AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.

I hadn’t meant that.

The words weren’t supposed to slip out of my lips, but she’d triggered my anger.

Had pushed me with her persistent questions.

I’d given an instruction, and all she had to do was follow it without any questions asked.

Her eyes twitched after I’d told her that, and I saw the tears that threatened to blind her vision. She’d begun to shiver, her lips quivering as she took steps backward to retreat.

“Great,” she didn’t sound like ...