Page 58 of The Broker

I shrug out of my jacket and unbutton my shirt. “You’re so sure I gave it to him?”

“Of course you did,” she says as if there’s not a doubt in her mind. “Underneath that murderous exterior, you’re a good person.” She flashes me a teasing smile. “Annoyingly overprotective, though.Touch her phone again, and I’ll break your wrist.I’m pretty sure Neil almost peed in his pants.”

I know what she’s doing; she’s deliberately dragging my mind back to a happier place. “He deserves it. He grabbed your phone.”

“He does seem to have a problem with boundaries,” she agrees. “You coming to bed?”

She’s staying the night.And I didn’t even have to ask.

It’s been a long, hard day. But right now, everything feels right again.

Tell her about Roberto. You can’t keep this from her. She would see it as a betrayal of her trust.

If I tell Valentina his death was an accident, she’ll believe me. She won’t blame me; that’s not who she is.

But if I tell her the truth, things will change.

I’ve waited for this moment for ten years. Call me an asshole; call me a coward. When it comes to Valentina, I’m both. Because she’s here. In my bedroom. Curled up on my bed. Wearing my T-shirt. Waiting for me to come home.

This isn’t about sex. This feels likea relationship.Everything I’ve ever wanted is mine for the taking, and I won’t do anything to risk it.

I can’t.

When she finds out, she’ll realize how many opportunities you had to tell the truth. And then she’ll never be able to forgive you.

“As soon as I take a quick shower. I smell like the hospital.” I toss my shirt aside and reach for my belt, and her eyes follow my hands. My cock reacts, the horny bastard. “Stay in bed. I’ll just be a minute.”

“How are you feeling?” she asks me softly.

“I’m angry. Furious. The more I think about it, the more I suspect it was Revenant.” I wrap my arm around her waist, and she snuggles against me. “He couldn’t hack into our network, so he shot my informant. This is war.” My lips tighten. “Revenant’s about to realize I make a very bad enemy. I got you something.” I reach for my jacket and pull out the device Mara gave me. “Giorgio’s phone.”

“You shouldn’t have,” she quips. “We’re a go then?”

“Yes. We’re going to end this, once and for all. Verratti is broke; his paychecks are going to bounce. This is a perfect time to act. Get me the names of everyone on his payroll—I’m going to approach them with a better proposition.” I bare my teeth in a grim smile. “We’re going to take over Bergamo with Verratti’s own money. As for Revenant,” my voice hardens with resolve, “We’re going to find his real identity. By the time we’re done, there’s going to be no money for him to steal and nowhere for him to hide.”

No violence, just like I promised Antonio. I don’t need blood in the streets to pull this off. . .

I have Valentina.

26

VALENTINA

Was I aware I was sending a signal when I waited for Dante in his bedroom? Yes, of course I did. I’m not an idiot.

This isn’t about sex any longer. It isn’t about steamy homework assignments. When I wore Dante’s T-shirt because I wanted to keep his scent close to my skin, I did it knowing full well what it meant.

I have feelings for Dante.

But then he gives me Acerbi’s phone, and he makes it clear that we’re doing this thingtogether.He says, “By the time we’re done, there’s going to be no money for him to steal and nowhere for him to hide.”

By the timewe’redone.

We’re a team, Dante and me. And because we’re a team, I don’t freak out when I realize I’ve fallen in love with him. I’m just. . . happy.

Dante rests his hand on my stomach. “Are you too sleepy for sex?”

Is he kidding? “You remember when I confessed that I haven’t had sex in ten years? That’s a lot of pent-up desire, Dante. I don’t think you understand when I say—”