The Return of My First Love novel Chapter 105

Alessio

With a focused gaze, I watched as the men counted the weapons in the trucks that had arrived. All the families were gathered, each of thEmily being led by their own while one of my uncles led the Fanuccis in my place.

Dad stood beside me, silently observing as well. We were in the Midwest, working through our strategy so we would soon be able to hit the Baldini from all angles. Not only the mansion but also the warehouses and their businesses.

Based on the information from Mikael, we chose a day when their defenses would be the lowest. There would be a wedding rehearsal, and apparently, Maxine asked Leonardo for a no-weapon policy. It was a golden opportunity.

"Everything looks well organized," Dad had no choice but to acknowledge. I could sense a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Because it is," I replied, relieved everything had been going smoothly. Up to now, Dad respected my leadership and stood back to let me take charge. However, I couldn't help but wonder how long that would last.

"I'll go check in the back, see if all is still going well," he mentioned, and then he left.

Being alone for a moment, my mind instantly drifted to the person who had been on my mind for hours, Emily.

The reason I wanted all of this to be over was so I could go back to her. Pulling out my phone, I hoped for a new message, but the last one I received was just a thumbs-up Emilyoji.

A justified response to the outburst I had on the phone. The one that wasn't supposed to happen.

I lost my focus as I suddenly felt a rough pat on my back. Looking behind me, I saw Dante glancing over my shoulder with a smirk. He eyed my phone screen and made a disapproving sound.

"Still crying over that mistake you made when you yelled at her?" he teased.

So, I did yell at her. Hearing it from someone else made me uneasy. It wasn't her word against the mine anymore.

"You heard?"

"You stepped out to the hallway. I think everyone heard," Dante mumbled, making me feel ten times worse.

I had been so stressed to the point that I had unintentionally yelled at her. Emilybarrassed her.

No matter what it would take, I had to make things right with her because an apology clearly wasn't doing the job.

She was right. I hadn't called or texted her because I had this messed-up idea that doing so would only make me lose more focus. That decision backfired.

Originally, I had been against her going on that trip with Gian and Pilar. I had only agreed to it because I didn't want her to feel like she did with Jason. Trapped, isolated—a prisoner.

Gian told me it would be for just one day, to clear her mind. No backup, no tracking—nothing. He didn't want any of that, and he has somehow managed to convince me.

I trusted my brother with her life. Having one hand less didn't change my opinion about him. He was strong, reliable, and could take on anyone.

If anything, losing his hand made him more motivated to never let his guard down and let something happen like that ever again.

I knew she was safe with him. Yet, when that late-night call came, my mind raced with the worst possibilities. When I read her name on my screen, I really thought I had lost her and that someone called to rub it in my face.

I should've known better.