Page 101 of King of Obsession

‘In his and your dreams,’ I stated, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Rocco curled his lip at my derision and jerked his chin at Alessio. ‘Who’s this asshole?’

I felt Alessio tense beside me at the insult, but his faceremained impassive, that infuriating half-smile still on his lips.

Calm, not reacting one iota to Rocco’s apparent provocation. ‘Didn’t Fabio share?’

Rocco didn’t take well to Alessio’s smirk. He cursed.

The hate in his one good eye was diabolical.

I sliced my eyes to Alessio and jolted at the pure, unadulterated wrath aimed at the Contis. I suppressed a shudder.

Despite his nonchalance, Alessio was after blood, and he didn’t look like he’d have any problem spilling it on the dirt floor of this godforsaken barn.

Alessio shifted, angling his body so he stood in front of me.

Shielding me.

‘Fabio, how’s the the shiner?’ Alessio asked, his timbre rumbling through the open space.

‘Fuck off,’ Fabio snarled, taking a threatening step forward, but Alessio lifted a hand, stopping him.

‘You need to slow your roll,’ Alessio rasped. ‘Before I give you a matching set.’

The Conti brothers exchanged glances, scowled, and kept coming.

Alessio raised a chin. ‘I suggest you three clowns walk away now. While you still can.’

Rocco growled. ‘Handover our father’s bride-to-be, and we’ll let you live.’

‘Cleo’s under my protection now. You want her, you go through me.’

Alessio’s voice was timbred, dangerous. It sent a shiver down my spine.

Rocco’s gaze flicked to Alessio, sizing him up with narrowed eyes. ‘Who the fuck are you, pretty boy for real?’ he sneered. ‘Her guard dog?’

Alessio’s lips curled into a cold smile. ‘No one important, just the man who’s about to jack your shit up and make sure your father, yourself, and your brothers pay for your freakin’ arrogance.’

‘‘Is that right?’ Fabio stepped forward, fists clenched. ‘You threatening us, asshole?’

Alessio didn’t even spare him a glance. His eyes stayed locked on Rocco’s. ‘Not a threat. A promise.’

Rocco’s hand twitched towards the gun at his waist. ‘You’ve got balls, fuck boy, I’ll give you that. But you’re making a huge mistake, siding with this lying bitch.’

Alessio’s smile widened, but there was no humor in it. ‘The only error here was you thinking you could mess with Cleo and get away with it. Now, you’ve got two choices. Walk away now, or get ready for a world of pain.’

The trio exchanged glances, smirked, and rushed in.

Alessio moved so fast for a man his size.

He reached for a hoe idling on the barn wall as he did.

He swung.

So swift that none of the brothers had the chance to reach for their weapons.

Rocco went down with a roar and cry of agony.

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