That ten-minute visit would start a chain reaction that would blow the case wide open.
Luciano handed Sin an earpiece. They slipped the tiny devices into their ears and listened.
“We got snoopers,” Newburg said. “Sinclair Develin and Malvagio Peccatore dropped by to ask me about Chenkus. How the hell do I know? Look, I was freaking the hell out, so I didn’t ask a lot of questions. No, he didn’t leave his card. Shut the hell up for a minute. You gotta make this problem go away. Do you hear me?” Silence then, “What do you mean take a few days off? I’ve got a goddamn department to run.” Newburg slammed the phone on his desk.
Luciano smiled. “Now, we’re gonna have some fun.”
Sin chuckled. “Here comes the shit storm.”
After dropping Sin at his office, Luciano checked his phone. Over a dozen texts waited for his review, but he scrolled until he found the one from Simone.
Call me
He tapped her number, the phone rang.
“Mr. Santini,” she answered, her whisper-soft voice making him smile.
“Ms. Redding, should I pay you a house call?”
“That depends,” she murmured. “Will you be a help or a distraction?”
“That’s up to you.”
“Swing by.” The line went dead.
Blood whooshed through his veins. He couldn’t wait to see her. He lowered the privacy screen, instructed Stuart to drive to Simone’s. Fifteen minutes later, Stuart pulled into her driveway.
“Would you like me to carry the clothing inside, sir?” Stuart asked.
Luciano had his assistant put together a collection of Santini Originals for her. Not wanting to overwhelm her, he said, “Only the shoes now. The rest can wait.”
Luciano rang her doorbell. She opened it, and a punch of adrenaline powered through him. The effect she was having on him was addictive. He kissed her hello, letting his lips linger on hers.
“Can’t stay away, can you?” Her playful smile sent another hit of energy through him.
He held out the gift bag.
She didn’t take it. “You don’t have to?—”
“Open it,” he urged.
Before she closed the door, she peered outside. “Is Stuart waiting?”
“Yes.”
“Ask him to come inside,” she said. “I can make us a pot of coffee.”
“I was hoping I could convince you to work at my place today.”
She hitched her hands on her hips. “Go ahead.”
“And?”
“Convince me.”
He snaked his arm around her waist, this time kissing her breathless. “Should I continue?”
She sucked down a deep breath. “I’ll get my laptop.”
