Page 17 of The Viper

“Are you insane?”

“I take it by your tone that you have a problem.”

“Don’t be an ass.”

“I beg your pardon?” I say, sick of her constant insults.

She takes a sharp breath, and I know I have her. “You have your muscle here installing a fancy new door to my apartment. I don’t need it, nor do I want it.”

“I don’t care.”

“You’re not listening.”

“Neither are you,” I say. “The door stays.”

“Why? I’m perfectly fine in my apartment.”

I stretch my neck to the side at her insolence. “You’ll be safer with the new door.”

She huffs and remains quiet for a moment. “How did he even get in my apartment to begin with? You gave me back my key last night.”

“Marco has his ways. I suggest you don’t ask him.”

“Dominic,” she starts. The way my name rolls off her tongue causes my dick to stir. I palm my erection through my pants and lean back on my office chair. I close my eyes and imagine her on her knees, my cock deep in her mouth as she swirls her tongue and scrapes her teeth up my shaft. “Did you hear me?” her nagging snaps me out of my moment of bliss.

“No, what did you say?”

“You don’t need to do this. I don’t require protection.” I laugh out loud at her ridiculousness. “Why are you laughing?”

“Because clearly, you can’t protect yourself. If Marco can find his way into your apartment, then so can anyone else. Like I said, you’re family, and we look after family.”

“I can’t afford this,” she says in a small voice.

“I didn’t ask for payment, Rosa.”

“Rose,” she corrects. “I can’t expect you to pay for something like this. Look at it.” I can imagine my Rosa waving her hand over the door. “It’s probably worth more than every single thing inside the apartment.”

“Probably,” I agree.

She huffs her annoyance once again. “Can you please not do this?”

“It’s already done.”

“Then I’ll have to pay you back.”

“No need.”

“No, I don’t want to owe you a single thing, Dominic. Nor do I want my sister having to pay for it.”

“This has nothing to do with Eliza, Rosa.”

“Rose,” she says. I can’t help but smile at her irritation.

“This is about your safety.”

“I’m perfectly safe.”

“This is going nowhere. The door stays, and be lucky I don’t assign one of my men to you too.”

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