Page 3 of Sin City Obsession (De Salvo Empire #1)

Chapter two

Unsettled

“The Dragon’s Den? Really?” Alessa couldn’t help but laugh at the placard mounted beside the oversized door leading into the suite the Cavallo family had apparently prepared for her.

Rocco chuckled. “We had to do some renovations about a year after the arrangement. I guess Father was inspired.” He swiped the keycard in his hand over the door lock, but allowed Ignazio to make entry first.

Alessa patiently followed Rocco into the room, with Emanuele bringing up the rear.

Ignazio had already flipped on several lights, so she was able to see the large sitting room that opened up beyond the short entry.

The sitting room was spacious, but with the way the plush furniture was arranged and the touch of an elaborate, modern fireplace, it managed to also look cozy.

One far wall was end-to-end kitchen space with cabinets and appliances, and another wall seemed to double as a faintly curved staircase.

All of which framed a truly inspiring view of Las Vegas at night, as the back wall seemed to be almost completely glass.

Ignazio and Emanuele set her things down beside the larger sofa.

Rocco motioned to the stairs and the in-set door that practically disappeared within the curved wall.

“There are three sleeping spaces, technically. One through that door in the wall, another on the opposite side behind the kitchen, and of course the loft overhead. The loft has its own ensuite, the downstairs shares a bathroom you’ll see just around the stairs there.

” He tucked the keycard into the little paper sleeve they generally came with and held it out for her. “Wi-Fi information is written down.”

Alessa accepted the card with a nod before glancing around again, her gaze flicking up to what must be the loft he’d mentioned. “Awfully big space for just me.”

“We want you to be comfortable,” Rocco replied smoothly. She didn’t miss the faint twitch of his lips. “When you’re not on the clock, at least. ”

“Fair enough.” She pocketed the keycard, leaving the sleeve with the log-in information on the coffee table near her things, and faced him properly. “I assume we’re going over details tonight?”

Rocco’s expression settled into an unreadable neutral. It might have made him intimidating if she weren’t used to variations of the same back home. “If you’re up for it, that seems the best way to be sure we can start moving forward tomorrow.”

Alessa nodded. “I had the same thought.”

Rocco’s stare shifted from her and with a subtle dip of his chin he said, “Let’s head out, then. Father wanted to be part of that conversation; he’s waiting downstairs.”

She tried not to acknowledge the flicker of nerves that danced through her stomach.

No matter who she knew or what circles she traveled in, she wasn’t in those places currently.

Intangible associations could only offer so much protection.

If for some reason the Cavallos decided to turn traitor, chances were high she wouldn’t get the chance to escape or relay a message.

Her corpse would be the message. And one wrong step in the presence of another family’s boss was the best, fastest way to assure that happened. I just have to be careful.

She walked with the others from her gifted suite, back into the hotel, and debated whether it was supposed to be flattering or insulting the way the men surrounded her.

They should have all been flanking Rocco, the family’s heir and Underboss, not her.

She wasn’t injured, she wasn’t actively in danger, she wasn’t technically family, and she damn sure didn’t need it. But she kept her mouth shut .

Everyone did, and the ride in the elevator was almost awkwardly silent.

Emanuele stepped out first when they reached the sixth floor.

Curiosity ate at her and Alessa pitched slightly forward as she trailed behind Rocco. “Why the sixth floor?” She would have expected to meet at the top, or on the ground floor, or off-site altogether.

Rocco glanced over his shoulder to briefly meet her gaze. “The original Cavallo’s was six stories,” he said quietly, “and Nonno’s office was at the top back then. When we renovated, Father moved his office back to where it had originally been as a way to honor the building’s history.”

Alessa found herself smiling, a spark of something warm and almost nostalgic kindling in her chest. The answer could have been anything, really, but the idea that the explanation was essentially ‘respect for the family’s history’ made her feel a little calmer.

They rounded two corners before they came to guarded double-doors at the end of a hall.

Rocco stepped up beside Emanuele. “He’s expecting us.”

The guards inclined their heads and one reached for a doorknob. “Good evening, sir.”

This time it was Rocco who led the way inside, Alessa sandwiched between his muscle. Which she wouldn’t have had an issue with if she were being considered part of them.

“Thanks for waiting up, Father,” Rocco said as the door clicked shut behind them .

At the opposite end of the lounge-like office, a man who could only be Rocco Cavallo Sr. rose to his feet.

He was leaner, his brown hair was mostly silver, and age and stress had established itself on his face.

Despite all of that, the familial resemblance was undeniable.

He smiled at his son, but his eyes—strikingly the same as Rocco II’s—almost immediately shifted to her. “You must be Ms. Adimari.”

Alessa took a single step closer and bent forward respectfully.

He was, effectively, her acting superior while she remained in Las Vegas.

“Thank you for welcoming me into your city, Don Cavallo.” She had heard he preferred the old-fashioned term, and that suited her fine.

It would feel weird to call another man Boss .

“It’s no trouble at all,” Don Cavallo said, a sound like a low chuckle in his tone. “I gave Mr. De Salvo my word I would do what I could.” He indicated the set of sofas that faced each other in the center of the room. “Let’s sit and discuss the situation.”

Only when he’d reclaimed his seat on one sofa did the rest of the room move.

Alessa obligingly settled in the center of the other, so she could face her hosts. She was unsurprised when Rocco sat beside his father, the middle cushion between them. And she was decidedly not disappointed.

Emanuele and Ignazio took up standing posts at the edge of the sofas, like sentinels.

It was clear they had been given permission to be privy to the conversation, and Alessa supposed that made sense.

If Emanuele was Rocco’s head of security, he probably knew everything Rocco knew.

And Rocco had mentioned Ignazio would basically be her shadow, so surely, he’d be looped in whether she said a word or not.

Cavallo Senior made a motion with his wrist that might have been a subconscious conversational gesture and said, “How was your flight?”

Alessa smiled. “Long. I’ve never much enjoyed flying.

” Travel days had always been her least favorite part of their trips abroad.

She let out a soft sigh. Time to get to work.

“Before I left Newark, Ralph George and his employer were still a mystery on both sides. Has there been any development I should know about?”

She had been assigned what amounted to a blind manhunt in Vegas, searching for an unidentified person or organization associated with an abuser of a man named Ralph George.

George had recently made a problem of himself in Newark, targeting Brandi Richardson—the daughter of a man they themselves were one wrong word away from popping.

But Brandi was a valuable employee at Mikey De Salvo’s new and flourishing security company, so Mikey had chosen to take her under his protection.

In an incredibly dramatic fashion, of course.

It wasn’t her place to judge.

“We’ve circulated George’s picture around,” Rocco said. “None of our guys have reported recognizing him yet. It’s still possible someone on the street level just hasn’t checked their messages, but I wouldn’t bet on those odds.”

“I was thinking about reaching out to some of my daytime associates, as well,” Senior said. “A few of them have less than savory characters in their pockets for collection tasks, or know the type. It might give us a direction.”

Alessa inclined her head. “I’ll heed your discretion on that,” she said carefully.

She weighed her next words for a moment, but probably the information was important enough to make clear, so she took the risk.

Even if saying the words felt almost as surreal as it had to hear them just a few hours earlier.

“Are you aware that the woman being targeted is Michele De Salvo’s fiancée?

” She herself had only learned the news when she had been informed of her eminent trip to Las Vegas.

It might have shocked her more if she weren’t half-numb inside.

Both Cavallos nodded, and Senior replied, “Yes, Mr. De Salvo made that clear when he called me initially. Not that we wouldn’t have been happy to help, regardless.”

Alessa rested her elbows on her knees. “So you understand why it’s important we find the source and put it down before they can send any other threats.”

“Absolutely,” Senior said, voice firm. He motioned to the side, toward his son and the men at the end of the sitting area.

“I may be busy, but Ignazio will be available to you whenever you need. And I’m clearing Rocco’s schedule so he can also be available.

I realize you are unfamiliar with the city, but please be assured we will get you anywhere you need to go.

As you are here on behalf of the man who kept my family afloat when I was at my weakest, I will spare no resource to repay that debt now. ”