Page 166 of A Dangerous Kind of Love

She turns her head toward me, studying my face. “Thank you.”

I reach up and tap the partition. It hums as it lowers.

“Take us back to the estate,” I say.

Sarah looks back at Katie, her expression tight, then shifts her gaze to me. I hold it for a second, then nod once. I’ve got her.

When we pull into the circle drive, Sarah is already moving. She steps out of the front seat and comes around, opening Katie’s door before Luca even cuts the engine. Katie leans straight into her, arms wrapping tight.

“I love you, Katie,” Sarah says, her voice thick.

“I love you too,” Katie answers, quiet, her face pressed into her shoulder.

I turn my attention to Luca, keeping my voice level. “Back to work tomorrow, okay?”

He nods.

“Check in with Marco.”

“You got it.”

I reach out, shake his hand once, firm, then step back. When Sarah pulls away, Katie’s eyes are glassy, tears sitting there, ready to fall but not moving yet.

Sarah looks at me then. “Take care of my girl.”

I hold her gaze. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

I guide Katie into the house. My hand stay at her back as we step inside. Marco is standing there. I stop short, my eyes locking on him. The irritation is immediate. He knows better than this. Especially today.

“Boss,” he says quietly. “I’m sorry.”

Katie doesn’t react. She just keeps moving forward like he isn’t even there. I step in front of her and lower myself enough to catch her eyes.

“Hey.”

It takes a second, but she looks at me.

“I need a minute with Marco,” I say, keeping my voice even. “I’m going to take you upstairs first, okay?”

She shakes her head.

“Can I go to the conservatory instead?”

I don’t even glance back at Marco. “Yeah. Of course.” My hand comes up to her jaw, keeping her with me for a second. “Go ahead. I’ll come find you.”

Only after she moves past me do I look back at Marco.

“I told you that until all of this settles, you are me. You better have a fucking good reason for being here.”

“I know who the rat is.”

I don’t ask anything. I just turn and walk. The door to my office shuts hard behind us, the sound cracking through the room. I move behind the desk, bracing my hands against the edge, eyes locked on him.

“Start talking.”

His expression is controlled, but there’s something underneath it, something that tells me he’s been waiting to say this.

“It’s Sal.”