Page 55 of Brutal Heir

“Good morning to you, too, Miss.” He grins, adjusting the earpiece, a constant accessory. “Mr. Rossi had some business to attend to at Gemini Tower.”

I eye the guard suspiciously. Not once has Alessandro been anywhere near that place since I arrived. On the contrary, it seems to be his mission in life to ignore his role as heir to the Gemini throne as much as possible. “For what?”

“I’m not sure.”

“When did he leave?”

“A little over an hour ago, I’d say.”

“When will he be back?”

He shrugs. “Soon, I imagine.”

Why don’t I believe him?

If Gemini headquarters wasn’t all the way in midtown, I’d take a little walk down there myself just to confirm. Because something in my gut is telling me that Johnny is lying to me and Alessandro put him up to it.

But where would he go at this time of the morning and why lie about it?

The Velvet Vault is still closed, most of the staff likely recovering from the night before. I suppose he could have gone to visit one of his cousins, but then why the secrecy?

More questions spiral around in my mind, and I fully realize how crazy I’m being. Alessandro is an adult and completelycapable of an outing on his own. Maybe he just needed to blow off some steam. Maybe that’s exactly what I need.

I take a step past the guard, and a thick arm collides with my torso.

“Excuse me,” I squeal.

“Sorry, Miss Delaney, but the boss made it clear that you were not to leave the penthouse in his absence.”

“What?” I shriek, the sound ricocheting off the marble like a warning shot. I try to pry his arm off, but it’s like a steel band across my middle.

“Please don’t make me force you back inside,” Johnny grumbles.

“I’d like to see you try.” I struggle against his arm, trying to wiggle around his enormous frame, but the man is a beast. “You can’t seriously keep me prisoner here.”

“I’m not,” he rasps. “It’s the boss’s orders. Please, Miss, just go back inside.”

Johnny drags me against his barrel chest, but I lift my knee up and slam my heel down on his foot. He lets out a muffled groan, and his hold finally loosens enough for me to squirm free.

I race toward the elevator, then jam my finger into the call button.

Johnny’s heavy footfalls echo just behind me.

“Come on, come on.”

The elevator doors glide open just as Johnny reaches me, his hand encircling my upper arm. He jerks me back, and a lethal growl echoes over the pounding of my heart.

“Let go of her. Now.”

I catch my breath at the familiar timbre, heart stalling before it races again.

Alessandro stalks out of the elevator, smoldering glare fixed on the thick fingers digging into my skin. Then those piercing orbs glide up my arm, over my shoulder and lance into his guard.That one look, aimed in my direction, would have me pissing in my pants, and I’ve grown up with terrifying men.

“Yes, of course, sorry boss.” Johnny’s hand falls away as he staggers back. “She was trying to leave, and you told me to keep her inside the penthouse?—”

Alessandro lifts a hand, and the blubbering comes to an instant stop. “I never said you could touch her.” He erases the distance between him and his guard, nearly barreling over me in the process. Then he looms over the big man, despite standing an inch or two below him. “No one touches her. Ever again. Do you understand?” His voice is low and deadly, and Jesus, Mary and Joseph, it does something illegal to my insides.

There is no logical explanation as to why I’m so turned on right now. And yet, here we are. I stand there, frozen in place, watching him, much like I did the other night at the club, fully entranced by his commanding presence.