“His parents’ death.”
Luna sighed and muttered something under her breath. “Vera has a big mouth. Or was it, Mario?”
“They care about him.”
Luna looked at Autumn over her shoulder, then away. Her salt and pepper hair hung down her back and a few strands were damp from the grape juice. She squeezed her locks out and looked back at Autumn.
“After we eat." She waved her hand towards the house. “Come.Mangia! Then I’ll explain everything.”
Chapter 18
EspositoGalleriaSeveralHoursLater…
Elijah Winters tightened his fist on his knee as the other foot bounced in a rapid staccato.
Autumn wasn’t in the fucking city.
He’d gone by lover boy’s condo and didn’t see lights on the top of the building. He’d stayed until early that morning and even called Nico Scala’s office.
Scala hadn’t arrived yet.
She was going to pay for this.
“The next auction item, one-twenty-eight-point-zero-three, is up next for bidding.”
Elijah relaxed his hands, took a deep breath, and stood to help with the painting. He wore the same black uniform as the others, who were part of the security staff. Except he wore a half mask to not scare off potential buyers.
Like he gave a shit about them. He needed to get the gallery owner alone.
Stick to the plan, Elijah.Scarlett’s voice was in his head. She’d betrayed him.
Did she think he wouldn’t find out about her little meeting with the assassin? Elijah had been close by. He’d sat at the bar, but he watched from the mirror, which showed the corner booth where they sat. The man was a killer.
Not like him but weren’t they all the same? The shrewd, calculating eyes gave the man away. Elijah could have taken him out, but there was no fun in killing a man.
It was twice as hard. He mused back on Scarlett Taylor. He was tired of the woman bossing him around like he was an animal, and she carried the leash. He decided that was going to change.
He was not her pet. He would make his own decisions.
Before he got rid of her, he would make sure she knew he knew about her indiscretion.
Elijah watched the men bring the heavy painting out and walk into the back. There was more than one for this set, but he wasn’t delivering it to the front.
He was waiting for his prey.
“What the fuck are you doing back here?”
And right on time, she came to him. Elijah’s lips tilted up in a slow smile.
Lydia Esposito, her dark hair piled high on top of her head, wore a black dress with a deep V. The slit in the side completed her outfit with red lipstick and black mascara, highlighting her aquamarine eyes.
Elijah wasn’t interested in her eyes this time.
“Get to fucking work, sweetheart,” she called, her hands on her hips, staring him down.
“But I am working, dearest Lydia.”
The woman whipped around and marched up to him. A fingernail poked into his chest, “The fuck did you say?”
