Rosa

Chapter 29

Danger mounted with each passing second. Rosa quickly determined that there seemed to be four different factions in the room.

First—there was Cristiano, Marcello, and the mean-looking bruiser.

Second—Rodrigo and the goateed blonde.

Then—Manolo, Favio, and a twenty-something tatted Spaniard.

Finally—the three female strippers appeared to be standing on mostly neutral territory.

It felt crucial to keep these alliances in mind. If she were to attack one individual, then his allies would likely retaliate against her.

Rosa then shifted her attention back to Cristiano and Rodrigo. Anxiety trickled through her nerves. The hot, incensed emotion she had caught in Cristiano's devil-black eyes had since cooled down, giving way to a manner of absolute indifference.

Was this the lull before the storm?

Cristiano told Rodrigo point-blank, "She is her own bitch. Not mine to give. Too fucking expensive."

Cristiano cast Rosa a sideways glance. "I believe you already have another job lined up for tonight, no?"

They shared a conspiratorial look. Clearly, he was trying to worm his way out of this tricky situation.

"I do," Rosa murmured, choosing to play along. "My other client is expecting me after this gig."

It was as though she hadn't spoken. Rodrigo ignored her as anger contorted his scarred face.

He hissed, "Do not deny me what I want, Massera, and do not take me for a fool. You may have Vosa in your corner, but you two would be nothing without me!"

Upon hearing this, Rosa assessed that the two men's pissing contest had little to do with her. Rodrigo's request to fuck her tonight was purely a power play. All for show. To take something that he knew Cristiano didn't want to give up. To knock his opponent's stature down a few notches in front of their allies.

"Her client is not someone we can afford to offend," Cristiano warned softly.

Rodrigo's displeasure darkened even more. "Who the hell is he, then?"

With a submissive expression, Rosa sat silent and still while Cristiano lied to the scarred man, "An enemy of an enemy."

Rodrigo shot back, "Would that not make him our friend?"

"An enemy is only a friend," Cristiano confirmed through a narrow gaze, "until you take a bitch that he wants for himself. Then, you become a dead man."

Rosa could only assume that Cristiano was referring to himself rather than her imaginary client. Her temples began to ache. This dick measuring contest was getting out of hand.

Rodrigo snarled, "Is that a threat?"

Cristiano gave a noncommittal grunt and supplied in mocking tones, "You tell me... my friend."

From the corner of her eye, Rosa saw Rodrigo's blonde lackey reach inside his blazer, very likely, to draw his weapon again.

She noticed that Marcello's hand was also creeping towards his gun.

Fuck.

At this rate, bullets might fly within seconds. She had no desire to get shot this evening. Rosa decided to intervene. It was time to relax the tension in the room by stroking a few trigger-happy egos and cocks.

Sweetly, Rosa offered to Rodrigo, "I would be happy to send you another girl. A better, more expensive bitch than me. Or I can dance for you. On the house. Right now."