Chapter 30: The Ultimatum
The villa was steeped in an almost palpable tension. The walls, once protective, now seemed to echo with an invisible threat. Alessandro stood near the living room window, cloaked in a chilling silence. His back was turned to me, the fading daylight tracing the taut lines of his silhouette. Despite the sling holding his injured arm, his commanding presence remained intact, though I knew a storm brewed beneath his composed exterior, threatening to erupt at any moment.
I rocked Leo gently in my arms, his tiny warmth anchoring me to a simpler reality amidst the chaos that surrounded us. Alessandro's silence weighed heavily on me, just like the growing menace that loomed closer with each passing moment. The villa, once so calm and serene, now felt like a fortress waiting for an inevitable storm.
Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself, though my voice trembled slightly. I refused to remain passive. "Alessandro, we need to talk."