No one has ever spoken to me like that. Ever. I must admit, at first it did anger me, Hell it still does, but it made me realise something.

Aletta isn't anyone else. She is different and her own person.
And that is what made me fall for her the first time.

She has changed so much and it's all my fault. I never forgave myself for what I did to her, but maybe it's not too late to try and make amends.

It took me 7 years to realise, but I finally have, and this time I won't let her slip away. I will try until the day I die, and that is a promise.

I look down at my watch and read the time: 9:07pm. I wonder what Aletta is doing now.

With that thought I text Bella asking her where Aletta is, using the excuse she left her coat at Alex's and I want to return it to her.

I get a reply soon enough saying that she should be at le restaurant manifique. After reading it, I get straight in my car and drive there with the intention of seeing her as clear as day in my mind.

I pull up outside and get out when my eyes lock on a familiar figure: Aletta.

She is wearing a short red dress with long sleeves and black stilettos. Her hair is straightened and left to cascade freely down her back and shoulders and she is holding a small black purse.

I keep a distance as I realise she is accompanied by approximately four Asian men, an Asian woman and a tall blonde man. I realise it must be a business matter so I hold back, waiting for her to be alone.

The four men and the woman all leave, leaving her and blonde alone. He steps closer to her as she laughs at something he says, making my chest tighten and my fists clench.

I don't wait for him to leave as I walk over to them. I straighten my suit jacket and fix my posture as I enter their line of vision.

Aletta visibly stiffens making my stomach twist, as I realise how much she despises me.

I approach them and she just watches me not moving nor saying a word.

"Aletta, could I please have a word with you?" I politely ask watching her intently.

"I'm pretty busy in case you couldn't tell." She says without removing her eyes from me.

"It'll only take a second." I try to persuade and she rolls her eyes.

"I said everything yesterday, there can't be anything more to say." She says.

Wow she's really stubborn.
"Well okay, how about we meet up later then for dinner. Say Friday?" I ask, trying my hardest not to loose my patience.

"Can't. I'm on a date." She says while moving towards the blonde guy who is still stood besides her.

My eyes glare at him as I watch him grow uncomfortable beneath my gaze.

"I'm Mike nice to meet you." He says with a nod so I narrow my eyes at him.

"I see. Well it was nice meeting you Mike. Aletta." I say and turn away before either one can speak again. I go straight to my car and go home.

As I enter my house I spittle a bottle of whiskey tempting me, but I look away and decide to devise a new plan to get Aletta back.

The week flys by and soon enough it's Friday afternoon. I'm sat with Bella and Alex in a small cafe down town. I've been brooding the whole day, the thought of Aletta with another man driving me insane.

As if on call Bella receives a phone call. She responds as if to any other person but at one point turns to Alex and asks "was that Italian restaurant we went to a few weeks ago down by the docks or more central?".

He reply's saying more central and waits for Bella to hang up to proceed and speak to us both.

"Who was that?" He asks.

"Oh Aletta was asking for her date tonight, she wasn't sure about parking." She says and he nods.

"Oh I didn't realise she had a date." He says and Bella elaborates.

"Yeah. It's with Mike. You know, the tall, blonde cute guy she works with. She's meeting him at about 7. Speaking of, I need to go help her pick out an outfit." She says and we all stand up.

"It's six already, I should probably go too." I interrupt and Alex nods in agreement.

We all say goodbye and part ways. As I'm driving home I realise that I've got to do something about tonight.

I shower and get dressed as soon as I get home, getting ready to leave the house again.

I drive downtown, but Friday night is not an easy time to find parking. After about 20 minutes I pull into a space and get straight out.

I jog down to the Italian restaurant where she supposedly is to find her stood outside on the phone.

I approach her from behind and wait for her call to finish.

She looks truly stunning in the blue dress and heels she is wearing along with her immaculate make up and once again straightened hair.

"It's okay I understand... No no it's fine... I'll see you Monday." She says on the phone.

"Aletta." I almost whisper.

She turns around.

"Please, lets talk." I ask and for the first time in my life I'm truly vulnerable.

"Your not going to stop until I agree are you?" She says and I shake my head.

"Fine, lets go inside." She says so I follow her in. We get seated at a table in the far corner away from all the noise.

We order almost instantly and then the conversation starts. Well, it's more like a Q and A if I'm being completely honest.

"So let's cut to the chase, shall we." She begins and I can feel a long explanation will be needed to settle her mind.

"Why did you leave?" The way she says it isn't filled with the usual spite and venom, in fact it sounds more concerned and upset which breaks my heart even more.

"I truly cared for you Aletta, believe it or not. Hell, I still do. But it was fear that drove me away. Fear of losing you. Fear of not being good enough for you. Fear that something would happen to you because of me." I'm surprised at how honest I am and I look to Aletta watching her expression. But she doesn't twitch and her face remains emotionless.

"And where did you go?" She continues, folding her hands and leaning in slightly as if this were a police interrogation.

"For the first part I moved around a bit. Went to Canada for a while, then South America, but in the end I settled in Sicily, in a house I bought a few years before." I say.

"What took you so long to come back?" She asks and this time I see a twinge of hurt flicker in her eyes, but it's gone as fast as it came and were back to the face of stone from before.

I take a deep breath and drag a hand through my hair. I must tell her the truth.

"Ok, you want to know? I'll tell you. When I left, I realised how much I messed up. I screwed up with you, with work and even with family. I felt as if I had destroyed everything good in my life and my life was ruined so I decided to turn to any means of comfort that I could. My favourite being the bottle..." I grimace as I say this and watch her steady face. She nods signifying for me to continue.

"I would drink day and night every day of the week, spending evenings at the bar and my weekends with a different woman every night. I was careless with myself and I was mentally deteriorating more and more as each day passed. I didn't care anymore though.
As you know the mafia deals with all sorts of arms and drugs, but my one rule is to never sell to kids or serious addicts. Of course, not all of my men are obedient and I soon discovered that one was selling to a fifteen year old boy regularly. I didn't stop him though. Because I was too self absorbed." I take a deep breath before continuing.

"Three weeks later I came to discover that the boy died from drug overdose. And it was all my fault. I kill those who deserve it, but this time an innocent boy was murdered. My drinking got worse and worse, to a point where I'd just pass out on a daily basis. It got so bad I was even hospitalised twice.
The third and final time I was hospitalised though was more serious. I suffered from serious liver poisoning and the doctor warned me that I was sure to die of liver failure if I didn't stop. At that moment it was music to my ears. I couldn't wait to die a painful death. I deserved it after all.

I went home after, miserable as always but as I stumbled across the road I tripped and fell onto a man dressed in black robes. He smiled at me and asked me what was wrong and I ended up telling him everything, but he didn't judge me. He sat on the curb besides me and listened. When I had finished he didn't frown, he simply made me realise that we all make mistakes and that we shouldn't pay for them, we should make amends instead. Who was this man? He was a priest. Of all people I ran into a priest. But I can now say that that man saved me and he made me realise what I had to do.

I spent the two years after that sobering myself up and sorting my life out. I then contacted my friends and family and visited them a few times. Another year or so later I decided it was time to come back for good because there was one thing that I didn't make amends for..." I trail off after the long lecture and look at Aletta.

Her eyes are glassy and her eyebrows are furrowed.

"Me.." is all she whispers and I nod.

We don't say anything for the rest of the evening so I pay for the check and we leave. I walk with her to her car but before she gets in I say: "I know I don't have the right to even expect sympathy from you after what I did. But for the record I am sorry, and I will try everyday for the rest of my life to prove it to you."

She turns to look at me as a tear rolls down her check.

"I'm so sorry." She cries quietly, startling me.

"You have no reason to be, this is all my fault." I say.

"I had no idea what you were going through. I was so selfish. Oh Angelo..." she trails off into sobs and I automatically wrap my arms around her.

"Shhh. Shhh. Don't cry. It's not your fault. I'm the one who should be asking for forgiveness." I soothe while stroking her hair and her sobs soften.

"I'm sorry, Angelo." She whispers.

"It's okay, love. I'm here now and this time I'm not letting you go. Please say you'll forgive me?" I ask as I stare into her emerald eyes.

"Of course. With all my heart. Please don't leave again. I couldn't cope with losing you just after I got you back." She says.

"I won't. And that's a promise. I'm here for good now." I say sincerely.

And at that moment I feel as if a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I can finally breathe.

We both tighten the embrace not wanting to let go and soon enough the gap between us is completely sealed as our lips touch.

And that's when I realise that I am finally, truly home.

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Author note: Hey there!

Managed to update pretty fast I think (yay!). Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Don't forget to comment and vote!

I'll see ya in the next chapter!

Byeeeee! :)))))