Page 34 of Sin City Obsession

“Where,” Alessa said, the word drawing out of her like scraping sandpaper. “Where the hell did you send my stuff?”

Carla blinked once in Alessa’s direction and her demeanor went cold. “I didn’t see any identification tags. I’m sure I would have remembered something labeledwhorebeing carted into Mr. Cavallo’s office.”

Alessa’s arm shot forward so fast Rocco barely had time to register the spark of his own anger burning inside before the unmistakable sound of a hard, open-handed slap echoed through the office. And for the life of him, all Rocco could feel as he watched Carla’s head whip to the side—her perfect posture shattered as she wobbled back a step—was pride. So he didn’t resist when Alessa moved forward to close in on the other woman, and he held up a hand to stop the two security personnel who came running at the sound of a physical confrontation.

No one would interrupt whatever happened next.

“You have more nerve than your toothpick stilettos ought to be able to hold,” Alessa said, something in her voice like a growl. “Nerve, but not a damn lick of intelligence.”

Carla backed up until her butt hit the edge of her desk, one hand cupping her cheek and her eyes wide. “You—how dare you! Who do you think you are?”

“I’m no whore.” Alessa stalked into her space but didn’t lower her voice. “I’ll bet you have no idea what you’ve done, you petty little bitch.”

From over Alessa’s shoulders, Rocco watched Carla’s brow twitch and saw her lowered fist clench.

Alessa didn’t stop. “It took a full fucking day for Rocco’s people to gather the items off my list and get them here. A full. Fucking. Day.” She leaned forward, crowding Carla against her desk and snapping her words into the secretary’s face. “Are you suggesting that I delay my plans foranotherfull fucking day because you wereuncomfortable? You couldn’t sit near a suitcase for half an hour, so I should tell theDragonthat everything has to come to a complete stop while we wait. Another full fucking day. Is that what you’re suggesting … Carla?”

A faint tremble had worked its way into Carla’s frame. “The Dragon…?” Her eyes darted past Alessa, out to Rocco. There was a plea for help in her stare.

Rocco tucked his hands into his pockets and stared right back. “The only man in the world my father bows his head to.”

Carla’s eyes widened and she went ghostly pale. “D-Don Cavallo…” Her gaze flicked back to Alessa.

“Where is my shit, Carla?” Alessa snapped.

Carla’s fist uncurled, her posture slackening. “I-I had my cousin throw it out. The truck’s already been by.”

Alessa cursed and shoved from the desk, restless anger wafting from her.

Rocco glared out at his fuck-up of an assistant. “Congratulations. Now youandyour cousin will have to be punished for disobedience, and for endangering the family as a whole. How do you think we should handle that, Carla?”

Carla began shaking her head. “No, please, sir! I was just—”

Alessa brought a knee into the woman’s chest, just below her ribs, forcing Carla to double over and dropping her to the floor in a coughing fit. Alessa followed her down, pressing her hand into the back of Carla’s neck. “You don’t call him that.Ifyou survive this, you call him ‘Mr. Cavallo’ from now until he ascends. Then he’s your new Don. You fucking worship the ground he walks on if you want, but you do it from a distance and you don’t get so goddamn full of yourself.” She shoved Carla’s face into the expensive carpet beneath them. “Got it?”

Carla whimpered.

Rocco bit down on the inside of his cheek to keep the smile off his face. That beautiful woman was just as fucked up as him. He glanced to the side, toward the nearer of the two guards who stood, gaping, at the opening of the hall. “Find her fucking cousin and have him detained.”

The man about jumped out of his skin at being addressed, but quickly scampered to comply.

Rocco dismissed the other with an order to lock down his entire corridor.

“All I have on me are zip-ties.”

He snapped his focus back to Alessa at the sound of her voice and found her still crouched beside the now-sobbing woman, holding a pair of orange zip-ties. And a series of terrible thoughts ran through his mind, pulling his smile forward.

She arched a brow at him. “What’s that look for?”

“Hold still a minute.” Rocco angled around the two, grabbed one of guest chairs from in front of Carla’s desk, and dragged it over. He repositioned it until it was facing the space as a whole, effectively blocking the opening of the walkway. Then he crouched down in front of Carla’s nearest shoulder, met Alessa’s watchful stare, and said, “Let’s get her in the chair.”

“Okay….”

“P-please, Mr. Ca-Cavallo, sir—”

Alessa pinched something that made Carla cut herself off with a shriek. “What did I tell you?”

“You should listen to Alessa,” Rocco said as they physically hauled the sobbing woman toward the chair. “She’s even considered there might be a world where this mistake doesn’t cost you everything.” He dropped her into the seat, crowding her enough she couldn’t possibly hope to rise, and hardened his voice. “But it’s absolutely cost you your job. You’re fucking fired, Carla. Don’t get confused about that.”

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