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He glances down at me, the amusement ebbing into the darkness. “Are you sure you’re okay?” His voice deepens, and the fear I’ve been trying to smother all day comes rushing back.
I blink quickly, the rough edge to his tone shooting cracks through the wall I built years ago and reinforced last night with everything I have. “Yeah, I’m fine,” I finally manage. “Maisy and I will have a girl’s night—”
Dante raises his hand. “At home. All night.”
“Yes, yes, of course. We’ll watch a movie and eat popcorn or something totally PG.”
He grunts. “Why do I have a feeling you’re more of a rated-R kind of girl, Rosa?”
Damn, it’s freaky how well this man knows me. “Guess you’ll never know now, will you, D?”
The corners of his lips curl, and that wicked glimmer lights up his dark eyes. “Take care of yourself, sweetheart.” He turns toward the car before spinning back. “Oh, one more thing, if I find out something happened with that psycho and you don’t call me immediately, it won’t just be him who will get punished.”
A shiver races down my spine at the violent edge to his tone, and it has nothing to do with fear.
“Do you understand, Rosa?”
I nod, chomping down on my bottom lip to keep myself from saying something completely inappropriate. Like how much I want him to spank me.
“And Merry Christmas.”
“You too, D. Although, I didn’t think they let the devil celebrate.” I shoot him a cheeky grin, and he rewards me with a heart-stopping smile. Damn that man for being so gorgeous.
His scalding gaze trails after me as I dart up the brick steps and press the buzzer. Maisy appears with a smile, and the tension eating away at my insides starts to dissipate at her reassuring grin. I glance back over my shoulder as Maisy escorts me in, and those dark eyes are still pinned to mine. They remain locked on their target until the door finally closes behind me.
CHAPTER13
SENDING A MESSAGE
Dante
“That’s right, Dr. Mark Rattinger.” I hiss out thefiglio di puttana’s name to another colleague of mine over the phone as I walk up Park Avenue. I have every lowlife in the city looking out for the motherfucker. His practice is closed for the holidays, he hasn’t been home since yesterday, and every second that passes with the guy in the wind has my blood pressure skyrocketing.
The nail marks in my palm have become permanent engravings in the twenty-four hours since Rose was attacked. I don’t know what pisses me off more: that I can’t find the asshole or that I’m actually considering keeping my vow to Rose. I never should’ve promised I wouldn’t kill the slimy bastard. Because the truth is, I want to paint that man’s fancy uptown practice in his blood.
I eye the luxurious building across the street. I’ve been camped outside his office for hours and no luck. According to my sources, the good doctor owns the penthouse on the top floor while his practice sits on the third. He hasn’t been in or out.
Even if Mark wasn’t the one who attempted to rape her, he’s still been a freaky fuck stalking her for weeks. My fingers curl into fists again, ripping open the scabs on my palm. I should’ve done something all those months ago when Rose first told us about the guy. She played it off like she does all things she doesn’t want to deal with, and I’d bought into it.
I’d seen it firsthand today, that desire in her eyes when we were in the car. It was all a coping mechanism. Rose uses sex as a distraction, much like I do. Ha, and my therapist thinks I never listen to anything she says.
My cock stirs at the memory of her warm body pressed against mine. Damn, why’d I pick out that scandalous workout top and those curve-hugging yoga pants from her dresser? Just one look at her bouncy ass had me hard as shit. I keep picturing her folded over my bed, my cock driving into her pussy from behind as I palm those perfect cheeks.Dio, if I only hadn’t fucked everything up with her that night.
My phone buzzes, jerking me from the heated memories, and I yank it out of my pocket and scan the screen.
Tony:Nothing from Feng. You sure you want to start this?
Fuck. As if I don’t have enough problems with the Red Dragons. I should be dealing with Jianjun instead of surveilling a sketchy surgeon.
Me:Yes. I’m not going back on my word. Everyone needs to know what happens when you fuck with the Kings. One Red Dragon every day. Start tonight.
Tony:Will do, D.
Before I tuck my phone back into my jacket, I shoot off a quick text message to Aldo. I need someone else to take over surveillance duty. I’ve got more pressing matters to attend to. Only a few days as interim CEO of King Industries and already I want to gouge my eyes out. The quicker I deal with Feng, the faster I can get Luca back here. I may want to sit on the King’s throne, but my little bro can take the boardroom.
“Dante, I thought that was you.” An irritatingly sweet voice rings out down the street, and I mutter a curse as she approaches.
“Ah, Caroline.” I drop a quick kiss to her cheek when she leaps for me. “What a lovely surprise.”
