Page 71 of Mafioso's Muse

As they moved through their warm-up, Vaughn’s face kept flashing before her, so calm as he was being cuffed. The only time his expression had faltered was when he spotted her on that staircase. It was one of those moments he was trying to protect her from. She should have stayed in the room as he’d instructed and spared him the extra worry.

‘What will happen now?’ Willow had asked Paula after he’d been taken away.

‘They’ll waste their time questioning them.’

The answer had confused her. ‘Why is it a waste of time?’

‘Because they won’t get any answers. Omertà,’ she had called it. ‘A vow of silence.’

It was difficult to reconcile the two versions of Vaughn. On one hand, he was this incredible businessman with excellent communication skills, and on the other?—

‘Willow,’ Harrison said, snapping her back to the present. ‘Are you still with us?’

She looked around the studio and saw that everyone was staring at her. ‘Yes.’

‘Because I called your name four times before you responded.’

Willow snuck a glance at Lili, who swallowed, confirming that was true.

‘Sorry,’ Willow said.

He continued to stare at her, arms crossed. ‘A word outside, please.’ He strode off towards the door before she could respond.

Dread filled Willow’s stomach. She exchanged a look with Lili before following Harrison out into the hallway, trying not to appear nervous.

‘Could you give us a minute?’ he asked Finn, his tone sharp.

The driver looked at Willow, and she nodded. Only then did he wander away, though still keeping her in sight.

Harrison turned his back to Finn. ‘What’s going on?’ He kept his voice low. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so distracted.’

He was the last person in the world Willow wanted to confide in when it came to Vaughn. ‘I’m just a bit tired. I’m so sorry.’

The lift arrived and the doors opened. Nigel stepped out, his face pinched with stress.

Harrison looked in his direction, then straightened. ‘What’s the matter?’

‘Don’t speak to any media,’ he said as he passed by them. ‘I’m handling it.’

‘Handling what?’ Harrison called to his back

Nigel stopped and turned, looking from Willow to Finn to Harrison. ‘I thought you would have heard by now. It’s all over the news. The Gallo brothers were arrested last night. Now the board are asking all kinds of questions.’

Harrison looked accusingly at Willow. ‘No, I hadn’t heard that.’

‘I’ve got to make some calls,’ Nigel said, heading off in the direction of his office. ‘We’ll speak later.’

Harrison stared at Willow for a long moment. ‘Why on earth didn’t you tell me?’

Her shoulders were rounded due to the weight of the situation—which was getting heavier by the minute. ‘I don’t really know anything,’ she said quietly.

He gave her a doubtful look. ‘It’s such a tragedy to witness you jeopardise your career for some crime lord. You should be running away from this man as fast as you can, notprotectinghim.’

She was speechless but wasn’t sure if that was because he’d overstepped or there was truth in his words.

‘What were they charged with?’ he asked.

She knew there was no point lying now that it was all over the news. ‘Murder.’