Page 32 of The Viper

I look around and find a trash can, waltz over to it and throw my coffee away. Closing the distance between Rosa and me, she backs up until she’s leaning against the car. I trap her between my arms and stare into her blue eyes. “Get in the car,” I whisper with a guttural groan.

Her breath hitches while she scrapes her teeth along her bottom lip. Rosa doesn’t say a single word, she stays caged in my arms, her eyes downcast, and a slight pink tinge touching her cheeks. Fuck me, she’s turned on.

I need to step back before I do something she might regret. Like falling to my knees and feasting on her right here for everyone to see. I wouldn’t care, but I doubt she’s ever fucked anyone publicly.

“Car,” I snap as I step back.

Rosa’s chest is rising and falling quickly as she ducks into the car and slides as far away from me as she can. Marco closes the door and looks around before he climbs into the passenger seat and Frank merges onto the street.

The ride home is filled with tension and silence. The gates to my estate open and Frank drives to the front of the house, waiting until we’re out before pulling the car into the detached garage.

Rosa looks up at my house, and doesn’t even crack a smile. “Where’s my room?” she asks flatly.

“I’ll show you,” I say as we step into the foyer.

“Fine,” she grumbles as she sips on her coffee and stares at me. Her insolence is adorable. She’s attempting to be cold and indifferent with me, but that won’t last long.

“Frank will take you to buy clothes, let me know where you want to go so I can arrange it with the store.”

“I can drive myself,” she bites.

Upstairs I lead my Rosa to the left where there’s a room set up for her. I open the door, and wait until she’s inside. “Your car was damaged in the fire,” I say. “Frank will drive you.”

Her shoulders sink forward and she releases a long sigh. “Seriously?” She turns to look at me while still holding the coffee cup in her hand. “I’ve lost everything?” Her eyes brim with tears, but I can see she’s trying to hold them back. Maybe she thinks she needs to be strong in front of me. “I have nothing,” she whispers. Rosa shuffles forward until she finds the bed and plonks onto it. She lowers the coffee cup to the floor then brings her hands up to hide her face. Rosa’s shoulders shake as she slides off the bed and she sinks to the floor. “I have nothing,” she repeats through the sobs.

It takes me no more than three steps before I yank her up and into my lap on the bed. She latches her arms around me and buries herself into my shoulder to continue crying. “I’ll look after you, baby.” The smell of smoke still lingers in her hair, but it doesn’t stop me from holding my Rosa when she needs me. Nothing would stop me.

Rosa pulls back and wipes at her eyes, and attempts to stand but my arms clamp her to me. I like her being close, I especially like it when she shows me her vulnerability. “I’ll be fine.” She attempts once again to stand, but I refuse to let her go. The tip of her pink tongue darts out and swipes at her lower lip. The things I want to do to her mouth. “Please,” her voice is rough and small.

The moment I release my Rosa, she has put distance between us already. Standing by the window, she looks out over the garden. “Thank you for allowing me to stay here.” She continues to look outside and wipes at her eyes once more. “I have a little in savings, so I should be able to move out soon. A month, maybe two at most.”

I push off the bed and walk toward the door. “You’ll stay here.” She turns to argue and I silence her with a cold stare. “Your sister will be arriving for dinner at about eight. Frank is at your disposal.”

“Dominic...” Her soft voice goes straight to my cock, making it hard. “Thank you,” she repeats and offers me a small appreciative smile.

“I have work to do, if you need anything my office is directly below. Before you leave, come and find me.” She looks around the room and sighs. A small smile tugs at her lips, but she looks anything but happy. I gesture to one of the doors and say, “You have a private bathroom that’s fully stocked with whatever you need. Also, I’ve taken the liberty at having some jeans, shoes and t-shirts brought here for you. You’ll buy whatever you like, but I didn’t think you’d want to go like that.” I point to the clothes she’s been wearing since the fire.

Her shoulders cave in and she hangs her head. “Thank you,” she murmurs before turning to look at the back gardens.

My Rosa is sad, but hopefully, once her sister arrives, that’ll change.

“Rose has asked Frank to take her to the store,” Marco says as he waltzes into my office and pours himself a drink. He lifts the glass, silently offering one for me.

Dismissively, I wave my hand. “When are they leaving?”

“She asked him to be ready in half an hour.”

“Go with them.”

“Okay.” He pours another scotch and downs it. “She’s not going to like me being there.” He walks over and sits opposite me.

I chuckle and shrug. “I don’t care what she likes. She needs to be safe.”

“She’s going to fight me.” I tear my attention away from my laptop to look at Marco. He holds his hands up in surrender. “All I’m saying is she doesn’t understand our world, and she’s not going to do anything willingly.”

“I got her here without too much of an argument.”

“Because she has nothing.” Marco snorts with sarcasm. “She also asked Frank for his phone.”

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