He hung up without another word. Didn’t even bother to look at me as he fixed his belt and adjusted his tie, already halfway to the damn door.
I wasn’t sure whether I was relieved or pissed, but when he reached for the handle without so much as a glance my way, I realized I was definitely pissed.
“What—no goodbye?”
And without another word, he walked out and slammed the front door behind him.
Damn lawyer.
CHAPTER 19
MARCO
The hum of the jet barely registered. I kept my eyes shut, head resting against the seat as I tried to tune out the conversation happening across from me. Max was going over business with Mikhail—something about shipments, territory expansions. Didn’t concern me.
Lately, very little could hold my attention.
Except her.
Being stuck at forty thousand feet with nowhere to run meant I couldn’t distract myself. Couldn’t pretend I had anything else to focus on besides the woman who was rapidly becoming the center of every stray thought in my head.
Valentina.
Even thinking her name was irritating. I shifted restlessly, stretched out my legs, and rolled my shoulders as if I could somehow shake her out of my system. But it was pointless. She’d already burrowed too deep. Dug her way beneath my skin and was refusing to leave.
I could still feel her. The warmth of her skin against my palms, the sharp little gasp she’d made when I had her pinned to that damn mattress. The way her fingers had curled desperatelyinto my shirt like she’d wanted me closer, even when we both knew how dangerous that was.
Jesus. I needed to stop.
But it was too late. Valentina had already sunk in, settled herself into places I didn’t even know existed. Places I’d spent years keeping closed off, sealed away. And now she was there, invading every thought, every silent moment, every breath.
“Problem” didn’t even begin to cover it.
I shifted again, rolling my head to the side. Mikhail was still talking. I wasn’t paying enough attention to him until a name cut through the air.
“Sebastian Callahan,”Mikhail said, tapping his fingers idly against his glass.
That got my attention.
I cracked an eye open, barely turning my head.
“Jacob told me he’s back in the city. Mentioned something about Valentina. How’s that going? We don’t need another rat in this deal.”
Of course Jacob had mentioned it. After I’d handed him three hundred dollars specifically to keep his mouth shut. Three hundred dollars—for nothing.
Max didn’t bother looking up at him. “I’m not worried about her. She’s been getting her shit together and wouldn’t mess up now.”
Wouldn’t she?
I could still remember the smirk on her face in the photo I’d seen of her and Sebastian. I saw the hesitation in her eyes that looked a hell of a lot like temptation. Shelikedtrouble. Liked toeing the line.
“Sebastian’s a problem, but he’s not an immediate one. I’ll deal with him,” Max argued.
Mikhail took a sip of his drink, considering. “Or you could make him part of the family.”
I sat up straighter.
Max raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
