Page 3 of Alessio DeLuca

He nods, eyes glinting. “Yes, boss. And the others?”

I wave a hand, dismissing them with a flick of my wrist. “Deal with them. Send a message that the DeLucas are not to be fucked with.”

He nods again, a cruel smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Yes, boss.”

* * *

I lean back in my chair, studying the girl in front of me with a mix of curiosity and rage. She’s so fucking young, barely out of her teens by the looks of it, with a defiant tilt to her chin and a spark of intelligence in her dark eyes. Her hair is a wild tangle of curls, her clothes threadbare and ill-fitting, but there’s something about her that commands my attention. Fuck me. This fucking kid just tried stealing millions from me and I’m fucking intrigued?

Maybe it’s the way she meets my eyes head-on, without showing a trace of fear or submission. Or maybe it’s the fact that she managed to breach our iron-clad security, something that should have been impossible. Yeah, our I.T. guy is a fucking dead man walking.

Either way, she’s piqued my interest.

I study the girl more closely, taking in the hollows of her cheeks and the dark circles under her eyes. She’s thin, too thin, like she hasn’t had a decent meal in weeks. And there’s a wariness to her, a guarded edge that speaks of a hard life and harder lessons learned.

Something stirs in my chest, an unfamiliar feeling that I quickly suppress. I can’t afford to feel sorry for this girl, no matter how sad her story might be. She’s was a fucking threat, dammit! And threats must be dealt.

But as I look at her, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to her. She’s insanely smart, and she’s got guts. What kid would try to take on someone like me? Maybe with the right training, the right motivation…

She stares at me. I can see the wheels turning in her head.

She swallows hard, her fingers clenching into fists at her sides. I can see the battle raging behind her eyes, fight or flight.

I find myself studying her more closely. The way she holds herself, the fire in her eyes… there’s a strength to her, a resilience I can’t help but admire.

She’s a fucking survivor. And survivors are exactly the kind of people I need in my organization.

But there’s something else, too. A flicker of attraction, a spark of heat I can’t completely ignore. What the fuck, DeLuca?! She’s beautiful, in a wild, untamed sort of way. And the thought of breaking her, of bending her to my will… it sends a thrill of excitement through my veins. Fucking get yourself together, Alessio!

I push the thought away, my jaw clenching. I can’t afford to let myself be distracted by a pretty face with a big brain and a sharp tongue. She’s a potential asset, nothing more. A tool that could be used and discarded when we’re done with her.

But I can’t shake the feeling that Maty Soto is going to be more trouble than I bargained for.

* * *

Maty

He’s a legend in the underworld, a man whispered about in dark corners and seedy back rooms. They say he’s ruthless, that he stops at nothing to get what he wants. That he’s got a heart as cold as the steel of a gun.

But as I’m shoved into his office, I realize the rumors don’t do him justice. Alessio DeLuca sitting behind a massive mahogany desk, his suit impeccably tailored to his broad shoulders and trim waist. His dark blond hair slicked back, chiseled features set in a mask of cold fury. But it’s his eyes that catch me, piercing blue and filled with a calculating intelligence that sends a shiver down my spine.

“So,” he says, voice low and gravelly. “You’re the little hacker who thought she could steal from me.”

I lift my chin, trying to project a confidence I don’t feel. “Guess you shouldn’t have made it so easy.”

His lips twitch into a cruel smirk. “Cute. But I don’t appreciate having my time wasted by kids.”

Anger flares in my chest, hot and bright. “I’m not a kid!”

He raises an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. “That so? Then how did you end up here, little girl?”

I clench my jaw, hating the way my cheeks flush. “Even the best can make mistakes.”

“Mmm.” He stands, the movement fluid and graceful despite his bulk. “Well, lucky for you, I’m a believer in second chances. I’m willing to overlook this little… transgression. On one condition.”

My heart hammers against my ribs. “And what’s that?”

“You work for me.” He steps out from behind the desk, circling me like a shark scenting blood in the water. “Put those skills of yours to use for the DeLuca family. And in return, I’ll let you live. I’ll even pay you for your trouble.”

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