Page 8 of The Hitman's Rose

“Some lines aren’t meant to be crossed, Ezio. You know this,” Giovanni warns.

“Yes, Boss,” Ezio nods at Giovanni then looks at me. “Le mie scuse. Non succederà più.”

It won’t happen again?I scoff to myself. It’s too late for apologies. He may have ruined any chance of me talking to Rosaline.

“Ademaro is a good man,” Giovanni offers. His words catch me off guard once more. I look at him and find him smiling at Rosaline. “Loyal through and through.”

“Loyalty is important in this life,” Rosaline smiles. She sips slowly from her glass of wine with her eyes on me the entire time, making the room feel like an inferno.

If she keeps staring at me like this, I’m going to need to adjust myself. My hard-on is already pressing firmly against the inside of my slacks. Her sexy look only fuels my arousal for her.

“Are we good, Ademaro?” Ezio asks nervously.

His question doesn’t even deserve a response to me. If Rosaline wasn’t in the room, I wouldn’t bother answering the schmuck. He’s a fucking nobody. He’s lucky Rosaline is here.

“Relax. I only do what the boss tells me to,” I smirk, trying to hold back the venom.

“Looks like you’re safe for now, Ezio,” Tommasso teases beside me. He nudges Ezio playfully in the side then leans over to Ezio’s ear. “Ademaro is not someone to fuck with, Ezio. He could easily end your life,” he growls lowly in Ezio’s ear.

I watch as Ezio’s whole body tenses. His jaw clenches tightly and a vein in his forehead bulges. He wants to snap but he can’t. He can only sit there quietly because he’s in a room full of wolves. He’s already disrespected me so disrespecting Tommasso would be like spitting in Giovanni’s face twice.

“Behave, fellas. Rosaline is trying to enjoy her meal without a bunch of testosterone raging. Understood?” Giovanni orders.

“Yes, Boss,” all of us reply in unison, except Rosaline, who eats her food quietly.

“Rosaline? How is it?” Giovanni asks, gaining her attention.

“It is delicious as always, Signore Tacchelli,” she smiles.

“Good. Good,” he smiles back. “Now back to you leaving the compound. Ademaro will escort you each time.”

“What?” Rosaline gasps. It’s the same question I have, but I didn’t dare ask it out loud.

“You may leave the compound but only if Ademaro is with you. His…skillsare necessary. Do you agree to my terms, Rosaline?”

Rosaline looks at me for a long time. I’m beginning to wonder if she’s scared of me; however, she looks at Giovanni and smiles before replying.

“I agree to your terms, Signore Tacchelli.”

---