Page 76 of Brutal Heir

“Thanks.”

I don’t look at him as I rinse my hands in the sink, heart thudding too loud in my ears.

Whatever we are or whatever we’re becoming is teetering on a razor’s edge. And I don’t know if either of us is ready to fall.

But God, do I want to.

CHAPTER 30

A RELEASE

Alessandro

The elevator doors hiss open on the top floor of Gemini Tower, and the familiar scent of rich leather, cologne, and cold steel smacks me in the face. This building used to feel like my inheritance, my birthright. Now it feels like enemy territory.

My steps echo across the gleaming marble floor as I stride across the foyer. The girls at the front desk offer tight smiles, nothing like the ones I used to receive before I became half-man half-monster. Well, the monster was always there, but I kept it hidden beneath a shiny façade.

“Hey, cuz, what are you doing here?” Matteo’s cheery tone streaks past the curtain of gloom.

I lower my voice inching closer to my cousin. “Time to letPapàin on the situation at the Vault.”

“You haven’t told him yet?” He eyes me incredulously.

How could I admit that I’d been so consumed with Rory’s disappearance I hadn’t even considered my father? All thatmattered that night was finding her. And then I did, and things only got worse.

I had no intention of ever bringing up that damned kiss again. All I wanted was to forget it ever happened, but when I found myself alone with her half-naked in the stillness of the bathroom, I couldn’t help myself. I had to know.

When she said she didn’t regret it, hope had bubbled up, wild and explosive. Then came the crash. We could never do it again.

She may not regret it, but she sure as hell didn’t want to repeat it.

Why?

Was it really just because I was her patient? Because, fuck me, she was an amazing nurse, but if we could have more?

“You okay?” Matteo waves his hand an inch from my face.

Merda. I stopped talking for too long.

“No, I haven’t told him,” I finally grumble.

He smacks me on the good shoulder with a wicked grin. “Well, I’ll be waiting for you in the lounge if you need some moral support.”

“Thanks, Matty. What are you doing here?”

“Papàneeded my help. Someone hacked into the Gemini employee files. We’re trying to figure out what they were looking for and of course, track down the asshole.”

“Any luck?”

He shrugs. “Not yet, but I have no doubt I’ll catch the hacker soon. You know nothing gets by me.”

“I do…” My brows furrow as I regard him. “Who’d want information on our employees and for what?”

Again, his shoulders lift. “No idea. But don’t you worry your pretty little head, Ale, I’ll find out before some stalker shows up at your penthouse.”

“They got our personal info too?”

“We are all technically employees.”