I shot a glance to the door. “I would be careful making threats like that,” I warned. “Have you checked your office for bugs?”
“Had the exterminator out over the weekend,” Liam said coolly. “And don’t mind Betty. She’s deaf when she knows what’s good for her.”
The fragile secretary leaned over and flashed me a wink. I liked her immediately.
“Yeah, so this is smoke,” I concluded after looking through the initial proposal which was properly filed last year. “Do you have any competition for this project?”
“Several companies,” Liam confirmed.
“You’ll want to watch them,” I added, continuing my search. “But they no doubt enlisted that city official to throw your project a wrench. Did he say there was a cease-and-desist order?”
Connor stepped forward. “This?”
I scanned the document. “It’s dependent on the original fluff that does not apply to us. But until I get this sorted out, be prepared for more drama from the authorities.”
As if on cue, a knock rocked the door of the portable. Connor and Liam exchanged a look, as the secretary leapt nimbly to her feet to answer. Sure enough, it was a police officer. I pushed my hair off my shoulders, gestured him forward with a warm smile, and set to work to straighten out the mess.
Liam watched me from behind his half mask. By the time I sent the officer packing with an apology for wasting his time and thanking him for his service, the businessman had relaxed a fraction.
“Well, Missus Messina, it seems you and I are going to get along famously,” he said, standing and smoothing his tie. “I’ll have to thank V for letting me know you needed work. And I owe you an apology.”
I quirked a brow, fingers fidgeting with my wet trousers. “For?”
“I didn’t think a pretty little missus such as yourself was such a killer. I won’t be making the same mistake again,” Liam said with a nod and left the portable.
Chapter 50 – Amanda
After a victorious meeting in the private chambers between myself, the disgraced Maddison and the annoyed Judge Parker—a man who didn’t like his time wasted and had reamed Maddison a new hole—I emerged from the courthouse to find the rain clouds dry and my guards gone. Hesitating on the step, I was faced with a unique opportunity. I could run. With no soldiers to drag me back to the monster’s lair, there was no one stopping me.
The chance to finally take matters into my own hands, to deal with our family’s problems, was mine.
The toe of my heel caught on a dip in the grout between the stones. I gripped the iron rail that led down the sidewalk. There wasn’t a cab in sight, but a short walk would find one.
Enzo said he was handling it.
I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth. Did I let him? He hadn’t shown me a reason not to trust him with this. The only thing fueling my resistance was the desire to remain the master of my destiny.
Lifting my eyes to the clouds, right as a ray of sunlight peeked through, I let out a long breath. “It’s always been our destiny.”
There was the truth, plain and simple.
I shivered as the bright warmth crept over my skin. I hoped against hope that Vincenzo came home tonight. I wanted to tell him my decision. That I trusted him to take care of me—but only if I was the one taking care of him.
The purr of a bike rippled through the air. As if summoned by my resolve, a figment of darkness shot down the street, hopped the curb, and stopped at the base of the steps. The black bike growled in greeting.
I smiled in return.
Hurrying down the steps, I was a vision of white, descending to meet the lord of the underworld. “You’re safe!”
Vincenzo already had his helmet off, propped against his side. That soft smile, the one that was only for me, played on his lips. “Missed me?”
“So much.” I closed the distance and wrapped my arms around his neck. Surprise flashed through his deep brown gaze before I closed my own and pressed my lips to his. That mouth was hard and unyielding. He tugged me against his body, devouring me with his kiss.
The air was stolen from my lungs. I would sell every last drop if that was the price.
Excitement shot through me, settling to a warm pulse deep and low. Vincenzo’s gloved fingers pushed into my body, exploring and claiming. Somewhere beside us, the helmet clattered to the cement.
“Madonna santa, fiore,” Vincenzo rasped against my lips. “If this is the kind of greeting you give a sinner when he comes home…how am I ever supposed to leave you?”
