She gasped—soft, startled—and still didn’t pull away.
“People are looking at us,” she whispered.
“Do you still feel hollow?” he asked against her skin.
There was a pause—one trembling breath—and then, “No.”
He lifted his head, satisfied. “Good.”
“I’m going to leave now because…well, too many people seem to have enjoyed that.”
Tonio laughed, and she quickly looked away, cheeks flushed. He pulled out a wad of cash and set it on the table, knowing it would cover the bill and leave a very generous tip.
Soon after, they stepped outside into the crisp morning air. Tonio drew his jacket tighter, hands tucked in his pockets, and fell into step beside her, measured but attentive.
“So,” he said, his voice low, deliberate, “what’s on your agenda today?”
She glanced at him, wary but curious. “Why do you care?”
“Curiosity,” he said, letting a faint smirk show. “And let’s call it proactive planning. If I know where you’re headed, I can avoid another…surprising…collision.”
Her lips curved, a flash of amusement and challenge. “Or maybe you just want to know where I am.”
He let the corner of his mouth lift, slow and controlled. “Maybe I do. Keeps the day interesting…keeps me from getting bored.”
She met his gaze for a moment, a flicker of open curiosity in her eyes, before looking forward again. A strand of hair lifted in the breeze. His hand moved before he thought, brushing it behind her ear. He didn’t move. Just watched her, his chest tightening as the faint hitch in her breath mirrored the one in his own. The pull was undeniable, but walls, careful walls, still held. One step at a time.
“You shouldn’t do that,” she murmured, though she didn’t move away.
“I know,” he said, low and deliberate. “I couldn’t resist.”
They walked on, the quiet street stretching ahead like a silent audience. He lingered on the sensation a moment longer, letting himself register it in small increments before pushing it aside, steadying his pulse.
“So what’s next?” he asked softly. “Do you want me to act like a stranger the next time I see you?”
She exhaled, a slow, deliberate sound. He watched, waiting for her verdict.
“No.”
He smiled. “Good.”
“Maybe…I don’t know…maybe dinner. If you’re still around.”
Tonio allowed a faint smile. Not victory. Just acknowledgment. For the first time that morning, he let himself feel the pull fully, without the shield of his walls.
CHAPTER FIVE
The motel door clicked shut. Sofia’s presence lingered like a scent. Tonio shrugged off his jacket and pulled the encrypted phone from his pocket. Its cold weight jolted him back to reality.
Luc’s face filled the screen, backlit by monitors. “What’s the situation?”
“It’s moving. She’s opening up,” Tonio said, his tone flat and professional. “I will soon learn what her bottom line is, and then I’ll break her enough to ensure she stops what the hell she is doing.” The words felt like ash in his mouth.
Luc was silent for a moment. “The timeline’s compressing. The client’s getting impatient. He’s making noises about sending his own team to…handle it. From what I gather, if he does, she’ll end up dead.”
A cold knot tightened in Tonio’s gut. “Tell him to stand down. That would be a mistake.”
Another pause. “Is everything okay, Tonio?”
