Page 29 of Wrong Pawn. Right Capo.

“In other words, you’re building a legacy.” Whoever this man is, he’s fond of interrupting.

“Yes. A beauty legacy.”

“Miss Rossi, do you know what it means to build a legacy? The commitments required of you?”

I take a pause. Of course, I have an idea; I was born in the mafia, after all. There, the sacrifices made to build an empire are blood and fury. Here, it’s the dedication of your life itself.

“Yes. I do.”

He sighs on the other end. “I’ll talk to the other partners about your request and get back to you shortly.”

“Thank you very much…”

“Thank you,” he responds, the line clicking dead. He sounded like he was really going to consider what I said. I know my project manager would have my head for contacting them on my own, but I wanted to, and now I have.

***

A few minutes later, we arrive at the villa. Iron gates open up to the cream-stucco villa with wide verandas and a shaded courtyard.

“Miss Elena, welcome to the Rossi villa…” A concierge walks briskly toward me, a professional smile fixed on her lips. I thank her, walking beside her as she signals for the butler to grab my bags. “My name is Alessia. Master Enzo instructed me to help you settle in.” She turns to Adrian, “And you must be…?”

“The one who keeps her alive,” he mutters dryly. Annoyance flares in my chest as I whirl around to the concierge.

“Pardon his manners. He’s just my bodyguard. And he has a flair for drama.” I smile sweetly, feeling his heated stare burning holes in the back of my head.

The concierge clearly looks uncomfortable, so she nods firmly and walks ahead, showing us around the villa. But I’m boiling, so I slow my step to be side by side with Adrian.

“Do you always have to show your true self?” I hiss silently.

The slight tick of his jaw is the only response I get. And I hate it. I hate how he gets on my nerves and acts like I’m the problem.

“The one who keeps her alive, really? Reducing me to a fucking damsel in distress?” My annoyance rises, and I throw a weak jab at his bicep. He stops, then he turns to me, releasing a slow, controlled breath as if dealing with a toddler.

“Reducing implies there was something substantial to begin with.”

I gasp. His words shouldn’t get to me anymore, but they do. Oh, they do!

Flashing him a scowl, I point a finger in his face and sneer. “This is verbal abuse. I could file a case against you.”

“Merely stating your current value,” he deadpans like it’s a fact. And God do I wish I had choked on that chlorine and died.

“What the hell is wro—” I stop myself, shaking my head. This fucker is driving me crazy.

“Who the fuck do you even think you are?”

There’s silence for a beat. Then he gives me a slow, annoying once-over as his lips tug into a small smirk. “The one who keeps you alive.”

I swear to God…

“Oh, I promise you, Adrian. When we get back before Enzo, you’ll choke on your wor—”

In a split second, his hand snaps out, fingers digging into my waist as he yanks me against his chest. I gasp, my heart thudding in my ears as the heat from his body seeps into my skin, but I refuse to be manhandled like this.

“Let me go,” I struggle against him, heat rising in my cheeks. He growls, then a sharp sting lands on my ass, killing the words in my throat.

What the fuck! I gasp as he narrows his eyes darkly on mine.

“You think you have power? Cute,” he rasps, his voice rough and cold against my ear. “But let me give you some news, Principessa. We’re now alone in New Orleans. So behave, or God help me, I’ll fuck you in every corner of this villa and watch the defiance die in your eyes.”