Page 44 of Mafia And Maid
Ten minutes later, looking up, I meet Alessio’s arched brow. His arms are crossed over his chest, and he leans back against his chair. We’re the only two left at the table now.
“What?”
“First, where the hell do you put all that food? Second, really?”
“Really…what?”
“How long has that been a thing?”
Oh shit, he’s on about that again. Deflect, just deflect. “Has what been a thing?”
He shakes his head. “I’m not blind. I saw the way you were looking at her and then at her ass. You got a thing for Rosa?”
I force a laugh. “Of course not.”
“Uh huh, so that look was just what?”
“I don’t know what look you’re talking about. I was just being polite—you know, since neither you nor Marco can seem to muster it.”
His eyes narrow, and he leans forward. “Uh huh.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck. “Look, I’m just being nice. She looks like she could use a little kindness. Plus, she’s a skilled cook and baker. Even you have to admit she’s the best one we’ve had for a while.” But I don’t sound as confident as I intend.
She’s a mystery I still can’t figure out.
“That’s it? You justlike her cooking?”
“Yeah.” I won’t admit to him that Rosa interests me—and beyond just her gorgeous body. She’s quiet and keeps to herself. She’s submissive and obedient and doesn’t talk much in our company. Occasionally, I hear her on the phone in her room late at night. But we don’t know who Rosa is as a person. Maybe it's her keeping it professional. But fuck that—I want to know her.
Because if I know her, I can protect myself from her. I can better ignore what she does to my body and the frantic confusion going on in my head.
He doesn’t say anything, just tilts his head like he can unweave the lies that are coming from my lips.
“What else would it be? She’s not my type. I’m not into the innocent type.” I’m not a gentle kind of lover. I rarely bring women back to the estate. I take care of my needs in other ways—quick fucks in the casino. Rough and fast to satiate my needs, and when it’s over, I walk away. It’sthat simple. Rosa deserves better. She deserves to be worshipped, and I’m not the man to do that. I’ll bend and break her into a million pieces.
“Good. Keep it that way.”
“Yes, sir,” I grit out sarcastically with a mock salute as I push my chair back from the table with more force than is necessary.
He adjusts his suit jacket as he stands. “You have a job to do for us. For the family. Don’t let some doe-eyed maid complicate things.”
My jaw ticks as I grind my teeth together. “I heard you the first time.”
“Just making sure it gets through your thick skull.”
I flip him the bird before letting a breath whoosh from my lungs. My hand drags down my face. My body is so wound up now that the work out I did this morning feels meaningless.
This is the second time since Rosa started that Alessio has brought this up. I need to fucking get my shit together, and fast.
***
I rub at my jaw where I know a fresh bruise is blooming. It’s late and dark, and once I’ve updated Marco, all I want to do is to sink into the sheets of my bed.
The estate itself is quiet. Which is what I need after a shitty day of playing bad guy. It never used to bother me before—doing these things and watching these so-called men weep and cry in my presence. But now I don’t want to come home and accidentally stumble upon Rosa while looking like I went a few rounds with a rottweiler. I don’t want her to see this side of me yet...
I yank open the freezer and rummage around for something, anything, to press to my face. My hand fits against a bag of frozen peas, and I press it to my tender jaw before snagging a water bottle as well.
A soft laugh trickles down the hall, stopping me in my tracks.