Chapter 40

I walk around naked when I am home alone, and I have more than once got myself off on the couch in full view while watching porn on his huge TV, stuck to the goddamn wall. I am not exactly shy about self-pleasuring or even just doing my yoga work out completely starkers in the lounge.

Who the hell watches the footage back? That pervy silent guard on the third floor?

Oh, my God!

My blood runs cold at the thought and I wonder if he has cameras in my bedroom? Now knowing this, how much of my time alone does he get to see and what does he do with it after?

I feel physically sick with both the thought of it and my fury bubbling like lava deep in my gut is fast combatting the initial shocked ickiness in my bones.

‘’You didn’t know, did you?’’ He looks amused and even though I am trying not to react I can see he has that uncanny Alexi trait of reading people. He also has the same smug arsehole way of finding the most inappropriate shit amusing.

‘‘No, I wasn’t aware I was living in the Big Brother house and having my every move watched by some greasy little pervert of a security goon.’’ I feel pissed, as I should. It’s so underhanded, and so much for ‘’you can trust me’’ I guess that’s what the ‘‘to an extent’’ was all about. I am absolutely fuming! Body vibrating and trying to keep still as my inner fight perks up.

‘’Alexi is the only one with access to the apartment cameras. He has a direct link to them on his devices—thumbprint activated. He can choose to have them go to sleep and only record when there is movement upstairs.’’ Yes, like me masturbating on his leather couch. Great. I hope he enjoyed the show because it’s the last one he will be getting. I should never underestimate that prick.

‘’He should have told me. It’s a complete invasion of my privacy.’’

‘’Yeah. Go tell Alexi that, and good luck.’’ Gino laughs at me and swaggers past with that same self-assured confident walk of a guy who's always been chased by women his whole life, yet I find him less attractive than his darker counterpart.

Gino is the sunny one; clearly not into the same shit as his brother and therefore probably a trustworthy and likeable fellow.

Boring.

He also isn’t a sneaky arsehole who spies on his prisoners.

I watch him walk away, a little awed at how from the back, minus the jeans and hoody, he looks exactly like him. Same broad shoulders and solid frame, same tall sexy swagger and nice tight arse, as he walks through the bar. He is effortlessly turning the heads of the new bar staff as he goes by. I lose interest as my eyes fall on the tanned broad neck and see it’s completely free of Alexi’s tell-tale dragon tattoo, that sits there growling at you all day long. It’s as fierce as he is, and without it, Gino seems decidedly dull. He just does not have that aura around him that Alexi wears like a second skin. That danger that lies below the surface, and as much as it makes me uneasy every time I see him, I realise without it Gino is not of any interest to me at all.

I always did like a bit of danger.

‘‘Miss Walters. The beer delivery is here … Where does it go again?’’ A small female voice curls around me, grabbing my attention and I turn to the small mousy wench before me. She’s been here two days and already her lack of initiative is pissing me off. She looks like an overgrown Disney character with her big eyes and over pouty mouth. Irritation biting me instantly.

‘‘How about in the cellar with all the other booze Dahling? Or is that too much of a mind stretch to figure out?’’ I raise a brow at her and get a kick of satisfaction with the shocked and then wounded expression covers her face. I know that being a bitch is unnecessary but the second you show any form of nice to these people they stop doing as they’re told and start taking advantage, getting lax. Show them not to fuck with you right away and you are less likely to have to deal with any drama. I don’t need friends or to win any popularity contests. Alexi pays me to do a job, not earn chums and I will do it without unnecessary emotional baggage.

‘‘Right. And that would be …?’’ She looks around like a dumb bimbo as though the cellar is going to be in plain sight. Can’t quite comprehend they are usually found below ground. I roll my eyes and sigh dramatically.

‘‘I’m assuming where they normally keep cellars … Under the building.’’ I exhale heavily and push past her in complete disinterest.

‘’Brandon?’’ I call out to the tall blonde, Thor lookalike, putting the new cocktail shakers on the shelf behind him.

‘’Yes, Miss Walters?’’ He turns quickly, snapping to attention with a smile and I smile back, always pleased at his over enthusiastic puppy routine. I like his eagerness and willingness to please. Mousy should take notes; instead, she’s following me like a lost child and about to get a smack in the face if she doesn’t step back a little.

‘’Over-see the beer delivery, make sure you bring the invoice up to my office when you’re done. And give Dimwit here a tour of what a basement looks like.’’

‘’Yes Ma’am,’’ he nods—that sweet little southern belle of a boy, obviously gay and I head off in search of the lift to go grace the Carrero brothers with my pleasure.