Page 146 of Dirty Mafia King

Basta. I loathe feeling weak, and one more person to care about leaves me even more vulnerable.

I don’tdovulnerable.

Yet, as I soak in her presence like a hungry beast, I find myself at a loss for what to do.

It’ll come to me. It always does.

I force myself to walk away.

* * *

As days pass, time screws me over.

Conti evades capture.

My patience is worn thin.

And I’m indecisive about whether Alessia should move back into the casita. Out of sight and out of mind, right? I’ve important business to focus on, and no time for the little mind-stealer.

Problem is, I don’t need to see her to be thinking about her.

Her perfume scents the air and stirs my interest. Her happy chatter from her office whenever she’s online and in class invites me to pause and listen. Her cooking—fuck, nothing more to say that hasn’t already been said.

I stare out the kitchen window at Zoey parading around the pool carefree and topless. Guards stop and gawk, despite my warnings about doing their fucking jobs. I scowl. Alessia’s tucked away out of my line of vision. Fuck knows what she’s wearing—or if she’s bare-breasted like the arsonist.

My temple pounds.

Without thinking, I charge outside and head toward the pool.

“Eyes off the pool,” I snap, pointing at the guards patrolling the back. I beefed up security, so maybe these teste di cazzo don’t understand all the rules yet.

They will.

Once I’m certain the two cockteases by the pool are goddamn clothed.

Zoey, wearing a piece of lint covering her snatch and a wicked grin, is hovering over Alessia’s chair as I approach. Alessia’s eyes are closed and a beach towel covers her like a blanket. Music drifts from the casita, and nothing alerts them to my presence.

“Say yes,” Zoey is insisting.

“I don’t know,” Alessia replies.

“It’ll hurt for like five minutes.”

“That’s not what’s holding me back.” Alessia sighs.

“You kidding me? You worried about how the King of Kink might react? News flash …” Zoey snaps her fingers in the air. “… he’ll love it if you pierce your clit.”

Madonna mia. I rub the back of my neck. I leave Little Miss Innocent alone, and this is what she’s up to? Deciding to get her motherfucking clit pierced? I’m annoyed, and turned on.

“I’ll ask his permission first.”

“Permission?” Zoey snorts. “You’re either the most patient woman on the planet or a glutton for punishment. You haven’t spoken in weeks.”

“He has a lot going on,” Alessia replies. So loyal. So in trouble if she’s naked beneath that towel.

“Yeah, well, like I’ve said, you’re better off with Sandro.”

I reach behind Zoey for the remote on the table next to Alessia’s chair. With a click of my thumb, the music turns off. Lightning fast, I brush by Zoey and snatch the towel from Alessia’s body.