<b>74 </b>
‘And they didn’t know there was a woman in the car and not a man<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“I don’t fucking know,” he snaps, not bothering to apologize as he normally would. “My point is, just because it wasn’t <b>us </b>doesn’t mean it wasn’t somebody else who worked with us at the time.”
Now he’s got my attention. “Somebody who wanted to take the pressure off of us because he was stirring shit up, and their association with us could get them caught up in the investigation.
“Exactly. I mean, how many associates do you work with? How many deals have you put together over the years<b>? </b>It could have been any of them.”
“And, of course, if he ended up ming anybody, it would be me,” muse. “Since he wasn’t after them, per se.”
“In the end, it might scare him away. Thus it wouldn’t blow back on them.”
“And if it didn’t scare him away?”
“They knew he had a wife,” he murmurs. “What else did they know about him?”
<b>I </b>can’t bring myself to entertain the thought. What if it had been Caterina? A man, cruel and cold–blooded enough to murder an innocent woman, probably wouldn’t back away from the idea of killing a kid.
“Fuck me. I’m actually pissed I didn’t think of this sooner.”
“Yeah, well, you’re not aplete fucking animal like some of these people.” I can’t disagree. Profitable animals, animals I would rather have on my side. Animals, though, nheless. And at the end of the day, an animal will do whatever it takes to survive.
“That would’ve been… let’s say we go back fifteen years, maybe sixteen.” There’s a headache brewing, and I rub my temples hoping to fight it off. “I’ll have to go back through names. Contracts.”
“What happens after we put the list together?”
Good question. “We need the list first. Then we’ll have to do some deeper digging and make some phone calls. One way or another, we’ll find out who killed Charles’s wife and hopefully be able to give him some peace.”
“Part of me worries that it’s toote for peace.”
I look up at him and grimace, “I really fucking hope not.” Otherwise<b>, </b>a future with Caterina will start to disappear like grains of sand through my fingers.
I’ve never believed in ESP or telepathy or any of that, but there are times when I think it might be possible. Just maybe.
Prime example: the soft knock at the door. It’s like she heard me, felt me thinking about her. Worrying about her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to interrupt.” Caterina steps into the room, offering a shy smile. I wasn’t aware of how dark the room was until she stepped into it, lighting up everything around her. My heart swells, and my breath quickens. Mine. She is mine.
“Sheryl made lunch–and she told me you never had breakfast.” She arches her eyebrow, paired with a smirk. Scolding me without speaking. “Can I bring you some food?”
“Better yet.” Pushing my chair away from the desk, I stand, forcing a smile. When<b>, </b>in actuality, I want to apologize for having unintentionally pulled her family and future into my world long before she ever made friends with Tatiana.
I’m sorry the ripples of my actions spread so far, to the point where they brushed against her in the worst <b>way</b>.
No, I don’t know this for sure. Not yet. Although it <b>feels </b>right, somehow. It makes sense. Even if I’m not the one who pulled the trigger, I’m still inadvertently responsible for her mother’s death, which kills me.
“We could have lunch out on the patio,” I suggest. “It’s supposed to be beautiful today. I mean, if Tatiana wouldn’t mind missing you for a little while.”
74
“Oh, she’s sleeping.” She nces at Roger, and I can’t ce my finger on it, but it seems a silent message appears to be passing between them. I wouldn’t say I like it, but there isn’t really a reason to dislike it. Fuck. I’m being irrational.
“Right. I heard she wasn’t feeling well.”
Roger stands, nodding to both of us. “I’ll be in my office, if anyone needs anything.”
Yes, he has plenty of work to do now. Work involving the girl whose blue eyes light up when I reach for her, steering me back to this moment where we are alone. I hold her close and remind myself that she’s here and mine.
Until she finds out the truth. No, she wouldn’t reject me. I know her heart too well. I need to believe that, so I hold onto the hope as tightly as possible.
She wouldn’t reject me.
She told me she loved me.
I have to hold onto that.
“I truly am sorry to have interrupted your work.” Still, she’s beaming up at me, arms around my waist. “Nheless, I do like the idea of having lunch outside. A little sunshine and fresh air would do you good. You can’t spend your whole life behind your
desk.”
My scowl leaves her tipping her head to the side. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s just, you know, I didn’t get into this so <b>you </b>could nag me.” I can barely get it out without snickering, and her scowling makes it hard not tough.
“Very funny. Somebody has to take care of you.”
“That’s supposed to be my job. Taking care <b>of </b>you.” Yes<b>, </b>because you’ve done such a great job of it so far. Look what you did to
her.
“Maybe I like getting to look after you. Ever think of that? A rtionship goes both ways. You care for each other equally. ”
I still grumble, if only for the pleasure of making her eyes sparkle when she gets mad. “You want something to look after? I’ll get you a puppy to smother with attention.”
It onlysts a second, the way her forehead creases and her eyes dim. Shit. All my joking has struck a nerve. Her thoughts went elsewhere. “You know I’m joking,” I murmur before kissing her forehead, smoothing out the wrinkles. “I’d love nothing more than your attention for the rest of my days<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“I know.” Even as her smile isn’t as bright as it was before. “I’m just hungry–and somebody kept me up until all hours of the night<b>, </b>so I guess <b>I </b>could use a nap too.”
I only growl at the memory. Here she is, unaware, teasing me with love in her eyes. All I want, all I’ll ever need. The weight of possibly being the reason her life crumbled, the reason her father went off the rails, and the reason she no longer has a mother sits heavy on my heart. Her life could’ve been better than this, more than this.
Her smile fades into a look of concern. “Are you okay? You seem troubled.”
“It’s been a long morning.” I can’t tell her. She cannot know. I don’t know how to say it to her if, and when, I find proof, but that time isn’t now. It might be a selfish choice. Nevertheless<b>, </b><b>I </b>just got her back. How am I supposed to hurt her again with the truth? I can’t let it happen. I can’t take it. I couldn’t cope with losing her love<b>, </b>not when basking in it brings me more joy than anything ever has. Losing her isn’t an option.
Standing on tiptoes, her soft lips press against mine so sweetly. “Let’s get you out of this room. Some Vitamin D makes everything better.”
<b>“</b>I’ll give you something that starts with a D,” I tease.
“How did I know you’d say something like that?” She winks before taking me by the hand and giving me a yful tug. “Come
74 <ol><li>on. I’m hungry. And I like the idea of having you all to myself for attle bit—while we’re both clothed and talking.” </li></ol>
<b>+25 </b>
BONUS
It
if not for the would be perfect
feeling that
nie, alone,
or otherwise, clothed, her mother died. I want to believe she will, though there’s <b>110 </b>predicting how the heart will react.
she won’t
Want
once
the I dig up
truth about
how
After all, I couldn’t have predicted her holding my entire world in ber hands one day.
75
<b>75 </b>