4. She’s Trouble

ROCCO

I woke to screaming.

Shot out of bed, heart hammering, mind going straight to Giuseppina. Didn't even think—hand went to the nightstand, found the Beretta 92. Checked the clip. Safety. Moved with the precision they'd drilled into me over years in this life. Glock 19 in the back of my waistband, familiar weight against my spine.

Out the door. Dark corridor. Silent steps to her room. Tried the handle—locked. Braced to kick it in, leg already raised—

Another scream. Downstairs.

Switched direction instantly. Took the stairs three at a time, adrenaline burning. Hit the lobby and saw it: some shithead with a ski mask trying to rob the place. Receptionist cornered, shaking.

“The fuck is this?”

He spun around. Eyes went wide when he saw me. Beretta steady in my hand, pointed right at his chest. I stepped forward, watching every twitch.

“Drop the money and get out before I fill you with lead.” Low. Slow. Advancing.

He hesitated. One stupid second of courage, made a move to run—

I shot the ceiling. The bang echoed through the lobby. He froze. Hands shaking.

“Drop. The. Gun.”

He dropped it. Metal clattered on tile. I was on him in seconds, disarmed him, shoved him against the wall.

“Listen close. You're going to walk out that door and never come back. If I hear you're anywhere near here again, I'll personally rip your guts out and hang you with them. Understand?”

He nodded. Fast. Eyes like saucers.

“Now disappear.” I shoved him hard. He stumbled, caught himself, ran for the door—tripping over his own feet the whole way.

The receptionist was still shaking, staring at me like I'd grown a second head.

“Thank you, sir.” Voice trembled.

I nodded. Nothing else. No warmth.

“Gotta check something upstairs.”

Went back up. Knocked on her door. Hard.

“Giuseppina. Open the door. Now.”

Patience gone. Tried the handle on instinct—

It opened.

I stared at it for half a second. Didn't hesitate. Pulled the Glock from my waistband. Two hands. Feet planted. Weapon up. Arms extended, finger off the trigger but ready. Moved inside slow, eyes sweeping, senses cranked to max.

Hit the light.

Bed unmade. Empty.

Heart stopped.

I scanned the room—then something moved above me. Caught it in the wardrobe mirror. There she was. Upside down. Legs wrapped around a pipe in the ceiling. Swinging gently. Her head came level with mine. She smiled. That fucking smile.

“Hey, baby. Sleep well?”

“WHAT the hell are you doing up there?”

“Having fun.” Swinging. Pendulum slow.

I turned my head. Our faces were inches apart. Her lips—pink, parted—right there. My body reacted. Instant. Desire punched through me, and I knew she saw it. Her smile turned wicked.

“You know I like living dangerously.” Whispered. Lips almost touched mine.

The closeness. The game. Made me want to throw it all away and just—

I pulled air in. Forced control.

“Get down.” My voice came out rougher than I meant. Holstered the Glock. Reached for her.

She grabbed my arm. Dropped. Landed on her feet in front of me.

Walked past me toward the wardrobe, casual as anything. Opened it.

“Hey, did you hear those screams?”

“Yeah. That's why I left.” I watched her. “Some loser tried to rob the place.”

She turned. Eyebrows up.

“The receptionist okay?”

I nodded.

“She’s fine. Had a talk with him. He left.”

“A talk?” She laughed. Then her eyes shifted. Serious. “You didn't answer me. How was your night? Sleep well, Rocco?”

Heavy sigh.

“Like anyone could sleep with you pulling stunts at 3 AM.”

“Oh, don't be dramatic. I didn't give you that much trouble.”

“You snuck out. Came back wasted. If something happened to you—”

“You have no idea what boredom does to me. And I wasn't that wasted.”

“No?”

“No. I remember everything. The color of your towel. Your tattoos. Your face every time I got close.”

Half smile. I kept my face blank. Pretended it didn't hit.

“You know what feels really good in the morning?”

“What?”

“Being horny.”

I breathed out. Long. Slow. This woman...

“Cool. And I feel like going home and handing you back to your brother.”

“You're so serious, Rocco. Can't you enjoy the trip?”

“Enjoying the trip means getting you home in one piece.”

She walked toward me. Close. Smirk on her face.

“I like a little excitement. And you know I'm messing with you, right?”

She winked.

“Your brother wouldn't like it.”

“Alessandro doesn't have to know everything, does he?”

Inches away. Hand came up. Finger traced a circle on my chest. Eyes locked on mine. Challenging.

I couldn't lie—she was beautiful. And it was working.

“Be ready in twenty minutes. We're leaving.”

I grabbed her hand. Pulled it away. Firm.

“You really know how to ruin things.” Fake disappointment.

“And you really know how to test my patience. Twenty minutes, Giuseppina. Then we're on the road.”

Turned. Walked for the door.

A pillow hit my back.

“IT'S DIANA, YOU IMBECILE!”