At the same time, Coop said, “Yes.”
“Alrighty, then.” Trevor looked at them both. “I was going to order a pizza or some room service or something. You guys hungry?”
This time they both agreed, answering with a unified, “No.”
“Well, I’m starved.”
Trevor was obviously trying to de-escalate the situation, but Coop and Mac were both too riled up to let him.
“Here.” Mac handed him her keycard. “You can order from across the hall.”
With a sigh, Trevor took the piece of plastic from her hand. “Do me a favor and let me know when you’re finished withmyroom.”
Mac waited for the door to close before talking again. “You know, just because you’re walking around with that massive thing swinging between your legs doesn’t mean you hold a monopoly on protective instincts.”
“Never thought I did.” The corner of his lips twitched. “But my ego thanks you, for that.”
She rolled her eyes. Of course he’d pick up onthatparticular part.
“When I realized you were in danger, that someone was threatening you because of me, I wanted to hunt them down and kill them.” She moved toward him. “I don’t have a death wish, Sean. I’m just trying to do the right thing.”For once.
“How? By putting yourself in some asshole’s crosshairs? Whoever the bastard is, they’ve already proven they’re not in this thing for the money. Otherwise they wouldn’t have taken a shot at us before you paid them off.”
“They would if they were trying to send a message.”
“You think those were warning shots?”
Mac took a step toward him. “Think about it. We were out in the open. Nothing between us and that SUV.”
“Open targets.”
Coop’s brows turned inward. She hoped that meant he was beginning to see her train of thought.
“Exactly. Look, I’m pretty sure I know who’s behind all this. If I’m right, and he really wanted to kill either one of us, he wouldn’t have missed.”
“The guy from the cemetery? Tall, black dress coat, dark hair?”
“That was Luca Marino.”
Recognition crossed his face. “He’s the one who shot the guy on your birthday.”
Son of a bitch did a whole lot more that day, but that was one secret Mac wasn’t ready to share. “Yes.”
“You think it’s him?”
“He’s the only one who makes sense.”
Coop paused for a bit. “Did he say anything about it when you two were talking earlier? Reference the pictures or the money in any way?”
“No.” Mac shook her head. “That’s the weird part. I kept expecting him to ask for the money, but he never said a word about it. If anything, he seemed irritated to see me there. Asshole warned me to keep my nose out of his business.”
“Could be he was feeling you out to see if you suspected him. Can you think of anyone else who’d be pissed your uncle left everything to you?”
“I’ve been racking my brain trying to think of someone else it could be. I mean, Luca was my uncle’s right-hand man. From the time he was twenty until the day my uncle died, he was Tony’s most trusted employee. According to the papers Henry gave me, Luca is listed as a secondary beneficiary. Maybe he feels jilted that I got first dibs.”
Coop considered this. “Tony knows he’s dying, has a change of heart where you’re concerned. Has his lawyer create a will that will ensure the niece he failed years before is taken care of, now. Luca finds out, gets pissed, and somehow convinces your uncle to tell him where you are.”
Damn, watching his wheels spin was such a turn-on. Sure, the guy was attractive as hell, but he was also incredibly smart. Mac loved it when he got all up in his own head.
