“I know the one. I can be there in twenty.”
“Perfect.”
Eighteen minutes later, I’m walking into a Thai restaurant filled with intoxicating, spicy scents. I nod to the host. “I’m here to meet someone.”
He nods and gestures me forward. I step further inside and scan the room, looking for Damiano.
When I find him, I see he isn’t alone. He waves at me and his dining partner turns around.
The bastard blindsided me—he’s here with Madison.
13
DAMIANO
I wanted to take Madison for a walk around the Rossi Nature Preserve, but with her injured foot, a sit-down lunch was the better idea.
We order drinks and I ask the server to wait a few minutes before returning to take our order.
“Tell me how you are, truly.” I take Madison’s hand. “Last night was very frightening, I imagine.”
I know I was terrified. She was in danger and there was nothing I could do. San Esteban seemed to stretch forever, minutes turning into hours as Seth and I raced to reach her.
“It was. And while I’m grateful you had guards on me or whatever…” She pauses and looks down for a moment before meeting my gaze directly. “Damiano, do you know what I’m saying?”
“It was heavy-handed of me, yes. An overreach.” I take a sip of my Thai iced tea. It is too sweet for me, but Madison ordered the same, and I wanted to see what she likes. At the next opportunity, I’ll order something stronger from the bar. “I ought to apologize for it. But I won’t. Because if my men hadn’t been there? It terrifies me to think of what could have happened.”
“I can’t argue with you about that, I guess. Although it sounds like he would’ve just taken a few things and run off.”
“He would’ve been surprised to find the home occupied. No one can say how he might have reacted to that.” Life has taught me that desperate people will make all kinds of terrible choices when pushed to the edge. I hope Madison never has to find out the same way I did.
“Well, he might have done anything. He might have been a zombie wanting to eat my brains.” Madison sounds sarcastic, but she’s smiling.
“He might have been on the run from the sheriff and hiding in a monastery,” I add.
“You’ve seen Flesh and Teeth?” Madison leans forward, her green eyes sparkling.
“I’ve seen a few episodes, but I lost interest after the start of Season Two.” I pause. “But from your excitement, I take it you’re a fan?”
“A fan? It’s only the best show ever.”
“Well, I don’t know about that. I can think of several Italian dramas which may challenge its spot at number one.”
Madison clutches her heart like I’ve wounded her. “Nothing can live up to the perfection that is Flesh and Teeth. It’s impossible. Any attempt is an embarrassment.”
I laugh. “Maybe I should watch it with you sometime.”
“It’s a crime you didn’t even finish the second season, so yeah.”
I’m still laughing when I catch sight of Seth walking into the restaurant. I lift a hand in greeting. Madison turns around to see who I’m looking at.
Seth frowns. When I invited him to lunch, I neglected to mention Madison would be here, too.
Madison spins back around to face me. “I thought this was a date?”
“It’s still a date.”
She raises her eyebrows. “There you go, heavy-handed again. And overreaching.”
