Page 18 of Sin City Obsession

The guard settled both hands heavily on his belt, as if the big plastic stick or the taser gun holstered at his hips would jump out and chase them off. “You don’t get to waltz in hereand do whatever the hell you want,” he said sharply. “This is a place of business.”

Rocco flexed his fists at his sides. “Hard for us to conduct our business when you aren’t man enough to let us through. Why don’t you sit back down and wait until someone jerks on that leash, hm?”

The guard’s nostrils flared and his scarred lip curled.

Suddenly Alessa was shouldering her way between Rocco and Em. There was still some commotion going on in the heart of the lobby, but nothing sounded like it had escalated. Alessa aimed herself right at the mouthy guard. “You Louis?”

Rocco blinked.

The guard’s mouth opened. He drew a breath. “The fuck?”

Alessa repeated her question with slow, carefully enunciated words, the way one might if they were speaking to someone who struggled to understand the language. “Are you Louis?”

Rocco’s lips twitched.

The guard’s brow furrowed. “You sound like you’re from Jersey,” he said. “You got that … nasal pitch.” He raked his eyes over her. “You sure don’t got the look, though.”

“Born and bred. Sorry to disappoint.” There wasn’t an ounce of apology in Alessa’s tone. “Listen, Louis, I just need—”

“Lou,” the guard interrupted, grinding out the word through clenched teeth.

Rocco wasn’t sure if it was only his imagination, or if he actually felt her roll her eyes in response.

“Great.” Alessa raised her phone to shoulder height, screen out. “The nice receptionist back there told me you could help me identify this guy.”

Lou’s brow furrowed until it was nearly a singular, deep V on his forehead. “Some people don’t know what they think they know.”

Uh-huh.Rocco shifted his weight in a deliberate movement. “And some people don’t know when it’s a good idea to start talking.”

“Fuck you,” Lou snapped back. He cut a glare between them. “And get out.”

“Not until you tell me about this man,” Alessa said firmly. “You obviously know him.”

“That a crime?”

“I don’t give a shit if it is.” She shoved her phone practically into his face, until he couldn’t look elsewhere without moving his entire body. “Verify what I think I know for me. Tell me something new, something interesting. The sooner you play nice, the sooner we disappear.”

Rocco saw the guard’s hand twitch, but instead of raising it against her, he curled it into a fist and spoke again.

This time, he spoke with a cold smirk. “You wanna know somethin’ interesting? Ralph’s in your neck o’ the woods on work right now. Won’t be back for another couple weeks probably. You’d have better luck takin’ the next plane home, sweetheart.”

Rocco locked his jaw, firmly reminding himself not to step on her toes while she did her job.

Alessa lowered her phone. “You’re disappointing me, Lou. I know where Ralph is. I know what he’s doing out there. And I know he’s going to fail miserably.”

Lou heaved a breath. “The fuck does that mean?”

“It means if we really want to resolve this situation,” Alessa said, her tone remaining remarkably level as Lou leaned forward, “I need to speak with your buddy’s boss. Who I’m betting is also your boss, isn’t he, Lou? Can you tell me where I can find that man?”

Lou’s face hardened. “Mr. Gwathney don’t talk to uppity bitches like you. Fuck off.”

An actual growl pulled from the depths of Rocco’s chest. He ignored the startled stares from his men in favor of keeping his glare on Lou. “I thought I told you to watch your fucking mouth.”

Lou cut him an annoyed stare. “Hah?”

Alessa talked over both of them with a single, pointed question. “Is Ralph a quitter, Lou?”

Lou stared at her for a long, heavy moment, his eyes dark. Then he squared his oversized shoulders and suddenly projected his voice as if he were shouting at distant targets. “I said get the hell out before I throw you out, you fuckin’ scam artists!”

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