Page 27 of Rejected By My Shifter Billionaire
Alessandro
ALESSANDRO CAREFULLYwiped the blood from his knuckles, staring coldly at the carnage before him. None of them were dead, but none of them were conscious, either. It didn't bother him either way. All the wolves before him were rogues, either exiled by the Lyccan Council or criminals on the loose. All of them had also been paid to ambush his brother, with the highest reward paid to whoever was able to behead Domenico Moretti.
Alessandro looked up when he heard his twin approaching.
"How did you find out about the ambush?" Alejandro asked as he stopped next to his brother. The two of them were both bloodied and battered, their fighting prowess put to the test by having to fight off three dozen Lyccans intent on gatecrashing Domenico's supposedly secret meeting with the Castellano pack leader.
"My spies," Alessandro answered briefly. "You?"
"The same. Do you think Domenico knows about it?"
"It doesn't matter if he does." Alessandro's lips twisted. "I'm afraid our big brother still wouldn't have fought them off even if they had come at him armed with knives and guns."
Both of them fell silent after. It was strange, the way they were identical in almost every way. And yet, when Domenico Moretti had his downfall, the twins’ way of dealing with it had been completely different. Alejandro exacted retribution against the men who attempted to shame the Moretti’s heir apparent by fucking their wives, girlfriends, or any other woman who mattered to them. Alessandro, on the other hand, didn’t bother with something as subtle. He simply used his fists, and if hedidn’t have the Lyccan Council riding on his back and watching his every move, he would have happily kept using them.
Above them, the sky continued to change colors, dawn making way for morning. The sight made Alessandro shake his head. They had been fighting for almost twenty-four hours.
“You should go. I can take care of this.”One of the men on the ground started to stir as his twin spoke, but Alejandro promptly kicked the man back to unconsciousness. "I'll make sure the Council doesn’t have any reason to believe you’re involved.”
Having his twin cover up for him didn’t sit well with Alessandro. “I can handle them.”
"I know you can," Alejandro said impatiently, "but that's not the point here. You’re already treading on dangerous ground with the Council. I’m not. I can afford a sanction, but you...it might not be enough for them.”
When his twin didn’t continue, Alessandro said grimly, “You mean they could cage me.” It was one of the worst punishments meted out for their kind and was reserved for the most grievious offences.
Alejandro nodded shortly. “We can’t afford to lose any one of us. This intended ambush on Domenico is proof of it, and I have a feeling it won’t be the last.” He paused. "Also, I heard from the girls—-"
Alessandro groaned.
It had his twin raising a brow even as he continued, "You brought a girl home last night?"
Alessandro didn't answer.
His twin smirked. "That's usually not your style, brother."
"Shut up."
“What excuse did you give for leaving her in the middle of the night?”
“I didn’t.”
Alejandro’s eyes whistled. “That’s cold.”
He bristled at the insult. “I did leave her a note.”
“That’s crass.”
He scowled. “Are you itching for a fight?”
Alejandro laughed. “That’s always been your role, not mine.” Not at all bothered by the menacing glint in his twin’s eyes, Alejandro started circling the men on the ground. “All I’m saying is that you must have felt something more than usual for the girl to have brought her home.” Spotting another man starting to stir, he landed a swift but powerful kick to the man’s temple.
Alessandro crouched down on one knee. “What’s your point then?” As he spoke, he did his share of knocking everyone back to unconsciousness with quick jabs to the wolves’ foreheads. He didn’t have to ask what Alejandro was doing since this was SOP for cleanup. Captives were easier to transport to prison when they were immobilized or, even better, insensible.
Alejandro landed another kick before answering. “Thatwasmy point.”
Alessandro glanced up at his twin with a frown. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“Domenico’s wife left him because he was an asshole. Now, heartbreak’s turned him into a lovesick fool.” Alejandro looked at him meaningfully. “You’re about to tread on the same path. Either cut yourself loose now before you fall too hard...or stop being an asshole if you think it’s too late.”
