Page 50 of Ruthless King

She nods. “Yeah, fine. You?”

It’s only then I notice the tremor vibrating my entire body. I draw in a deep breath and search for the icy calm, but with Stella at my side I can’t numb my feelings. For the first time for as long as I can remember, I don’t want to.

* * *

I glare at my brother from across the elevator. If therompicoglionihad an ounce of sense, he would have left the ball with Caroline instead of following me home. I have enough on my mind with Stella; I don’t need to add his silent disapproval to the mix. She’s tense beside me, the raw, vulnerable woman from the bathroom retreating beneath the surface. She must sense the tension in the air.

I know I fucked up with Bo, but I couldn’t care less. I won’t let anyone insult Stella like that. My phone vibrates in my jacket pocket, but I ignore it. Dante’s cell pings a second later, drawing my attention to my scowling brother.

He has a lot of nerve with that holier than thou expression. That asshole has screwed up more times than I count. “And it begins,” he mutters as he scans his phone.

“What?”

Dante turns the screen to me, and a shaky video comes to focus. Me punching Bo at the Heart Ball on TMZ. “Merda.”

“What?” Stella inches closer and tries to get a look at the screen.

Dante snatches it away, muttering curses. “I can read the headline now: C.E.O. of King Industries Assaults Known Gang Leader. Are the rumors true? Could the notorious Luca Valentino’s mob connections be legit?”

“Vaffanculo,” I hiss.

The elevator doors glide open, and I wrap my hand around Stella’s and tow her into the foyer. Dante stalks behind, trailing us down the hall. “What are you going to do about this? We have to issue a public statement—”

I spin around and loom over my older brother, fury heating my blood. “I will handle it,” I grit out.

“How?”

“Cazzo, Dante, give me a minute.” I jerk my chin at Stella who stares wide-eyed at both of us. “Call Jones and wait for me in the study. He’ll have every damned video taken down and wiped out of existence before morning.”

He eyes Stella, his gaze trailing down her bare shoulder to our clasped hands. A sneer curls his lips. “You going to fuck your new toy and then tuck her in while I take care of your shit?”

Blinding rage compels my arm back, fingers curling into a fist. Fury uncoils, and my knuckles smash into my brother’s cheek. Stella lets out a gasp and takes a step back trying to squirm free of my hold, but my fingers only tighten around hers.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Dante wails.

I hadn’t even hit him hard. My knuckles barely hurt.

I close the remaining distance between us, my chest bumping his. “I don’t want her name sullied by your lips. Don’t ever talk about her, don’t look at her, andDiohelp me if you ever lay a fucking finger on her, Dante ….”

He eyes me, rubbing his jaw like I’ve lost my shit. Maybe he’s right.

Silence looms between us, a stare down I know I’ll win. It’s the same reason I became C.E.O., usurping his birthright. He has no determination, no drive. He doesn’t know how to play the long game.

“I’ll get him some ice.” Stella’s voice surprises me, and I nearly blink, losing focus. Instead, I finally release her. The click-clack of her heels across the marble eases the deepening tension, and Dante steps back, exhaling a frustrated sigh.

Ha. I knew I’d win.

“What is your deal with her?” he snarls. “I’ve never seen you strung so tight around a woman.”

“There’s no deal,” I snap and drag my hand through my hair.

A knowing smile parts his lips. “You haven’t fucked her yet …. That’s what it is, right?”

“I’m not discussing this with you.”

“Why is she here? In your apartment? I’ve never seen a woman in this place more than once.”

“It’s business, Dante. Leave it alone.”