"There isn't. I've been careful. Everything we did together happened in private spaces I control. My estate. My apartment above Inferno. Places where there are no records beyond my own security footage, which nobody gets access to without my permission." He paused. "Emilio, you need to trust me on this. I've been navigating investigations for years. I know how to cover my tracks."
"This isn't about covering tracks. This is about lying in court if they ask directly when the relationship started."
"They won't ask directly because they don't have standing. You're not on trial. You're not a witness in my case. Your relationship with me is personal and private. Unless they have actual evidence it's relevant to the charges, they can't make it part of the trial."
"And if they do have evidence?"
"Then Diana will object and the judge will sustain because personal relationships aren't relevant to assault charges." His voice softened. "I know this is hard for you. You've built your career on truth and evidence. But sometimes in my world, the truth is whatever we can prove. And they can't prove anything about when our relationship started unless we tell them."
I leaned back in my chair. Closed my eyes. "I've never lied under oath before."
"I'm not asking you to lie under oath. I'm asking you to trust me when I say they won't put you in a position where you have to." He took a breath. "Where are you right now?"
"My office."
"Come to Inferno. I'll be there in thirty minutes. We'll talk about this properly. In person."
"I don't know if talking is going to help."
"Then we won't talk. We'll just be together. Whatever you need, Emilio. But don't sit alone in your office spiraling about worst-case scenarios that aren't going to happen."
He was right. Sitting here obsessing wasn't productive. And I wanted to see him. Needed to see him.
"Okay. I'll be there in forty-five minutes."
"I'll be waiting."
The drive to Inferno gave me time to think. About Marco's warning. About the DA's strategy. About the fundamental shift in how I approached truth.
I'd spent my entire career believing in facts. In evidence. In provable truth. The law was supposed to be objective. Based on what could be demonstrated rather than what people claimed.
But with Sandro, I was operating on faith. Trusting him when he said he'd covered our tracks. Believing him when he promised everything would be fine. Accepting his version of reality even when my instincts screamed that we were one subpoena away from disaster.
It should terrify me. This leap into blind trust. This abandonment of my need for concrete proof.
Instead it felt like freedom.
Like finally letting go of control and accepting that some things couldn't be managed or predicted or defended with perfect preparation. Some things just required trust.
I parked in Inferno's private lot and took the elevator to Sandro's apartment. He was waiting when the doors opened. Still in his suit from the business dinner. Tie loosened. Sleeves rolled up. Looking rumpled and human in ways he usually kept hidden.
"Hey," he said quietly.
"Hey."
We stood looking at each other. Then he crossed the distance and pulled me into his arms. Just held me. Didn't say anything. Didn't try to fix anything. Just offered his presence and his warmth and the steady beat of his heart under my ear.
"I hate this," I admitted against his chest. "I hate not knowing if we're going to get caught. I hate operating on faith instead of facts. I hate that I've become someone who's willing to lie if necessary."
"I know." His hands moved on my back. Soothing. "But you haven't lied yet. And with luck, you won't have to."
"And if my luck runs out?"
"Then we'll deal with it together. Like we deal with everything." He pulled back to look at me. "You're not alone in this, Emilio. Whatever happens, we face it together."
I kissed him because I needed to. Needed to taste him. Needed to feel the solid reality of him against me. Needed to prove to myself that this was real and worth the risk.
He responded immediately. Deepened the kiss. Walked me backward toward the bedroom without breaking contact.
