Rosa

Chapter 30

This was supposed to be the lull after the storm.

But Rosa felt anything but restful.

From where the goateed blonde had been shot all the way to the door, a trail of blood stained the black marble floors of the VIP room. Rosa was surprised that the gunshots hadn't sent a barrage of security guards to their door. Then, it hit her: Most likely, Cristiano had paid them off ahead of time. It seemed like something he would do.

She could feel the weight of Cristiano's gaze on her. Tightly wound agitation thrummed from his being. The fierceness of his displeasure wasn't visible to the eye, but it could be felt by everyone in the vicinity. Under the laser-like intensity of Cristiano's scrutiny, Rosa almost forgot that nine other pairs of eyes were also watching her.

She tried to quiet the nerves ruling over her pounding heart as an eerie, anxious calm settled over the room.

"Come here, Rosa," Cristiano beckoned in soft tones. "Let me introduce you to everyone."

His tone was so steady. So calm. It felt all the more unsettling because Rosa was almost certain that the bastard was beyond livid with her. Yet, a man's control over his temper, Rosa learned over the years, was often a good gage for his true character.

She took a tentative step towards Cristiano, not knowing what to expect from him.

As though nothing was amiss between them, Cristiano gestured to the brown-haired man, the one with a lisp, and declared in brusque, all-business tones, "Marcello works all the tech angles for me. He is also the one who hacked the hotel room key for your assignment."

Rosa smiled at Marcello and murmured, "Thank you. You are fucking brilliant."

Blushing a little, Marcello mumbled back, "It was nothing."

Clearing his throat loudly, Cristiano pointed at the mean-looking bruiser. "This is Giorgio. I have known him since I was a boy. He can kill a man with his bare hands. I bring him everywhere."

For a second, Rosa considered whether or not Giorgio might have a higher body count than her?

As one killer to another, she gave Giorgio a polite nod of acknowledgment. "Enchantée."

Nice to meet you.

He nodded back.

Cristiano glanced at the two blonde dancers. "Clarisse and Evita work at Vosa's clubs back in Catanzaro. They came along this time to help in Madrid."

Rosa offered them a warm greeting. "You were both very impressive tonight."

"Likewise," Evita, the green-eyed blonde, purred in a flirtatious manner. "You handled yourself very well."

Clarisse, the brown-eyed blonde, was much less friendly, grunting, "Hmph."

Over the next few minutes, Rosa learned from Cristiano that Favio, Manolo, and the younger man with tattoos, Raul, were his most trusted allies in Madrid, and Lola was Vosa's ex-girlfriend, who now oversaw various parts of his businesses around Europe.

Cristiano then proceeded to present Rosa to the group. "Everyone. Meet Rosa. She will be working with us now. Show her respect. Or answer to me."

"You got it, boss," grunted Giorgio.

"Your wish is our command, Massera," drawled Lola.

"Il rispetto va guadagnato," Clarisse remarked under her breath.

Cristiano cast Clarisse a dirty look. "What the fuck did I just say?"

Clarisse flashed him a simpering look. "Sorry. Slip of the tongue. It will not happen again."