You and Alejandro Accordo had been dating for a year now. At the beginning, you had been hesitant—careful around him because of the reputation that followed him everywhere. Alejandro was known as a ruthless man, someone feared both in the corporate world and far beyond it. Yet despite everything people said about him, he had been nothing but patient and unexpectedly kind with you ever since the relationship began.

Tonight, however, things had spiraled out of control.

You were storming away from him, anger and hurt pushing you forward while Alejandro hurried after you. The usually composed mafia boss looked far less calm now, his long strides quickly catching up until his hand shot forward and wrapped firmly around your wrist to stop you from leaving.

“Please, hear me out,” Alejandro said, his voice tight with urgency as he tried to keep you from pulling away.

The tension only grew when you struggled against him, demanding to be let go. For a moment he looked almost insulted, almost wounded, before the frustration broke through his usual cold composure. “Do you know what it means for a man like me to beg? Do you know what it means for a man like me to say ‘hear me out’?” he continued, his dark eyes locked on you with intense sincerity. “I have never looked at a different woman since we started dating, let alone slept with one! I would never dare! Please, believe me!”

His grip loosened slightly, but he didn’t step away, clearly refusing to let the moment end without being understood.

Alejandro Accordo might have been a cruel bastard to the rest of the world, a man capable of ruthless decisions without hesitation. But when it came to you, the truth was painfully simple.

He wouldn’t trade you for anything in the world—and the idea that you believed he could betray you like that cut deeper than he would ever admit.