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I grit my teeth. God, he’s insufferable. I stare at him, hoping I can find a way out of talking, but the determination on his face says it all. There’s no way out of this.
“Fine,” I grumble. “You can eat, and we can talk. Once you’re finished, you’re gone. You killed three men, Alessio. Three,” I remind him. I may be a lot of things, but I’m not stupid. Him staying here is only going to lead trouble to my door. “Those men were part of the Russian Bratva. They don’t just let shit like thatslide. The Russians are going to want revenge, and I would very much like not to be part of that equation.”
That smug smile seems to be etched on his face. “Yeah, I understand that, and I will get out of your hair, but I need to know how you know the men I killed were Russian?”
Fuck. I really need to think before I speak. I can’t do this shit. I can’t be careless anymore. If he finds out who Joe is to me, then it could be leverage for him to have Joe do shit. Or even for him to try and take Joe’s territory.
“The doctor who patched you up, he told me they were Russian. He wanted to make sure I knew just who you were. So, what did you do to piss them off?”
My words don’t seem to faze him. He carelessly shrugs. “I was dating the Russian boss's wife years ago, long before they were together. I cheated on her, and now Nikolai’s out for revenge.”
I shake my head. God this man is such a prick.
“Okay, so you’re a wanker. What’s new? I’ve barely spoken to you, and I already know how much of a prick you are. That doesn’t mean someone should kill you.”
He crosses his arms over his chest, looking every bit the gorgeous asshole he is.
“I don’t get it. You said you cheated on this woman years ago, so why now?”
I hate things that don’t make sense. I always have to know the why’s and the how’s. It’s just the way I am.
He shrugs, seemingly uncaring that someone is out for his blood. “That’s the thing about the Bratva, they’re unpredictable. They just love violence and blood.”
I can’t help the giggle that escapes me.
“They can’t help it?” I question. “Coming from the man who killed three men singlehandedly; the one who’s walking aroundlike he’s ready to go ten rounds in a boxing ring, even though he’s still injured.”
He shrugs. “Look, little girl, things happen, and you just have to deal with them. I was shot and stabbed. It’s not the end of the world. I’m still alive. I’m gonna be fine. You, on the other hand…” he says as he glares at me.
My blood goes cold at his words. Fuck, what the hell have I done?
“You have so much to answer for. Firstly, why did you help me?”
I’m as truthful as I can be without exposing myself. “I honestly don’t know why I helped you. It’s a question I’ve been asking myself ever since I dragged you into my car. I knew the moment I did that, it was a mistake. By then, things had gone too far. I had to do it.” I take a deep breath and continue. “I couldn’t let you die, knowing you were injured. That’s not who I am.”
He tilts his head as he stares at me. “Why don’t I believe you?”
Anger swiftly rises through me. “That sounds like ayouproblem,” I tell him heatedly. “You don’t believe me? There’s nothing I can do about it. I’m telling you what happened. I can’t let someone die. That’s just who I am. You’re okay with taking a life? I’m not.”
I turn my back to him and continue cooking. “You were injured. If I had left you in that alleyway bleeding out, you would have died. The street was empty, Alessio. It took me twenty minutes to drag you into my car and not one person or car came down that street. Something was going to happen, and I couldn’t let it, okay?” I release a huff, annoyed that he’s questioning me. “So how about instead of asking all these questions, you just say thank you?”
“Thank you,” he says, and it actually sounds as though he means it. “You know my name, it’d be nice to know yours.”
“Gabriella,” I tell him, instantly wishing I had given him a fake name. “My name is Gabriella Sanchez, and you are Alessio Bianchi, youngest brother of Dante Bianchi—the head of the Italian Mafia. So do you understand why I want you out of here?”
He comes to stand beside me, and I really wish he didn’t.
“I understand why you’d want me gone, Gabriella. But you should know a man like me takes orders from no one.”
“Except for your brother,” I say. Christ, I really need a bloody filter.
His chuckle is deep and husky, and my chest warms at the sound. “You really let your mouth run wild, don’t you?”
I nod. “I can’t help it. I always say things I shouldn’t. Besides, you’ll be gone soon, so it really doesn’t matter.”
The look that enters those amber eyes of his tells me he’s planning something. Alessio is a dangerous mystery, one I should steer clear of, but there’s just something about him that makes me want to uncover just who he is.
“Hmm,” he says as he moves away from me. “Seems you’re in the know of a lot that goes on in my world.” I glance over my shoulder, fear gripping my throat in a chokehold. What’s he getting at? I watch as he takes a seat, not even a fucking wince out of him as he does so.
