Page 74 of Sin & Secrets

For a moment, I remain entirely frozen, stunned that I had let my guard down so thoroughly that I hadn’t noticed Danny’s very obvious intentions.

The feeling of her tongue attempting to gain access to my mouth jolts me into action.

My hand snatches at her golden hair, and I pull down sharply.

Her gasp elicits nothing but contempt.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

My entire body begins to shake with rage. I am entirely disgusted by every inch of her skin that touches mine.

“Rocco!” She turns those watery blue eyes on me to no effect.

“Get. Off. Me.”

I don’t know if it’s the threat of my tone or the sharpness of my expression, but something akin to fear crosses her face. Good.

She scrambles away, landing straight on the floor, and I release her hair with a flick of my wrist.

“If you dare touch me again,” I hiss down at her. “If you touch anyone again without their consent, you will never get up on that stage again.”

Danny puts her hand to her mouth to conceal a sob. “I…I thought…”

“You did not think,” I correct as I snap my fingers.

Terry is there in an instant. “Sir?”

“Escort Miss Lombardi from the premises.”

I sit back in my chair as the bartender tries to pry a sobbing Danny from the floor. So much for not making a scene.

I look around for one of my more able-bodied men to assist, only for my attention to snag on a retreating figure about to push through the main exit—her black dress snags on Mia’s persistent feet at her heels.

When Cas’ turns so she she can free herself, her face is streaked with tears.

My insides hollow out.

Did she just see that?

I’m on my feet a heartbeat later, pushing through the crowds to chase after her, not caring that everyone around me seems to be staring.

“Boss?” Teo’s voice crackles through my earpiece. “You might want to listen to what Lazzaro just said.”

“Not now,” I bite back.

“Did you know that Cassandra’s surname is Bellini?”

“I said, not now!”

I yank the damn thing from my ear and throw it to the ground.

Because it doesn’t matter. Even though it absolutely should.

I should be running after her to demand the answers I need, to confront her about being Carmine Bellini’s daughter.

Yet the only thing I can think about is how I’ve hurt her again. That she might think someone like Danny could hold my attention for even a second now thatshewas in my life.

That despite every inch of distance I have tried to put between us, my heart aches at the mere thought of it.

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