Page 33 of Passion and Revenge

Alessandro

“Hey there, handsome,” a woman purrs, winking at me as she walks by. Gun to my head, I won’t be able to tell you what she looked like.

My entire focus is on the two men standing at the end of the hallway.

I shouldn’t be here.

I’m being reckless and cocky right now, but I can’t seem to find a fuck to give. I can feel threads begin to unravel on what is supposed to be my perfect revenge fabric. And it’s all because of the hazel-eyed woman who is mutilating her clothes at the moment.

Disgust at myself rises to the surface. Hot, bitter, and cloying.

As if I don’t have enough to be ashamed about after blowing my load to the mental image of my captive on her knees for me, I’ve also added watching her obsessively to my long list of insane behaviors.

Maurizio had been puzzled when I ordered him to turn off his monitor access to the cameras in Sienna’s room, and his brow shot up to his hairline when I made him connect the cameras to my phone.

It was a big mistake.

Even now I can feel my hands twitching to reach for my phone and check if she was done slicing the lounge clothes to ribbons.

Spoiled little brat.

It’s going to be fun watching her without clothes. If she thinks I’m going to replace the ruined clothes, she had better think again. I’m not Santa Claus or her freaking father.

Ahead of me, I see Ivan drag a hand through his still-full head of brown hair. It’s a little relieving to see that there is only a weak resemblance between him and his daughter.

Not that it makes jerking off to an image of his daughter any better.

I don’t know who the man standing with him is, but he has been featured in some of the other photographs my informant has sent over. I immediately dislike the man, and there’s an insane urge to go over there and plant my fist in his face.

My phone begins to buzz, and I pick it up, shifting further behind the wall I’ve positioned myself behind. “Yes?” I bark into the phone.

“Boss, I have information on the man,” my informant says.

“Good,” I say with a nod. “Send me everything you have on him.”

“I’m en route to your house with the document right now.”

I hang up.

Before the day ends, I’ll know everything about the bastard and whether he can be another tool in my revenge. Anybody Ivan cares about, even the tiniest bit, isn’t safe from me. His complete destruction is my goal.

Which means everything and everyone he loves or cares about.

The man peels away from Ivan, his phone pressed to his ear. Good, this is my opportunity to approach the bastard.

I freeze as the man stops close to the dark corner of the gallery that I’m tucked into.

“I’m working on it,” the man bites into the phone. “Just give me some time.”

My eyebrows wrinkle, and I wait to hear more.

“No. There was a hitch in the plan, but it’s not a problem. I can go ahead with the original plan. I just need some time to set things in motion and re-strategize.” There’s a pause, then he adds, “Of course. I won’t fail you.”

Whatever the hell he’s talking about, it’s not my business. It can be anything from a surprise party to the launch of a nuclear missile. Still not my business. I’m far more interested in the older man standing alone in the middle of the gallery, looking lost.

I step out of the alcove and walk toward Ivan. I’m a few steps away from him when Ettore joins him.

“Sienna is a brilliant artist. I didn’t know she had family around,” Ettore says. “She was supposed to come into the gallery and discuss a new collection for our summer show, but she never showed up. Honestly, I haven’t seen her since she sold out The Revelation.”

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