Page 19 of Alessio

“If you want to keep it, you will do what you’re told.”

Alessio stiffens next to me, wanting to do something or maybe say something, but he doesn’t.

“Get your things and be here in two minutes.”

I nod and do what he says, and return. Alessio isn’t anywhere around, and I truly hate the way that makes me feel. It’s as if someone has hit me painfully in the chest. Am I mistaken about his jealousy? “Come on.”

The moment we’re in the car and Mr. Conti pulls out of the main driveway, he says, “Ms. Beaman, I must question you, and if you wish to make it through the next day, you’ll answer my questions without hesitation.”

I swallow the lump in my throat before answering with a barely audible, “Yes, sir.”

“Are you working with the cops?” he asks bluntly and doesn’t bother to look my way as he focuses on the path down to Alessio’s home.

“What?” That’s way out of left field and takes me by surprise. I thought this would be about the cat or if I stole something from the house, which I haven’t.

“Answer my fucking question,” he repeats, never raising his voice, but that menacing command still remains.

“No, of course not. Am I even old enough to work with the cops? I’m only eighteen.” He shakes his head, and I could swear his lips are slightly upturned in a smirk as if he wants to laugh, but he doesn’t.

“I pulled your file, not just the shitty one the agency provides, but a deeper report, which I should have pulled sooner. Your father had been a Chicago police officer before your parents’ deaths.” He says it as if it’s a mark against my character.

I’m truly offended and let him know, which I’m sure isn’t freaking smart, but I can’t stop my mouth. “Yeah, well. What does that have to do with anything?”

“Your sister graduated with a degree in criminal justice from community college over the weekend, and you just happened to take a job working for me.”The accusations keep coming, and yet I’ve done nothing wrong.

“Again, I fail to see what this has to do with me. I didn’t even know what you did for a living when I took the job. I still technically don’t know the details, but I’m getting a feeling that it’s less than reputable if you’re worried about the cops.”

“Bullshit.”

“For real. I’m not lying. I really don’t know anything about you or your company business. I clean your house and keep my mouth shut. I’ve only been here a week today.”He looks at me for a brief moment, trying to puzzle me out. “My sister doesn’t even know who I work for in the first place. She’s been bugging me for more details, but I haven’t told her because she’ll get worried.”

“Why would you think she’d be worried if you didn’t know who I was?” He cocks a brow, thinking he’s beaten me in a match of wits, but he just doesn’t understand a woman’s thoughts.

“Because it’s in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of men. She’s worried I’ll be sexually violated.”

His mouth forms a surprised “O” and that answer seems to satisfy him.

My phone rings, and it’s May. Her photo comes up. He practically loses his breath and then grunts. “Answer it and put it on speaker.” He pulls up to the house and puts it in park.

“Don’t hurt her,” I plead. He rolls his eyes as if my request is ridiculous.

“Hey, girl. Those kittens were adorable,” she says when I answer.

“Right. I wish we could have one, but the apartment’s too small, and are landlord is a prick.”

“Totally true.”

“Are you home?” I ask.

“Yeah, I’m at the apartment, which is a big mistake. I ran into that pervert.” I hear the leather of the steering wheel crunch, and I look to see that Mr. Conti’s knuckles have whitened around it. Shit. Men are just so much fucking trouble.

We hate our landlord, who can’t keep his eyes or his hands to himself. “Ugh. Did you tell him to fuck off?”

“I did, as usual, but he’s creepy and thinks that ‘drop dead’ means I’m interested. If that fucker calls me ‘Maybe’ one more time, I might forget that I’m trying to be a lawyer and stab him in the eye.”

“Or in his balls,” I offer, making my boss aware that I’m not as weak as I might seem.

“I’m not getting that close to that STD-ridden cesspool.”

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