Page 19 of Brutal Heir

She takes another step forward, like a lioness cornering prey. “Mistake number two?” she adds with a smirk. “You think this is optional.”

I open my mouth to argue again, but she’s already undoing the top button of my shirt, slowly, like she dares me to stop her.

My pulse kicks up. My breath hitches. And my cock… thickens.

I should shove her hand away. I should bark out another order and remind her who the hell I am. But all I do is stand there, frozen because this is the first time in months that I’ve felt anything.

Her voice drops to a whisper. “You think you’re proving something by resisting help? You’re not.” Another button. “You’re proving that the fire didn’t just scar your body… it burned out every bit of sense you had.”

My jaw tightens. “I don’t need your pity.”

“Good,” she snaps, eyes locking with mine. “Because I don’t do pity. I do healing. Now shut up and let me help you, or I swear to God, I’ll haul your burned arse into that bathtub myself.”

I stare at her.

No one threatens me like that. Worse, I think she might actually do it. And if she does, she’ll see my raging erection.

That is not how this is supposed to go.

I have about two seconds to decide how I’m going to play this because her fingers are getting dangerously close to the last button. And after the shirt? The pants. And then she’ll get a front and center view of the effect she’s having on me.

Trapping her hands against my chest, I squeeze her wrists until she lets out a squeal. “Get out of my room now,” I growl.

“I will not.” Those eyes glare up at me so full of defiance they have my palm twitching.Dio, the old me would’ve had her on the bed by now, mouth silenced, legs spread, and that smart mouth begging for mercy. But the new me… he’s stuck gripping her wrists, pretending this isn’t killing him.

“You will or I will heave you over my shoulder and toss you out of my apartment.”

“This is not a game, Alessandro,” she hisses, attempting and failing to wriggle free. “This is my job and your life.”

“And I’m telling you—no, I’m asking you to just leave it alone for tonight.” I pause, searing my eyes to hers in a desperate plea. “Can you do that?”

“Feckin’ hell, fine.” She tries to squirm out of my grasp and this time I let her. Slapping her hands on her hips, she skewers me with a narrowed glare. “But tomorrow, and from this day onward, you’re doing exactly as I say. Are we clear?”

“Perfectly,” I grit out.

Without another word, she whirls around and stomps out of my room, slamming the door behind her. I heave out a breath. Why do I have a feeling I may have won this battle but I’m nowhere near winning the war?

CHAPTER 9

WHEN TO BLEED

Rory

Feckin’ hell, how did I just lose control of the situation in there? I drag a hand through my wild locks, freed from the hairpin dagger maybe a little too soon this evening. A tangle of anger and irritation floods my body as I march to the enormous walk-in closet in search of my pajamas.

I never let my patients get the upper hand, not even cranky Paddy Flaherty. Especially not on day one. It sets the tone for the entire rehabilitation period. Now, Alessandro thinks he’s in charge of his recovery when I should be.

The worst part is the reason I gave in.

It wasn’t because his threats frightened me. No, it was the complete opposite. It had been the flash of fear and desperation in his eyes that had forced me to surrender. He was terrified to allow me to see him, and in that moment, I broke.

Never again.

I make the vow as I dig through the drawer in search of the sleep tank and shorts. Beside it sit an assortment of scrubsalong with a week’s worth of panties and bras. If I survive the introductory period, I’ll have to go back to Shelly’s to grab the rest of my meager belongings before she moves out.

As grueling as the day has been, I really want this job. Not just because of the cushy penthouse I’ll get to live in but because based on everything Isabella and Serena told me, their cousin really needs this, and I never back away from a challenge.

Something tells me Alessandro Rossi will be my biggest one yet.