Page 22 of Ruthless Boss

He frowns, tilting his head to the side like he wants to know more. "I'm not worried, but I think he deserves retribution."

"Who's to say he didn't get it?" I ask in a light voice. The image of Ciro flashes in my head, but he's not in control like other times. He's groaning, falling to his knees in the kitchen, touching his right eye as blood gushes out. I blink. "Now, get out of my bedroom. AJ will wake up in an hour, and we all need rest. Go."

Tomorrow is another day.

Tomorrow… will be like tonight never happened.

12

Dante

"She's excited to be out of the house," Lucia says when AJ chuckles in the car as the SUV turns into the pediatrician's office's garage. Then, she leans onto AJ, strapped in the car seat, wearing a bow that matches her pink dress. "Aren't you, cutie?"

AJ moves her arms and legs, smiling.

I look at them next to me.

I had sex with Lucia three days ago, and so far, we've done a good job at going back to our boss and employee roles. She hasn't done or said anything to imply she wants to have sex again. I should be grateful. That need has been met, and I can simply move on. If I was curious about what sex with her would be like, well, I can say I've done it.

Then why am I so fucking bothered?

Because I want more.

More is complicated, though.

We fucked in the heat of the moment. I loved every second of it and would repeat it in a heartbeat. But that would jeopardize my life and the freedom I gained after having a nanny. AJ loves Lucia, but Lucia has suffered enough. Even though she doesn't want to talk much about it, I can tell this bad breakup with the abusive asshole ex is still present in her life.

I'd kill him myself without thinking twice. But if I do, I'll be slipping into dangerous territory with her again. I can't care this much. I shouldn't.

My plate is full with my own life and AJ's. Work. Searching for Ross Santini.

None of these valid points matter to my cock—he's a stubborn motherfucker that gets hard the second I think about her.

"Almost here, boss," my driver Sam says. Next to him is Andrei, my head of security.

Sam parks, and I help Lucia out and carry AJ's carrier. If anyone watches us walk to the elevator and the office on one of the top floors, they'll think we're a family. Sam and Andrei follow us into the waiting room. I told them to ditch uniforms and wear casual clothes to not bring too much attention to ourselves.

When the nurse tells us to go to the exam room, I go in with AJ and Lucia.

The short woman checks her vitals and asks her a few questions. Everything looks good, and her growth is excellent.

Then, she goes to get the baby's weight. The weighing station is outside, so I stay in the room, and Lucia joins her.

I look at all the colorful animals on the wallpaper, the parenting magazines on the rack, and a few children's toys on a shelf. Who in their right mind would allow their child to play with these toys that have been touched by half the state?

I shake my head. Not my problem.

The nurse returns alone. "Your daughter and the nanny will be here soon. AJ needed a diaper change, so she took her to the restroom."

"Great."

"Will Ms. Lucia be bringing her on the next visits? I can add her name to the file so it's there."

The idea of Lucia and AJ going to an appointment without me, with Ross Santini at large, brings a bile taste to my mouth. "I'll come as well, but there may be times when she's here and I'm not."

"That sounds excellent. I won't forget. It's hard to when you share a birthday."

I look at the nurse wearing anIt's my birthdaybutton on her scrub. Lucia must have congratulated her and shared that it was her birthday, too. Shit. I didn't know. But then again, we're not in a relationship, and Zenovia got her details when I hired her—for payment and shit.

---