10. Massimo
Chapter ten
Massimo
I placed Alessia’s room across the hall from mine. Close to me, but not close enough.
I’m not accustomed to having to harness any of myself. If I didn’t believe in the words I fed her about having a somewhat happy relationship myself, then I would have her tied to my bed already. Claiming precisely what is mine.
The night of our engagement party, she had me so close to unraveling. I do not lose control, and I do not let myself become emotional. But her accusation of me touching any other woman beside her infuriated me. She has no idea how hard up she has me and how badly I wanted to fuck Arianna just to release some of the fucking tension Alessia’s presence alone has festered in my fucking balls. One good release, but when Arianna threw herself at me, I turned her down even though it was painful.
I sent over some of my men on move-in day, which was three days ago, but when they arrived, her brothers had already handled it and sent them away. I appreciate the protection her brothers provide her with, but she’s now my full responsibility. She’s mine to take care of.
I did give her my word that she would be able to have dinner with her family as much as she’d like, but I also told her that I’d like to spend time with her, preferably in the evenings. Yet, she has been gone every night so far, not returning until late.
My cousin Monte is on Alessia duty for the majority of the time, so before heading over to my father’s side of the estate for a quick meeting, I ask him where I might find Alessia.
Just before entering the room, I hear laughter coming from it. Alessia’s laughter, and it puts a smile on my face to hear it. It’s a girlish sound, exposing her more gentle and feminine side. The regal air around her subsiding briefly when she lights up like that.
It’s inherent for us to keep our emotions far from the surface, and I know that since Alessia is a female trying to be seen for more than just her body as a vessel, she feels as if she has to try even harder. She’s risen to prominence through her own efforts, but her irascible temper is a strong emotion she must learn to conquer.
Making my presence known, I walk into the room, and Alessia and Monte stop mid-conversation. “Massimo. I was beginning to think we would never cross paths here.” She comes to me and kisses me softly on either of my cheeks, her ambrosial scent surrounding me.
“I know I haven’t been able to see you settled in, but I’m hoping you could spare one evening to have dinner with me.” There’s a slight bite to my tone. Almost feeling jealous of her family for getting all her time.
“I suppose I could spare one night,” she says cheekily and goes to sit back down on the loveseat she was occupying. “Since I haven’t been given anything to do, I get a little stir-crazy. It can get quite lonely in a big place like this with no one to talk to. Other than my trusty guard dog,” she muses, looking at Monte, and he chuckles. The playfulness they seem to already have with one another slightly irks me.
“I thought you’d like time to settle in first.”
“I’m settled.”
“Good, then we can discuss more over dinner tonight.”
“Very well then.”
My feet are rooted to the floor as she stares back at me. Waiting for me to say something else. Daring me to. Now that I’m here with her, I don’t want to leave yet. This is my first conversation with her in days, and I’m at a loss for words.
“I have to go meet with my father, and then I have to run out for a while.”
“Sure.” She opens her book and looks down at it. As if dismissing me, and I, for some reason, want her attention back.
“Would you like to go with me?” Her head snaps up, and I elaborate. “Out, that is.” I won’t force Alessia to deal with my father’s company if she doesn’t have to. She deserves respect, and my father refuses to acknowledge that.
Her eyes dance with curiosity. “And where will we be going?”
“Out,” I state vaguely.
“And what kind of attire would this outing require?”
“Nothing you wouldn’t want to get ruined,” I muse, though she’ll only be there as a spectator.
Her eyes squint in devious appeasement. “Hmm. Okay then. I’ll go change and be waiting for you.”
“I’ll come find you when it’s time to leave.”
“Sounds good.”
Heading to my father’s office, I think about Alessia. The way she always presents herself and the confidence she emanates. Dignity and esteem glowing from the inside out making her come off solipsistic, but so secure in it that it makes everyone else a believer.
My father and I don’t work side by side like we used to. We haven’t worked in the same room in probably a decade or so. He leaves specific duties and responsibilities to me, which I execute independently. We meet a few times a week, but typically, we work separately. I even have my own businesses that he is not a part of.
Even though it had hardly been ten minutes spent with him, I still feel a pounding in my head, which I always get whenever he’s around. If it weren’t for the customary succession we all abide by, I would have ventured out on my own years ago. Breaking from my father completely.
“ Entra !” Enter ! Alessia calls out when I knock on her bedroom door.
I walk in to find her perched on the edge of her bed, pulling on a pair of boots that come up to her knees. She switched her pretty dress out for another pretty one, yet less vibrant. “Should I be packing?” she asks with one eyebrow hitched.
“If it makes you feel better but isn’t necessary.” I’m unsure if it was a test, but she stares at me for a long moment, then shrugs her shoulders and goes over to her dresser to pick up her Glock. She checks the chamber and then the safety before tucking it into her thigh holster. I drink in the olive skin there that looks smooth to the touch, anxious to mark it up.
Dropping her dress down, she grabs a light jacket and comes to stand in front of me. “Alright, I’m ready.” Her ethereal smile is indeed deceptive.
“What about you?” she asks, looking at my suit as we head downstairs.
“I don’t have any attachments to this suit.” My suit evokes a sense of functional uniformity.
We slide into the backseat, and it feels natural to be with her as if we’ve been doing this for so long. Whenever we speak, it isn’t to fill the silence. And when we’re silent, it’s comfortable.
“So, since my trainer isn’t able to come here to train me, I need a new one,” she says as we pull away from the estate.
“You can use ours. I’ll have that set up for you. Give me a time and when you’d like to start.”
“Awesome. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“So, who are we torturing today?”
I surprise everyone in the vehicle when I throw my head back and laugh out loud. “What makes you think that’s where we’re headed?” She gives me a dry look, and I shake my head in amusement. “Fair enough. There’s someone with some loose lips.” I don’t give her anything more, and she doesn’t ask. Only nods and looks out the window as if we’re driving to the park.
“So, the warehouse in the city?” I see her smile in the reflection of the tinted window.
I fix my eyes forward while giving a disapproving grunt. The warehouse is a fairly new location of ours located boldly in the city with an underground level. Not something that that was broadcasted. What else does the little vixen know that she shouldn’t? It should be unsettling, but I find myself impressed.
I keep a protective hand on the curve of her back as we enter the building, flanked by a few men. She’s still her chipper self as we head for the stairs going down. Her bravado never faltering.
The stronzo on trial thought it was a free-for-all for him and his buddies at one of our bordellos . Our bordello isn’t what you would describe as a whore house. Yes, it’s for the sex trade, but it’s where the women are prepared and trained to be auctioned off to our high clientele. Only those at the very top of the totem pole may send out invitations.
His buddies were already taken care of, but he is detained until I have personally confirmed there is more loose ends to tie up. Peeling my jacket off and rolling up my sleeves, I stand in front of the bloodied and soiled man hanging limply. His arms stretched above, tethered in chains, and his head slumped forward.
I give his cheek a few taps, which he only flinches and groans in response. “Wake him up for me, will ya?” I tell one of my men and step back. Spotting Alessia, I almost smile when I see her standing there with a lead pipe in her hand, itching to use it. I arch an eyebrow at her, and she arches hers right back with a little gleam in her eyes. “Would you like to take a crack at it, cara ?”
She slaps the lead pipe into one of her palms a few times, and my cock grows stiff in my pants. She’s fascinatingly deviant. “May I?” she asks sweetly.
I move aside and tell my guy to as well. He looks from me to Alessia, and when I release a growl from the back of my throat in warning, and he instantly moves. I’m enthralled as Alessia stalks forward with the pipe still slapping her palm. Her heels clicking on the floor, and her pretty dress swaying with her hips. She had tied her dark hair back into a sophisticated bun at the nape of her neck, her elegant features unveiled.
Without any hesitation, she speeds up her steps, cranks the pipe back, and swings forward with all her might like a baseball bat, hitting her target and kneecapping him. All you hear is the sound of bone crunching, and it works like a charm as the guy’s head snaps back, and he begins howling at the top of his lungs. Now, wide awake and alert.
The guys in the room all hiss and grimace, knowing how fucking painful kneecapping is. Alessia has this gleeful smile on her face like she’s a kid who just ate some cotton candy or some shit as she walks away from the man, and I swear she looks absolutely illusory. As if walking out of my darkest and dirtiest dream.
“You’re welcome,” she chirps, and I rub a hand over my jaw to try and hide my grin.
“You’ve done this before,” I murmur as she walks past me.
“Nope. But I have always wanted to.” She smiles at me over her shoulder, and I can’t hide the grin from my face this time.
“Little psycho,” I mutter under my breath and turn back to the still-howling man.
“I heard that!” she sing-songs from behind me, making me swallow a chuckle.
One of my guys stuffs some fabric into his mouth when he doesn’t stop squealing like a pig. “Jeremy, is it?” The guy is panting around the gag, and his eyes look wildly around the room. When they land on me, they grow twice the size. “That was a subtle wake-up call from my beautiful fiancée.” I gesture to Alessia, and his eyes bounce from her to me. “Yes, she is the one who took a pipe to your knee, which you will never get back, unfortunately. That was just her warm-up, I’m afraid.” His eyes continue to frantically look between me and my stunning queen somewhere behind me. “It’s also nothing compared to what I will do to you.”
Having Alessia there worked out better than I predicted. It’s one thing to hear the rumors about me wielding my power around in the form of torture and dismemberment; it’s another to actually witness it. I’m not the kind of boss to sit behind my desk barking orders and sending my goons out in representation of me. I’m a boss who is not reluctant of the dirty work.
Alessia was even more zealous when I let her take the pipe to his second knee. He had already begun singing like a canary once I was done with him, but I couldn’t deny her such a simple pleasure.
After I gave the orders to take care of him and his brother, Alessia and I walked right out of there, slipping into the backseat of the car like we were on a date. It’s dead silent for a few moments and I’m almost hesitant to look at her. As soon as the adrenaline wears off, she might panic.
“So, what’s for dinner tonight? I am starving .”
For the second time tonight, and the second time in God knows how long, I bark out laughter that ricochets off the windows and closed doors of the vehicle.
This woman could be the best thing that has ever happened to me, or she could be the worst.
My uprising or my downfall.
But her danger is too intoxicating to ignore.