Page 43 of Brutal Heir

“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 helleverytime. 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 onPapà. 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 façade he proudly wears. Underneath that easy-going surface lies a ruthless CEO andcapo, 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, butPapàcatches 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.

Papàremains 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.

WhenPapàfinishes 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 thinkPapàmight 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.”