Page 103 of Sinful Lies

Too stubborn to let her stew in silence, I followed her in.

“You know, oldie, you should come shopping with me sometime,” I said, giving her outfit a deliberate once-over. It was actually cute, but that wasn’t the point. “Who even wears dresses like that anymore? It’s not the ‘60s.”

She ignored me, eyes fixed on the blinking numbers above the door.

When the elevator opened, she bolted out like I was toxic air.

I groaned, patience slipping. “Grace?—”

She spun so fast I stumbled back.

“In all the years you’ve worked here, I’ve begged Angelo to get rid of you,” she spat. “To fire you. You’re the devil’s little soldier, making his life hell. And God knows, he’s suffered enough!”

My mouth opened, but she cut me off, voice trembling with animosity.

“But because you’regoodat your job—because somehow, you made his life easier—I respected his decision.” She stepped closer, eyes blazing. “But he should never have been in danger because of you. The man was shot, for God’s sake! Shot! Saving your ungrateful ass. He lost so much blood the doctors said he’s lucky he didn’t lose his leg!”

My chest tightened as her words cut deeper.

“He can barely walk properly now,” she hissed, eyes flashing with something close to grief. “And here you are, prancing around like nothing happened. Like he didn’t almost die because of you!”

My stomach twisted.

Shot.

Lazzio had been shot.

The forest.

The bastard hadn’t told me.

Not a damn word.

The nerve. The audacity. The gall of him!

He saved me, dragged me out of there, and didn’t think to mention he was bleeding out while doing it? Or that he almost lost his leg?

My fists clenched. “That self-righteous, controlling son of a?—”

“You’re angry?” Grace hissed, cutting through my thoughts. “He gets shot, andyou’rethe one who’s angry?”

Oh, I was furious.

But not at her.

And definitely not because I thought I deserved his silence.

No. I was angry because Angelo Lazzio made the choice to swallow all that pain—his pain—and keep it hidden, just to make sure I was okay.

I didn’t know whether to scream, or kill him. Probably both.

“Where is he?”

Grace scoffed, barely sparing me a glance as she strutted toward her desk, slumping into her chair. “Like I’d tell you.”

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “You’re going to tell me where he is, or I’ll find him myself. But trust me, it’ll be a hell of a lot messier if I have to do it the hard way.”

She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. “He doesn’t need you storming in and making a scene.”

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