The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 183 - One Hundred and Eighty-Three

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Three

Malachi’s POV

The jet touched down in Rome at three in the morning local time.

I hadn’t slept. Couldn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Alicia. Pregnant. Alone. Working herself to exhaustion while carrying my child.

Our child.

The words still didn’t feel real.

Maurice had spent the flight working his contacts. Gathering intelligence. Building a picture of what we were walking into.

"The Moretti estate is about forty-five minutes outside the city," he said as we disembarked. "High security. Guards. Gates. The family is old money. Connected. Not people you want to cross."

"I don’t care who they are."

"You should. They’re not going to just let you walk in and take her."

"I’m not taking her anywhere. I just need to see her. Make sure she’s safe."

Maurice gave me a look that said he didn’t believe me. I didn’t blame him. I barely believed myself.

A car was waiting. Black. Nondescript. Maurice had arranged everything.

We drove through Rome in the pre-dawn darkness. The city was beautiful even now. Ancient buildings. Cobblestone streets. A history that made Dark City look like an infant.

But I barely saw any of it. My mind was on Alicia. On getting to her.

"Rose sent an update while we were in the air," Maurice said, checking his phone. "Zhao’s men attempted to access the Moretti property yesterday evening. They were turned away."

"Attempted how?"

"Tried to talk their way past security. When that didn’t work, they left. But they’re still in the area. Watching. Waiting."

"For what?"

"An opportunity. A weakness in security. A moment when she’s vulnerable."

Over my dead body.

"What else?"

"The Morettis increased security after the incident. Doubled the guards. They’re taking the threat seriously."

Good. At least someone was protecting her while I was eight hours away.

But it should have been me. Should have been me from the beginning.

"There’s something else," Maurice said carefully.

"What?"

"Our intelligence indicates Alicia might not be just an employee at the estate."

I looked at him. "Explain."

"There was activity yesterday. Family gathering. All the Morettis present. And Alicia and her sister were at the center of it."

"What kind of activity?"

"We’re not sure. But the body language, the interactions... it looked personal. Familial."

"You think they know each other? From before?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Or they’ve discovered something. A connection."

A connection. Between Alicia and the Moretti family. What kind of connection?

"Find out," I said. "I need to know what we’re dealing with."

We drove in silence for a while. The city gave way to countryside. Rolling hills. Vineyards. The landscape reminded me of wine country back home.

"What’s your plan when we get there?" Maurice asked.

"I don’t have one."

"That’s not like you."

"Nothing about this situation is like me."

"You’re going to have to talk to her eventually. Explain why you’re here."

"I know."

"And you’re going to have to tell her you know. About the baby."

The baby. Every time I thought about it, something shifted in my chest. Something that felt dangerously close to hope.

"She’s going to be angry," I said.

"Probably."

"She’s going to think I came to take the baby. To control her."

"Can you blame her? That’s exactly what the old you would do."

The old me. The man I’d been before Alicia. Before I’d realized that power and control weren’t the same as happiness.

"I’m not here to take anything from her."

"Then what are you here for?"

Good question. What was I here for?

To protect her. That was the easy answer. The one I could live with.

But the truth was more complicated. Messier.

I was here because I couldn’t stay away. Because the thought of her facing this alone, of my child growing up without knowing me, was unbearable.

Because I loved her. And love, I was learning, made you do stupid, reckless things.

Like fly across the world to see a woman who probably hated you.

"I’m here to make things right," I said finally.

"And if she doesn’t want things to be right? If she wants you to leave her alone?"

"Then I’ll leave. After I make sure she’s safe from Zhao."

Maurice didn’t look convinced. "You’re not good at leaving things alone, Malachi."

"I know."

We drove the rest of the way in silence.

The Moretti estate appeared as the sun started to rise. It was massive. Beautiful. The kind of place that spoke of old wealth and older power.

Gates. High walls. Security cameras everywhere.

We parked down the road. Far enough away not to be noticed. Close enough to watch.

I pulled out binoculars. Scanned the property.

There. Movement in one of the upper windows. A figure with silver hair.

Alicia.

My breath caught.

Even from this distance, even through the binoculars, she was beautiful. She stood at the window looking out at the sunrise. Her hand rested on her stomach.

Our child. Right there. Growing inside her.

"We should establish contact," Maurice said. "Let them know we’re here. That we’re not a threat."

"Not yet."

"Then what? We just sit here and watch?"

"For now."

I needed to think. Needed to plan. Couldn’t just charge in like some kind of barbarian.

Though part of me wanted to. Part of me wanted to kick down the gates and take her somewhere safe. Somewhere I could protect her and our baby from everything.

But that wasn’t what she needed. That wasn’t what would make her trust me.

My phone buzzed. Rose.

"Status?"

"Zhao’s men are mobilizing. Looks like they’re preparing for something. Maybe in the next few hours."

"How many?"

"At least eight. Maybe more. They’re armed."

Eight men. Against whatever security the Morettis had. The odds weren’t terrible.

But they weren’t good either.

"Keep monitoring. If they make a move, I want to know immediately."

"What are you going to do?"

"Whatever I have to."

I hung up.

Maurice was watching me. "You’re thinking about going in."

"If Zhao moves, the Morettis might not be able to stop him. He’s professional. Ruthless. He won’t hesitate to hurt people."

"And you will?"