Page 19 of Brutal Heir (Ruthless Heirs #3)

THE GEMINI LEGACY

A lessandro

Follow the money .

Blinking quickly to rid my eyes of the lingering glare, I force my weary gaze away from the computer screen. I’ve been staring at the damned thing for hours trying to figure out which one of my employees at the Velvet Vault is stealing from me.

So far, I haven’t come up with merda .

The more I think about it, the more certain I become that the only reason why someone would be stupid enough to steal from me would be out of desperation.

Though the Gemini’s link to the mob has never been confirmed, the majority of my employees are smart enough to put two and two together. So why risk it?

It just doesn’t make sense.

With a growl of frustration, I shove the chair back freeing myself from the confines of the massive desk in the office I never use.

Papà had it set up after the accident in hopes that he could force me into delving into Gemini Corporation’s affairs.

With me unable, or rather more like unwilling, to set foot inside the Vault he hoped I could work for him from home.

The joke was on him. I sat on my ass and did nothing for months.

I didn’t want to be my father—trapped behind a desk, living behind the ivory walls of Gemini Tower. Growing up, I saw what that did to him, to Mā , to our family. It sucked away the brilliant spark in his eyes. I refuse to follow in his footsteps. I want to blaze my own path.

And maybe now the time has come… It’s time to stop wallowing in my own damned self-pity if only to punish the bastardo who thought he could get away with stealing from me.

In fact, maybe I’ll start showing my face around the Vault more often.

As soon as I’m permanently out of that damned wheelchair anyway.

My gaze swivels to the scrap of metal across the room, the very symbol of my brokenness.

I vow to be rid of the thing by the end of the month, and when I am, I’ll throw it from the balcony and watch smiling as it shatters in a thousand pieces across Central Park West.

“Aye, he’s right in here, Mr. Rossi.” Rory’s voice echoes down the hall, and all dismal thoughts evaporate at the sound of that cheery timbre. It’s like my whole damned body lights up. Including my dick.

Maybe it’s because the stupid bastard now equates that voice to bath time, and he gets excited just thinking about it.

Even her light, ginger touches in the bath have me hard as hell every time.

It’s such a common occurrence now that I’m barely embarrassed anymore.

Still, I can’t help my thoughts from deviating to a sinful place every time she runs a washcloth down my stomach.

My overactive imagination immediately envisions her hand wrapping around my cock then stroking the thick shaft until I come with her name on my lips.

I’m halfway to a hard-on when Rory and my father appear, filling the doorway. Merda . Forcing the heated thoughts from my mind, I avoid the little leprechaun’s gaze and focus on Papà . Is it ten already? I’d been so wrapped up in the Velvet Vault’s books, I’d completely lost track of time.

“You’re looking good, Ale. It’s nice to see you sitting at that desk.

” His mismatched eyes, a perfect mirror of my own, lance over me, scrutinizing in their quiet way.

Marco Rossi is the less intimidating twin, the jokester with kind eyes and a quick smile.

Or at least that’s the facade he proudly wears.

Underneath that easy-going surface lies a ruthless CEO and capo , willing to do whatever it takes to protect his own.

“Don’t get your hopes up, Papà , I won’t be for long.” Reaching for the manilla envelope Rory gave me yesterday, I hand it over. “For Reynolds to draw up the health aid contract.”

My father’s gaze pivots to Rory’s, offering his trademark boyish grin. “I’m happy to hear you’ll be remaining with Alessandro for the long term.”

“We’ll see how long we can stand each other.” She smirks and twirls around to leave, but Papà catches her arm before I can beg her to remain.

“Please stay in case there are any questions.” He motions at the leather club chair beside him. “I’ll take a quick look at the paperwork before I bring it to our lawyer.”

I was right. He hadn’t even looked at her credentials before. I’m surprised because my father is anything but careless.

“Aye, of course,” she replies. A whisper of unease flashes across those expressive orbs as she sinks into the seat across my desk.

Papà remains standing as he flips through the papers I hadn’t even thought to double-check.

“You’re sure the documents are real, Red?” I toss a smirk in her direction and instead of the witty comeback I expect, she simply shoots me the middle finger, low enough so that my father can’t see.

That’s unexpected.

When Papà finishes thumbing through the pages, he returns them to the envelope and props it on the edge of my desk.

“Reynolds will have the contract to us by tomorrow. I’ll have him email it over for signatures.

” He glances between Rory and me as he delivers the news.

“Now, seeing as the lovely Nurse Delaney has you well on your way to recovery, I thought it would be the perfect time to get caught up on some Gemini business.”

This time I know I’m not imagining it. Rory visibly tenses at the mention of my father’s business. Has she already guessed there’s more to the multi-billion-dollar corporation?

Either way, I still want no part in it, and it’s time for my father to accept that. “I’m actually thinking about returning to run operations at the Vault.”

Papà ’s dark brows furrow as he regards me.

“Lawson is struggling without me, and I think it’s time.”

Keeping my eyes on my father, I catch just a glimpse of Rory’s smile of what I swear is relief. How could she have caught onto the mob undertones so quickly?

“That’s good to hear, Ale, but a man of your talents will be wasting away in that nightclub.” His arm snakes out, hand closing over my shoulder. “Surely, you could hire someone to run the daily operations. I need you at the Gemini helm.”

“ Papà , I’ve told you before, I don’t want to lead the corporation.”

“But you are my son…”

“And you have a daughter who is more than capable?—”

“Alessia?” he shouts. “All she cares about is making the most money with the least amount of effort. You know she has no interest in Gemini.”

“Well, neither do I!” I slam my palm, the one on my scarred hand, into the desk and immediately regret it as pain shoots up my entire arm. “Son of a bitch,” I hiss through clenched teeth.

Rory is up and at my side already checking my hand before the stars clear from my vision. She whirls on my father, her mouth pressing into a tight line. “Mr. Rossi, with all due respect, if you want your son to make a full recovery, maybe don’t rile him up before breakfast.”

Her tone is firm, almost scolding, and for a second I think Papà might explode. But then, the bastard chuckles. Low and dry.

“You’ve got fire, ragazza . I see why he wants to keep you around.”

Rory pulls her shoulders back, not flinching under the weight of his stare. “I’m not here because he wants me. I’m here because he needs me.”

Papà ’s lips twitch, more calculation than amusement this time. “Then we have that in common.”

I clench my jaw. “That’s enough.”

He turns to me, calm as ever, the way only a man used to always getting what he wants can be. “Think about it, Ale. The Vault is a playground. Run it to the ground if you must for a few years, but Gemini... Gemini is your legacy. And you will embrace it.”

He taps the envelope once before sliding it under his arm. “I’ll have this back to you tomorrow.” Then he straightens, adjusts the cuff of his thousand-dollar suit, and walks to the door like he hasn’t just split the floor open beneath my feet.

Rory doesn’t speak until he’s gone. When the crack of the front door closing echoes all the way to the office, she turns to me. “You okay?”

I glance down at my hand. The pain is already dulling, but the pressure in my chest only grows.

“No,” I murmur. “Not even close.”

And for the first time in a long time, I don’t try to pretend otherwise.

“You know, you don’t have to be the Gemini heir.” Those fiery orbs meet mine. “Just because our parents laid out our future, doesn’t mean we have to blindly follow it.”

There’s something about the furrow in her brow, the tight set of her jaw, and the darkness in her gaze that confirms her words are much more than just empty encouragement. What bleak future did Rory Delaney escape from?

“I know,” I finally mumble. “But a part of me can’t help but think he’s right. He and my uncle worked so hard to build Gemini Corporation from the ground up. I’d hate to see their dream die without someone to lead the company into the future.”

“Hey, listen, your Da seems like he’s in no rush to retire. You’ve got time to figure it all out, Alessandro. You’ve already been through a lot, and it’s not right for him to put this on you.” Her hand finds mine on the desk, squeezing gently. “Gemini was his dream. The Velvet Vault can be yours.”

I nod slowly, decision made. She’s right, but so is Papà . I can’t just sit around the penthouse wasting away. I’m ready to go back to the Vault. Even if part of me wonders if it’s to reclaim my kingdom or to burn it down before it crumbles without me.