Page 79 of Brutal Heir

COMPLETELY PLASTERED

Rory

The silence in the penthouse feels too loud as I take another bite of the sandwich Mrs. Jenkins prepared before leaving this afternoon. Every tick of the wall clock grates on my nerves. I should be relieved that things have returned to some version of normal, but instead, dread coils low in my stomach like something’s coming... something I can't name.

The front door swings open, and raucous laughter booms across the marble floors, bouncing around the high ceilings. The familiar, deep timbre awakens something low in my belly.

“What the devil?” Dropping the half-eaten sandwich, I slide off the barstool in the kitchen and dart toward the entrance.

Johnny holds the door open as Matteo drags a stumbling Alessandro through the threshold. He’s limping, beads of perspiration slickening his brow and a pang of fear lances through me. It’s so violent, I lurch forward, my heart catapulting itself against my ribcage.

“Alessandro?” My voice isn’t my own, it’s laced in panic and something else I refuse to name. Wedging my shoulder under his armpit and wrapping my arm around his waist, I hold him steady against me. Narrowing my eyes at his cousin, I hiss, “What the feck happened to him?”

Alessandro dips his head, a shite-eating grin on his lips. “Relax, little leprechaun, I’m perfectly fine.” A wave of whiskey pummels into me, making my nose twitch.

“You’re completely plastered!” I shriek.

That grin only turns more devious as he leans into me like I’m the only thing tethering him to the earth. He’s nothing but dead weight, and if it weren’t for the wall to my side providing support, I doubt I’d be able to keep us both upright.

“It’s barely past three,” I grumble.

He cups my cheek, running a calloused thumb across my cheek. “Relax, pretty Rory. You don’t need to be so uptight all the time.” He hiccups, his whole body vibrating against me. “Just chill…” he slurs, dragging out the L for an endless minute.

He’s ridiculous right now. Plastered, clothes wrinkled and frumpy, too smug for his own good. And yet, with his arm around me and that crooked grin on his face, something tender lodges in my chest.Damn it.

“What is wrong with you, Matteo?” I bark, whirling on his cousin. “How could you let him get this rat-arsed in the middle of the day? You’re as thick as shite and only half as handy.”

“Is she speaking English?” Matteo glances back and forth between Alessandro and me.

“No idea, Matty.” He shrugs, his weight shifting, and my knees nearly give. “It’s cute though, right?”

Ignoring his ridiculous smile, I whirl on the other Rossi. “Well, don’t just stand there like an eejit. Help me get this steamin’ bastard onto the couch.”

“Right.” His cousin nods, moving to Alessandro’s opposite side, and we haul him into the great room. The television drones on in the background, some local news channel I’d turned on while he was gone. The huge penthouse felt too quiet and empty without him.

When we finally reach the couch, I try to unwind my arm from around his waist, but he drops like an anchor onto the sofa, taking me down with him in a tangle of limbs. His arm slung across my middle pins me to the plush leather, his leg trapping me to the spot.

Matteo’s chuckle only further irritates my nerves.

“Get out,” I hiss from under the big brute as I try and fail to lift my head. “And Alessandro is never allowed out with you again.”

“Okay, Mom.” Now the laugh vibrates just above me. “You are not the boss of me, Red.”

“That’s what you think.” I sear him with a glare as I try to wriggle free of his hold. He’s curled into my side, his head propped on his hand as he leans on his elbow. He shifts his weight so that half of his torso blankets me now, that massive leg across my lower half.

“And I think that is my cue to leave.” Matteo dips into a dramatic bow, saluting his cousin. “Not that I don’t love being berated by your spitfire nurse…”

“Rory’s right. Get out.” He says the words to his cousin but keeps his gaze locked on me. The smirk brightens his eyes, the opposing light and dark hues radiating mirth as he twists a lock of my hair around his finger. “You’ve done enough for one day.”

“That’s it, Ale. That’s the last time I try to do something nice for you.” Matteo shoots him a grin in return. “See you later, cuz.” Then that teasing gaze pivots to meet my glare. “Take good care of him, nurse Rory.”

“Oh, just go home already, you useless gobshite.”

His dark chuckle echoes down the hallway as he saunters out. At the moment, I’m not certain who is the more infuriating of the two Rossis.

Alessandro peers down at me, his hand barely holding up his heavy head. His eyes are hooded, a mischievous grin slashing across his lips.

“What are you smirking about, McFecker?”