He jerks his chin toward my right. Still, I don’t turn. I don’t care.
“Forget it,” I say. “Finish up. We’re leaving.”
Valerio’s eyes are wide with something I’ve never seen on his expression?—
“Who the fuck is that woman?” he breathes, awe flattening every trace of his usual charm. “Matteo… I’m not joking. I think you need to see this.”
There’s something in his voice I can’t place. But it hits me like a shot of adrenaline.
I turn, slow as a loaded gun?—
—and my lungs seize. She’s here.
Standing there with the same wild, terrified, beautiful eyes I saw on the edge of that rooftop.
And the only thing that leaves my mouth is a raw, hoarse whisper?—
“It’s… her.”
Valerio’s head whips toward me. His voice cracks in disbelief.
“Her—her? The rooftop girl?”
I don’t hear him.
My eyes are locked on the woman who has haunted me for weeks. She was only a figment of my imagination before—an echo, a memory—but now she’s here, in the flesh, standing only a few feet away.
She steps into the café like the world outside is chasing her. Her coat is cinched tight; her eyes scan the room as if she’s bracing for impact. Every inch of her is on edge—from the stiff line of her shoulders to the slight tremble in her fingers as she brushes hair from her face.
She’s as stunning as I remember. I should look away, but I don’t.
“What are the odds she’d walk into this exact coffee shop while we’re here? Talk about fate or whatever people call it.” Valerio’s words barely reach me.
She looks paler than before. Thinner. Her makeup is subtle, designed to hide the exhaustion in her eyes—unsuccessfully. I notice every tiny detail about her.
Of course I do.
She’s unraveling beneath the surface, and no one in this room knows it but me.
She steps up to the counter, voice barely above a whisper as she orders. I watch her every move, and Valerio shoots me knowing glances and smug smiles.
I ignore him.
No one is going to ruin this moment for me. Not Valerio. Not the ghosts of everything waiting on my desk. Not even myself.
Valerio taps the table, trying to pull me back. “You know it’s rude to stare, boss.”
I don’t answer. I know he’s teasing.
“Go talk to her.”
“No.” The word comes out low. The last thing I should be doing is involving myself with her again. “It’s fine. She’ll order her coffee and she’ll leave.”
I force myself to tear my gaze from her. I look to my second, who watches me with those sharp, analytical eyes.
“Not distracted, my ass,” Valerio chuckles when he sees the pained expression on my face as I fight myself.
“She isn’t distracting me,” I say absently, though we both know it’s a lie. “I’m just… intrigued by her.”
