Page 56 of Corrado

“I didn’t say me. I said you.”

“That’s not the same thing. The assignment is on the table, and it was given to you. That’s what matters. There is no whether or not you want it, or if you would rather stand there and argue with me over my feelings … you take that folder, and you do the job you were given. It’s that simple, Les.”

But was it?

He didn’t think so, not after knowing he’d asked for a job since before he turned eighteen, and here he was almost two months later, still wondering why now was the time Dare finally gave him a job. It rubbed him the wrong way, and he wasn’t entirely done with this conversation, but for now, he also didn’t get a choice.

Dare was right.

The job was given to him.

The file was there.

He had to take it.

Alessio snatched the folder up from the desk, and turned to leave the office without another word. He didn’t have anything else to say when it was already done, after all.

Dare made him hesitate with, “And the cameras to your rooms have been permanently turned off, by the way.”

“Oh?”

“I didn’t think to mention it, but … you seem to be busy with something, you know.”

Something.

Someone.

Same difference.

“I appreciate it,” Alessio said, not turning around.

“You know the rules, Les.”

Yeah, yeah.

Don’t let it affect The League.

All that good shit.

“I got it,” he muttered, leaving the office altogether.

How could he not?

What time did Corrado finally stumble into Alessio’s room? Well, he wasn’t sure, but it was far too early in the morning for him to be making that much noise.

The clock on the nightstand said four.

In the morning.

Alessio was still trying to grumble his way back to sleep when the bed dipped after the shuffling of Corrado shedding his clothes to the floor woke him up in the first damn place. “I know you have your own bed, asshole.”

Corrado chuckled. “Yours is firmer.”

Well …

“Is it?”

“Maybe. And warmer.”