Chapter 240 What was wrong with him?

Chapter 240: Chapter 240 What was wrong with him?

"Rafael!" Alessio’s voice was sharp, his ears turning red with embarrassment.

"And you immediately went, I wasn’t thinking about Daisy!" Rafael continued, still laughing.

"Shut up," Alessio growled, his face darkening further.

"That’s incredible!" Rafael didn’t care about his brother’s dark expression at all. Others could get scared of him but not him!

Alessio’s icy glare could have frozen the entire room.

Rafael wiped at the corner of his eye, still grinning. "I have known you for my entire life. Do you know how I’ve never seen you get flustered over a woman?"

"I’m not flustered," Alessio said through gritted teeth.

"You’re right. You’re just threatening to kill your younger brother because he noticed you have a crush," Rafael replied, his grin widening.

Alessio picked up his gun and checked it with unnecessary concentration, his movements stiff. "I don’t have a crush."

"Naturally," Rafael said, his tone teasing.

"I am not interested in a relationship," Alessio insisted, his voice flat.

"Of course," Rafael agreed, clearly not believing a word.

"I have more important things to do."

"Like finding our missing sister?" Rafael asked, his smirk fading slightly.

That finally made Alessio look at him properly, his expression changed.

Rafael’s smile softened a little.

He knew how much the search meant to his brother. He had watched Alessio devote years of his life to it, seen him return from one failed lead after another and witnessed the frustration he tried so hard to keep hidden.

Rafael would never make light of that but he also knew that his brother had spent so long putting everything else aside that he had almost forgotten what it felt like to want something for himself.

And Daisy, apparently, had managed to change that without even trying.

Rafael nudged him lightly with his elbow.

"Look, I’m not telling you to abandon your search or suddenly write love poems. God knows you’d probably manage to turn a love poem into a business contract."

Alessio gave him a flat look.

Rafael grinned. "I’m just saying that you can like someone and still be yourself."

For a moment, Alessio said nothing.

His gaze dropped to the gun in his hands.

Like someone.

The words sounded strangely unfamiliar when applied to himself.

He had spent years convincing himself that nothing could distract him from finding his sister. He had never wanted anything to interfere with that purpose and he certainly hadn’t expected to develop feelings for a woman whose life had become entangled with his so unexpectedly.

Yet the truth was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

He liked Daisy.

Perhaps more than he was ready to admit.

And that realization frightened him in a way he would never confess to Rafael.

Because once he admitted it, he would have to confront the possibility that he wanted something he couldn’t guarantee he would ever be able to give her.

His time was limited. His life was dangerous. His search was unfinished.

Daisy deserved a life that was peaceful, secure and entirely her own.

He had no intention of becoming another source of trouble for her.

"Alessio?"

Rafael’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

Alessio looked up.

"What?"

Rafael studied him for a moment before his familiar grin returned. "You’re doing it again."

Alessio’s eyes narrowed.

"Doing what?"

"Thinking about Daisy."

"Rafael!"

Rafael laughed so loudly that one of the men passing the open doorway glanced inside.

Alessio shot his brother a murderous look, then turned toward the door.

"Everyone ready?"

"Yes, boss," one of the men answered immediately.

"Good. Let’s move."

He strode out of the room without another word.

Rafael hurried after him, still looking far too pleased with himself. "Hey, broo!"

Alessio didn’t turn around.

"What?"

"When we get back, are you going to call Daisy?"

"No."

"Message her?"

"No."

"Ask her to have breakfast with you tomorrow?"

Alessio stopped walking.

Rafael nearly walked straight into his back.

For a moment, the two brothers stood there without moving.

Then Alessio slowly turned his head. "Do you want me to leave you here?"

Rafael grinned."See? That’s the Alessio I know. Very romantic."

Alessio turned away and continued walking. "One more word and you’re taking the next assignment alone."

Rafael followed him, chuckling. "Fine, fine. I’ll stop."

He lasted approximately five seconds. "But seriously, bro. You should see your face whenever someone mentions her."

Alessio didn’t answer.

He simply kept walking, his expression as cold and emotionless as ever.

To anyone watching, he was the same Alessio Ricci he had always been: quiet, intimidating and entirely focused on the work ahead.

But Rafael knew him too well and as they stepped outside to join their men, Rafael couldn’t help smiling to himself.

For the first time in years, his brother had something on his mind besides the search for their missing sister.

And judging by the way Alessio had reacted to hearing her name, Rafael suspected that his quiet, emotionally constipated older brother was in considerably more trouble than he realized.

?┈┈┈┈?

Alessio spent the entire day trying not to think about Daisy.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be considerably more difficult than he had anticipated.

He had meetings to attend, men to instruct, business matters to settle and an operation to oversee. His work demanded concentration, precision and the ability to make decisions without allowing personal feelings to interfere.

Usually, that was the easiest thing in the world for him.

Alessio Ricci had built his life around discipline. He didn’t allow distractions to stay in his mind and he certainly didn’t waste hours thinking about things he couldn’t control.

Yet, somehow, Daisy had become an exception.

While reviewing a report, he found himself remembering the way she had glared at him that morning.

During a meeting, he recalled her silent laughter when Rafael had embarrassed him.

And when his phone lit up with a notification, his first instinct was to check whether it was a message from her.

Every time, he caught himself.

Every time, he forced his attention back to work.

By evening, he was thoroughly irritated with himself.

What was wrong with him?