The Legend of de Marco by Abby Green Read Free Book Online Page B

link to Steven. And there was no way she was going to leave her brother to face this man’s wrath alone when they did find him.
    Gracie straightened her spine and drew herself up, determined to regain some measure of control amidst this awful powerlessness. ‘If I’m going to be your housekeeper then I want the same amount that I was being paid in the bar. I have to keep my student loan repayments up.’
    Rocco crushed down his surprise at her visible decision to stay without a fight and tried to ignore the prickling of his conscience. If she was guilty wouldn’t she be doing her best to persuade him to let her go so she could meether brother? And, also, why would she have been stupid enough to come where Steven worked? Rocco crushed the questions. She was up to something—probably just acting this way so that he
would
doubt her guilt.
    Curious despite himself, he asked tightly how much she’d been paid and waited for her to triple the amount, which he had no intention of paying. Not with a million euros missing.
    Gracie mentioned a figure and Rocco had to stop his shock from registering on his face. Her expression was so guileless and innocently defiant that he found himself inexplicably agreeing to pay her the pathetic sum, and had to wonder if that was even the minimum wage.
    Gracie watched as Rocco pulled pen and paper out of a drawer and scrawled a couple of numbers and names on it before putting it into her numb hand.
    ‘That’s my executive assistant’s number if you need to get me. I’ll be in meetings all day on the other side of the city. You can use the phones in the apartment.’ His eyes flashed. ‘Needless to say, any calls to your brother will be recorded. I’ve also written down my old housekeeper’s number, so you can call to consult with her on what I’ll expect.’
    Gracie looked down at the paper and then heard his mocking voice.
    ‘My main head of security is positioned right outside this apartment and he can see every movement in and out of the building. If you attempt to leave you’ll merely be brought back.’
    She looked back and held up the paper, muttering caustically, ‘You mean I don’t have a direct line to God?’
    Rocco smiled and it was wicked, making Gracie’s heart-rate and body temperature soar.
    ‘I reserve my private number for people I wish to speak to—not miscreants and thieves.’
    His words had an instant effect on Gracie, causing a hot flush of anger to rise when she thought of the long struggle she and her brother had faced to drag themselves out of their adverse circumstances. ‘You know nothing about me.
Nothing.
’
    His eyes turned cool. ‘I know all I need to know. Keep out of trouble until I see you again.’
    Gracie watched as he turned and strode away, and shamingly her anger drained away as she found herself wondering what kind of person someone like Rocco would want to give his private number to and speak with in low, intimate tones.
    Anger at her wayward imagination made her call defiantly after him, ‘Don’t think you can get away with this. You’re nothing but an … autocratic megalomaniac.’
    Rocco turned around and Gracie’s heart stuttered to a halt when she saw the anger on his face. Fear gripped her, but it was fear because of her helpless physical response to him. This awful weak yearning he effortlessly precipitated.
    ‘If you’re so concerned then by all means call the police. And while you’re onto them you can fill them in on your brother’s recent activities. I’m sure they’ll be delighted to hear about his progress in the real world since prison.’
    Gracie gulped. She felt sick. ‘You know I can’t do that.’
    In that moment Gracie could see the long lineage of aristocratic forebears stamped onto Rocco’s arrogant features. He had her all boxed up and judged and right where he wanted her.
    ‘Well, then, you’d better get acquainted with this apartment—because it’s your home for the forseeable future.’
    After