Page 21 of The Bratty Heir

"Bianchi's always had a weakness for high-stakes gambling. We set up a game, something too tempting for him to resist. Then we rig it, bleed him dry in front of his allies."

Giovanni leaned forward, interest sparking in his tired eyes. "Go on."

Rocco's confidence grew as he laid out the details of his plan. By the time he finished, a hushed anticipation had fallen over the room.

"It's audacious," one of the lieutenants muttered. "Might just be crazy enough to work."

Giovanni studied Rocco for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded. "Do it. But if this goes sideways, it's on your head."

The dismissal was clear. As the room emptied, Rocco sagged against Victor, the adrenaline crash hitting him hard.

"That was quite a performance," Victor murmured, his breath hot against Rocco's ear. "But do you have any idea what you've just volunteered for?"

Rocco turned, meeting Victor's stormy gaze. "I know exactly what I'm doing. This is my chance to prove myself, to show everyone I'm more than just the boss's spoiled brat."

Victor's eyes softened, a hint of pride shining through the concern. "You don't have anything to prove, little one. Not to them, and certainly not to me."

The tenderness in Victor's voice made Rocco's chest ache. He wanted to lean in, to lose himself in the older man's strength. But the weight of what he'd just set in motion pressed down on him.

"Will you help me?" Rocco asked, hating how small his voice sounded. "I can't do this alone."

Victor's hand came up to cup Rocco's cheek, his touch impossibly gentle. "Always, baby. I've got your back, no matter what."

For a moment, they just stood there, the air between them charged with unspoken emotion. Then Victor stepped back, his expression hardening into professional detachment.

"Get some rest," he ordered. "We've got a lot of work to do if we're going to pull this off."

As Victor strode away, Rocco couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just set something momentous in motion. His plan was a roll of the dice, a desperate gamble with not just his own life, but the fate of his entire family hanging in the balance.

He only hoped he wasn't in over his head.

CHAPTER 9

QUIET BEFORE THE STORM

The Rossetti family's Hamptons estate sprawled before them, a gleaming beacon of opulence against the backdrop of manicured lawns and swaying palms. Rocco felt the tension in his shoulders ease slightly as Victor's sleek black Audi purred up the winding driveway. After weeks of intense planning and near-constant vigilance, this forced retreat felt almost like a vacation.

Almost.

"Remember why we're here," Victor's deep voice rumbled from the driver's seat, as if reading Rocco's thoughts. "This isn't a holiday, princess. We've got work to do."

Rocco rolled his eyes, unable to resist the urge to needle his stoic protector. "Lighten up, old man. Even soldiers need R&R sometimes."

Victor's grip tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles whitening. "And brats need a firm hand to keep them in line. Don't push me, little one."

Heat pooled in Rocco's belly at the warning in Victor's tone. He'd been walking a dangerous line with the older man lately, testing the boundaries of their... whatever this was between them. Protector and charge? Dom and sub? Or something deeper, more primal?

As they pulled up to the grand entrance, Rocco's mind flashed back to their heated encounter in the warehouse. The memory of Victor's body pressed against his, all coiled strength and barely leashed violence, made his cock twitch with interest.

"You coming?" Victor's gruff voice snapped Rocco out of his reverie. The older man stood by the open car door, one eyebrow arched in silent challenge.

Rocco smirked, unable to resist the double entendre. "Not yet, Daddy. But the night's still young."

Victor's eyes darkened, a muscle ticking in his jaw. For a moment, Rocco thought he might haul him out of the car and bend him over the hood right there. But Victor just exhaled sharply, turning on his heel.

"Inside. Now."

Rocco scrambled to obey, his body thrumming with anticipation. He trailed after Victor into the cool interior of the mansion, drinking in the familiar sights and scents of his childhood summer home.

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