Page 72 of Ruthless Touch
My father was right. I’m not naturally a killer. For the woman I love more than life itself, though, I can be.
Aria is mine, and her ex made the mistake of not understanding that.
And he paid the price for it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Gideon
Seated behind my desk, I try to shake off the drowsiness from not getting enough sleep last night. Aria and I lay in bed and talked for hours, but this morning I feel like I never got any rest.
My office door opens, and I expect to see Sasha walk in, but it’s my father instead. I sit up, eager to hear what happened with Marcello Angeloni. The talk up and down the coast this morning is he’s missing and his righthand man was found shot to death after someone beat him to a bloody pulp.
“Good morning,” he says as he strolls over to the front of my desk, tapping on the edge before he sits down. “You look like a bus hit you. Rough night? I usually sleep like a baby after killing someone.”
Even I know that’s not something normal people say to one another. Being a Rule means the regular, run-of-the-mill conversations don’t happen, though.
“Yeah, I didn’t get much sleep. How about you? I’m assuming you slept well since I hear Marcello Angeloni isn’t anywhere to be found.”
My father cracks his neck and smiles. “I did, in fact. It’s been a long time since I took out my anger on someone like that. As for anyone finding him, I highly doubt it.”
I could ask what he means, but I don’t. The thought of hearing about the youngest Angeloni spread out in tiny pieces along the local landscape isn’t something I can stomach this early in the day.
“Good. So I guess you, Alex, and Alaric will be flying out soon?”
My father stares at me oddly before asking, “Why do I get the feeling you don’t like when we come to visit?”
Fighting with him this morning isn’t on my list of things to do, so I shake my head and smile to hide the truth of how I feel about him or my brother dropping in on me. “It’s your hotel. You can visit whenever you want.”
He leans forward and taps on the edge of my desk for a second time. “About that. I think it’s time I transfer ownership of this place to you. It’s grown and flourished because of the work you’ve done, so it seems only right.”
I stare at him in complete shock. Never in a million years did I ever expect my father to give me the Villa Aurelia. My brother has owned the club he runs for the past two years, but Helix Rule always favors him. I just figured I’d forever be stuck as the manager of the hotel but never the actual owner.
“Thanks, Dad. I have to say this comes as a surprise.”
He nods solemnly like he understands what I’m saying. “It’s only right. Your mother made me see that after I got back from my last visit here. I never set out to make you feel like you were second to anyone, Gideon. That includes your brother. He’s who he is, and you’re who you are. I think I just forgot that until your mother reminded me that you’re more like her.”
“It’s okay.”
My father stands and gives me another nod. “You’ve taken care of business here at the hotel and last night. You may not be much like me, but I saw something of myself in you last night when you were punishing that man. That might not make you happy, but there it is.”
I smile at his attempt to compliment me for being as vicious as him. “Like I told Alex, I can take care of things when I have to. I simply prefer to do them my way when I can.”
“How is Aria this morning? Better?” he asks as he turns to leave.
“She’ll be okay. I’m taking care of her, and Sasha watched over her while we were gone.”
Once again, he taps on the edge of my desk, but this time he levels a very serious gaze on me. “A word of advice. If you care about her enough to kill for her, Sasha has to go. Let her go work for your brother. He could use an assistant like her.”
I struggle not to cringe at the idea of doing that to Sasha. No one like her should be anywhere near Alex. Fuck, no woman in her right mind would want to be around him.
My father walks toward the door just as Sasha walks into my office. “Perfect timing. He wants to talk to you anyway. Gideon, I’ll have the lawyers draw up the papers and send them along. Call your mother.”
Nodding, I don’t answer him but silently remind myself to do just that as Sasha hurries over toward my desk. “What papers?” she asks nearly breathless with excitement.
“He gave me the hotel. It’s officially mine now.”
Her eyes light up with pure joy for me before she throws her arms around my neck to hug me tightly. “Oh, Gideon! That’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you.”