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Reuben: ten minutes – don’t you have info too?
Orzo: You have five minutes
I look up to find Cinnamon now has four pans on the burners and appears to move in some dance that I cannot home to understand.
“I need to check on something, but I’ll be back soon,” I promise her.
She doesn’t look up. “Sounds good” comes out distractedly.
I want to go to her, to capture her lips. Demand her attention.
But it is clear to tell this is her element. That she is happy.
I won’t ruin that.
Without another word, I head to the elevator to deal with Reuben and let him know I tracked down the last Aldente.
34
If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Get Out of the Kitchen
Reuben
Reading Cinnamon’s email a few times, I quirk my lips.
Tomorrow, I will call her as the man who got her car.
I flick my attention to Colby, who stands on the other side of my desk. His arms are crossed as he taps his foot. “I need to get home. Brandy is getting back in the morning, and I need to clean the house before she does.”
“Your wife is finally returning home?” But then I divert the conversation. “The explosion still hasn’t made its way to the news?”
He shakes his head. “I imagine it is going to be kept under wraps until Romaine can gain control of the narrative. He knows it will put a target on him next.”
Romaine Aldente. The head of the Aldente family, and the biggest asshole I have had the unfortunate displeasure of meeting.
“The target is already there,” Orzo cuts in, pushing the door open and slamming it shut behind him.
The air rushes towards me along with a strong scent…
“Are you cooking?” I ask incredulously.
Orzo stomps forward, for once his shoes are clean.
What is going on?
He digs into his back pocket, slamming a picture down. “He became a fucking detective and changed his name to John Smith.”
My vision hyperfocuses on the photo. Of the man in a uniform. I pick it up without thinking.
At one point, Kale was practically a brother. My best ally. My confidant.
He told me not to marry the poor Barley girl.
Maple, I wonder if we would still be together if you hadn’t left me that night…
“What was his role in all of this? Why is he on the list?” I gasp out.
If I’m going to have him killed, I just need a reminder of why.
