Page 24 of King of Obsession

‘You’re Alessio Calibrese,’ she stated, revealing she was apprised of my name.

I canted a brow.

‘I went through your wallet,’ she murmured. ‘I’d have been a fool not to. Your ID is a New York State driver’s license.

She crossed her hands over her chest, her tits rising in her tee. I dragged my eyes away from them, cock twitching.

‘What brings you here, this far from home?’ she continued.

‘Woman, like I said, family business.’

‘Like you had on the night we met?’

‘Si.’

She considered my words, pursing her lips. ‘Who sent you that night?’

‘My father. He’d heard Franco Conti was in town.’

‘Who told him?’

I shrugged, hesitant to say more. She caught onto the clench in my jaw and let her line of questioning go.

‘Why are you really here? Why have a man on my grandmother and come after me? I’m of no value to you.’

Oh, but she was, she always had been.’

I glowered at her for a handful of moments before rasping. ‘I know Franco Conti is about to be released from prison and that he’s vowed to come for you after his release.’

She didn’t look surprised, and I knew she’d visited thejailhouse a few times, attempting to uncover his exact discharge date.

Her lip curled in scorn. ‘I’m well aware he’s walking out in a several days or weeks. So you’re here to what? Protect me from him?’

I huffed, then nodded. ‘Something like that.’

‘Why would you be concerned for little old me?’ she shot out, her eyes flashing with bitterness of long-held ire at the man. ‘My problems are not your own.’

But they are bellissima. They always were, I thought, infused with a violent urge to exterminate Franco Conti.

For both our fucking sakes.

‘You’re not here for me,’ she surmised, her jade eyes narrowing on me as she came to an astute conclusion. ‘You’re here to use me as bait to reach him.’

She said it matter-of-fact and with a sadness that caught my attention.

Arching an eyebrow, I narrowed my gaze on her, noting the pulse hammering away at her nape, the one I wanted to run my tongue over.

‘Regardless, Franco Conti will return and rip your life apart. You need me, cara. To prevent that.’

Her chest rose and fell in ratcheting agitation at my cold-as-fuck tone. ‘Why are you so vested in Franco?’

‘He owes my family a debt.’

‘So you’re going to use me to make sure he pays it?’

‘Among other things. But if you hand me to the cops or try and run away, he will come after you. I’m your best insurance against him.’

With lightning speed, I leaned into her and jammed a hand in her hair, pulling her face near.

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