She finally moves and sits across from me with a soft sigh. The wind picks up and catches at the ruffles on her blouse, causing the sheer sleeves to drift out of place and reveal the impressive muscle definition she has on her arms. “You know why I’m here.”
“You’re following the money?”
“Yes.” She crosses one black leather-clad leg over the other. “Like I said, it’s in France.”
“Then tell me.” I lean forward but keep my hand on my gun. “What the fuck is Faina Trutneva doing in Italy?”
3
FAINA
“Ouch, my full legal name?” I arch one brow. “You really are pissed.”
Cian’s gorgeous green eyes narrow to slits and his jaw tics with how tightly he’s clenching it. The shadow of auburn hair along his jaw does nothing to hide that impressive jawline and I’m not complaining.
“You have no fucking idea how I’m feeling.”
It’s taken me four months to catch up to him and now that I’m here, he looks nothing like I remember. Cian Gifford was the man of my dreams once upon a time. But those dreams shattered thanks to the Italians, and any chance I had of rekindling that secret was dashed the moment the Gifford Manor went up in flames.
So many injured. Even more dead.
Never in all my years have I witnessed a catastrophe as great as the manor explosion.
Cian carries that grief. He looks haunted. Somehow, even the black floral ink on his neck appears to wilt as it disappears into his T-shirt collar. The urge to reach out to him is overwhelming, but Cian is painfully on the defensive, and I don’t blame him. I can’t fathom the scope of his loss. Even the deaths on our own side are nothing in comparison to the destruction of the Irish clan.
My lips part, and I’m about to speak when a waiter appears back at our table with a wide smile. “Rex, can I get you anything else?”
Cian shakes his head. So, he’s going by Rex, is he?
“And you, ma’am?”
“Tea. Fruit, if you have it. And leave the bag in, please.”
“Certainly.” He dips his head and hurries away, leavingRexand me alone.
“Are you going to elaborate on what the fuck you’re doing here or are we going to share niceties until one of us draws first?”
“I told you I’m not here to kill you. If I were, you would already be dead. I’d say you’re not as sharp as you used to be, but given everything that’s happened?—”
“Shut up,” Cian snaps. “I’m sharp.”
“Really? I’ve been following you for two days since your little stunt at the bank. Nice disguise, by the way. I’m honestly surprised that it fooled anyone.”
“Sometimes when something is so ridiculous, it looks normal enough to pass,” Cian replies tightly. “And I don’t believe you.”
“About?” I relax back and rest my hands on my abdomen.
“You turn up here out of the blue and expect me to believe you’re not here to kill me.”
“I’m not.”
“Bullshit. Your people must want revenge.”
“For?” My chest tightens briefly. “We know you had nothing to do with what happened.”
“Since when is that good enough for your lot?”
“Since we madepeace, remember?”
