Page 179 of Obsessed by My Ex's Mafia Uncle

And after that, the other version of him slips back into place. A cold focus jams into his posture again as he steps away.

“I’ll be back before dinner,” he throws as he walks away.

I stare after him longer than I should, missing the version of him that used to touch me like he was starving.

Robert has been too gentle with me since the accident. Like I’m something healing in his hands and he’s terrified of pressing too hard.

But I don’t want gentle anymore.

At night,the house falls into its usual rhythm of hushed footsteps, muted conversations between guards downstairs, and the distant crash of waves against the cliffs below.

Even the air feels expensive here at night, cool and salted from the ocean drifting through the partially opened windows.

Blue is already curled beneath her blankets when I pull them higher over her shoulders, tucking her stuffed goat beneath her arm.

“Night Bonbon,” she mumbles sleepily without opening her eyes.

“I told you not to call me that.” I blink.

“I like it.” She pouts.

“That’s for Robert only.”

“I asked him and he said I could borrow it.”

“You asked…” I stare at her tiny face in disbelief. “What?” I laugh softly despite myself. “Fine, go to sleep, menace.”

“Okay.” She grins with her eyes still closed.

I lean down and kiss her forehead carefully, breathing her in for a second longer than necessary before stepping away.

The two security guards outside her room straighten immediately when I step into the hallway and I skip a beat.

I still haven’t adjusted to that part of constant presence, guns tucked beneath jackets, and voices in earpieces.

Sometimes it feels protective, while other times it feels like living inside the mouth of something waiting to bite.

I’m halfway toward my room when I hear heels clicking against the marble floors behind me.

“At last,” Atelia sighs dramatically. “The tiny dictator sleeps.”

I turn to find her balancing a bottle of wine against her hip, in silk shorts, a free top, with messy hair, and lip gloss that still looks perfect somehow.

“How long were you lurking?” I ask suspiciously.

“Long enough.” She shrugs.

“Since when?”

“Since now.” She hooks her arm through mine before I can protest. “Come on.”

“To where?”

“I ordered food.”

“You what now?” I narrow my eyes immediately.

“Rude.”