Wait, is that jealousy that I hear in her voice?
"Valentina, mostly."
That smile returns this time, full blown.
My arms tighten around her. "Promise me?” I ask.
She looks at where my arms are around her and she nods. "Fine," she says. "I promise."
I press a kiss to her head. “Thank you,” I say, relief coursing through me. I know that she’ll stick to her promise.
She rests her head against my shoulder and releases a contented sigh as she sinks into my embrace. Fuck, I love how at ease and comfortable she is with me now. I can’t deny how much I enjoy having her in my arms, in my bed, fuck, in my life. I knew there was something different about her, I just didn’t know that it would be me falling for her.
My cell rings, breaking through our quiet. I reach into my pocket, careful not to jostle Quinn who’s still on my lap with my arm clamped around her so she doesn’t get up.
I look at the screen and see it’s Tempest calling. "Talk,” I say as I answer.
"I found something." His voice has a slight excitement to it, which means whatever it is, is big, and it’s about damn time.
I stay very still. Beside me, Quinn lifts her head slightly. "What is it?" I ask.
"The offshore account," Tempest says. "I got through the final layer. The account holder, Lorenzo, it's not Daire."
I go still. Fuck. I knew it, but fuck, I had hoped I was wrong, that she was tied to this and had been playing a good game. But no, now we have an unknown target gunning for us and no idea who the fucker is.
"Someone has been funding her," Tempest says. "Someone with serious money and serious reach. Someone who's been using Daire as the operational face while they sit behind everything and run it." He pauses. "This isn't about the Delaneys or the Marianos or Daire being jealous of her sister."
"What is it about?" I ask.
"I don't know yet," Tempest says. "But whoever is behind this account has been building something for a very long time, and they're not done."
Quinn has gone still, she can hear everything that I’ve said and is worried, I can see it in her eyes.
"Find out who it is," I demand. "Tonight if possible."
"Working on it," Tempest says and ends the call.
"This isn't about Daire," I tell her knowing that’s what she’s probably thinking.
She sinks into me once more. “Just be safe,” she whispers.
I kiss the top of her head and hold her a little tighter.
Because for the first time since this started, I'm no longer worried about what Daire Delaney might do. I'm worried about the person pulling her strings.
Chapter 22
Quinn
I wake up alone. The bed beside me is empty and cool, which means he's been up for a while. A few weeks ago, that would have sent me straight into a spiral, my mind running with thoughts like: what did I do? Is he angry? Now I just roll over and reach for the glass of water on the nightstand and see that there’s a note under it.
Meeting at eight. I’ll be back by noon. Don't let Valentina talk you into anything.
I read it twice, then I smile at the ceiling like an idiot and reach for my book. I’ll read for a bit before I get ready and go for breakfast.
The kitchen smells incredible when I get downstairs.
Vittoria is at the counter with flour on her hands and Matteo in the bouncy chair beside her, watching with an intense focus. He seems utterly fascinated by what his mom is doing.
