Page 3 of Sin City Obsession

Rocco suspected the reason for that was less to do with talking to a stranger and more to do with whatever struggle he’d seen on her face. Some foreign part of him wanted to ask, but he refrained.

He barely even heard whatever story it was he wound up telling in return. He only knew that she smiled, laughed quietly at one point, and the warmth that bloomed in his chest sank straight to his dick.

He was going to have to keep his distance from this woman, as much as his father would allow.

When they finally pulled up in front of the family’s premiere hotel, Rocco held back for a moment and watched asAlessa pushed out of the Caddy and tipped her head back. He climbed to his own feet, finding her with her back to the building in front of them and her head slowly sweeping from side-to-side, taking in the unignorable, blinding lights of the semi-distant towers in all directions. As dark as it was, the buildings didn’t have to be directly across the street for their intentionally high-intensity neon displays to feel as if they were right there.

He’d almost become immune to them, but watching her take it in, he thought he could see the whites, yellows, golds, reds, and greens as if they’d only just appeared. It would be a lot for a true first-timer.

Rocco quietly rounded the car and came to a stop at her side. He saw her gaze dart his way, noticing him, but she made no effort to speak, so he leaned close enough to whisper in her ear, “Welcome to Las Vegas, beautiful.”

Chapter two

Unsettled

“The Dragon’s Den? Really?”Alessa couldn’t help but laugh at the placard mounted beside the oversized door leading into the suite the Cavallo family had apparently prepared for her.

Rocco chuckled. “We had to do some renovations about a year after the arrangement. I guess Father was inspired.” He swiped the keycard in his hand over the door lock, but allowed Ignazioto make entry first.

Alessa patiently followed Rocco into the room, with Emanuele bringing up the rear. Ignazio had already flipped on several lights, so she was able to see the large sitting room that opened up beyond the short entry. The sitting room was spacious, but with the way the plush furniture was arranged and the touch of an elaborate, modern fireplace, it managed to also look cozy. One far wall was end-to-end kitchen space with cabinets and appliances, and another wall seemed to double as a faintly curved staircase. All of which framed a truly inspiring view of Las Vegas at night, as the back wall seemed to be almost completely glass.

Ignazio and Emanuele set her things down beside the larger sofa.

Rocco motioned to the stairs and the in-set door that practically disappeared within the curved wall. “There are three sleeping spaces, technically. One through that door in the wall, another on the opposite side behind the kitchen, and of course the loft overhead. The loft has its own ensuite, the downstairs shares a bathroom you’ll see just around the stairs there.” He tucked the keycard into the little paper sleeve they generally came with and held it out for her. “Wi-Fi information is written down.”

Alessa accepted the card with a nod before glancing around again, her gaze flicking up to what must be the loft he’d mentioned. “Awfully big space for just me.”

“We want you to be comfortable,” Rocco replied smoothly. She didn’t miss the faint twitch of his lips. “When you’re not on the clock, at least.”

“Fair enough.” She pocketed the keycard, leaving the sleeve with the log-in information on the coffee table near her things, and faced him properly. “I assume we’re going over details tonight?”

Rocco’s expression settled into an unreadable neutral. It might have made him intimidating if she weren’t used to variations of the same back home. “If you’re up for it, that seems the best way to be sure we can start moving forward tomorrow.”

Alessa nodded. “I had the same thought.”

Rocco’s stare shifted from her and with a subtle dip of his chin he said, “Let’s head out, then. Father wanted to be part of that conversation; he’s waiting downstairs.”

She tried not to acknowledge the flicker of nerves that danced through her stomach. No matter who she knew or what circles she traveled in, she wasn’t in those places currently. Intangible associations could only offer so much protection. If for some reason the Cavallos decided to turn traitor, chances were high she wouldn’t get the chance to escape or relay a message. Her corpse wouldbethe message. And one wrong step in the presence of another family’s boss was the best, fastest way to assure that happened.I just have to be careful.

She walked with the others from her gifted suite, back into the hotel, and debated whether it was supposed to be flattering or insulting the way the men surrounded her. They should have all been flanking Rocco, the family’s heir and Underboss, not her. She wasn’t injured, she wasn’t actively in danger, she wasn’t technically family, and she damn sure didn’t need it. But she kept her mouth shut.

Everyone did, and the ride in the elevator was almost awkwardly silent.

Emanuele stepped out first when they reached the sixth floor.

Curiosity ate at her and Alessa pitched slightly forward as she trailed behind Rocco. “Why the sixth floor?” She would have expected to meet at the top, or on the ground floor, or off-site altogether.

Rocco glanced over his shoulder to briefly meet her gaze. “The original Cavallo’s was six stories,” he said quietly, “andNonno’soffice was at the top back then. When we renovated, Father moved his office back to where it had originally been as a way to honor the building’s history.”

Alessa found herself smiling, a spark of something warm and almost nostalgic kindling in her chest. The answer could have been anything, really, but the idea that the explanation was essentially ‘respect for the family’s history’ made her feel a little calmer.

They rounded two corners before they came to guarded double-doors at the end of a hall.

Rocco stepped up beside Emanuele. “He’s expecting us.”

The guards inclined their heads and one reached for a doorknob. “Good evening, sir.”

This time it was Rocco who led the way inside, Alessa sandwiched between his muscle. Which she wouldn’t have had an issue with if she were being considered part of them.

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