Page 38 of Brutal Heir

A mafia heir.

And once again, I find myself snared in the same lethal web I’ve spent the last year running from.

CHAPTER 16

D DAY

Alessandro

Day seven. D-Day. Decision, desire… or disaster. Depending on how this morning goes.

I stand in the doorway of our adjoining rooms, leaning against the frame and watch her sleep. Silky auburn locks are splayed across her pillow like a demonic halo, her expression soft in sleep. Without those piercing green orbs peering up at me, I’m able to fully take her in. My feet are restless beneath me, my legs urging me to move closer. To revel in her quiet breaths, in the perfect bow of her pink lips, to count every freckle on that cute, pert nose.

Cazzo, get a hold of yourself, Ale.

Only a week with this woman, and she’s turned my life upside down. She’s brought light into the darkness, given me hope when I was trapped in a sea of endless misery. What would she do in a month or a year? And that’s exactly the problem. Letting someone in means I’d have something to lose again.

Today, I have to decide whether to give into the little spicy leprechaun and sign a long-term contract making her my official live-in nurse or send her packing. Just the idea of the latter has every bone in my body screaming in protest.

I never wanted this. Never thought I neededher.

But here we are.

I draw in a breath, a monumental effort in restraint to keep my bare feet planted to the spot.

As if she’s heard the sharp intake of air, she stirs beneath the comforter, then rolls over to her side. Bright eyes pop open, meeting mine.

My mouth opens and closes, like a completecoglione, not a sound coming out.

“Were you watching me sleep?” she asks around a yawn.

“No,” I blurt. “That would just be weird.”

“Agreed, McFecker. So what are you doing looming in my doorway like a lost pup, huh?”

A rueful smile finds its way to my lips, and I attempt an air of nonchalance. “I came in to make sure you weren’t dead. I thought you Irish lasses woke up with the roosters.” I glance at my watch. “It’s nearly eight.”

She jolts up, eyes impossibly wide. “Eight? It can’t be.”

“Oh, but it is. Guess you shouldn’t have stayed up so late watching all three parts of The Godfather.”

Something unreadable flashes across those expressive orbs, but it’s gone before I can untangle it. Or dodge the pillow she hurls in my direction.

After my meeting with Lawson yesterday, I’d been in a shitty mood. Some asshole who I’d hired was definitely skimming money from the Velvet Vault. I could not, would not let that stand. The traitor must be found and punished, then made an example of. No one steals from Alessandro Rossi.

As irritated as I’d been about the confirmation that I was being robbed, I couldn’t deny the thrill of excitement that came along with it. To have purpose, a mission. For a second, I felt whole again, not the half-monster, half-man I’d become.

And as much as I hated to admit it, this fiery woman is the one who can get me there. In one week, I felt more like myself than I had in months.

So I don’t know why I have such a hard time forcing the words out. “I’d like you to stay.”

Rory’s eyes jump up to meet mine, wild tendrils of hair falling across her forehead. “What?”

“You’ve passed the probationary period, okay? You win…” I skulk closer, then linger just a few feet from the edge of the bed.

“You’re going to have to repeat that, Rossi. I don’t think I heard you right.” A shit-eating grin flashes across her face as she holds her hand up to her ear.

“Are you really going to make me say it?”