Page 144 of Sinful Lies

A heavy knock echoing at the door caught my attention, followed by the sharp ringing of the doorbell.

Padding across the floor, I reached the door and swung it open.

A delivery guy stood there. “Where do you want these?”

I frowned, but gestured to the kitchen island. He nodded, dropped the boxes there, and started heading back down the hallway.

But then, he paused and grabbed one last package to hand to me—a bouquet.

A hundred red dahlias—my favorites.

“Thanks,” I muttered, my gut twisting.

He said his goodbyes, and I shut the door behind him.

I sniffed the bouquet, and despite myself, a smile crept onto my face, soft and almost giddy. My fingers grabbed the note, tearing it off.

Merry Christmas, Miss Whitenhouse.

I couldn’t bring your gifts with us to the Hamptons, so I delivered them to you.

See you next Monday, amore.

Freaking annoying, amazing, overbearing, sexy Angelo Lazzio.

I wanted to be angry.

Hell, I was angry.

But all I could do was laugh bitterly, feeling that familiar rush of heat in my chest.

Amore.

God, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to slap him, or kiss him until I forgot my own name.

This angel will be your salvation, your savior. Your guardian angel. Tuo angelo.

My Angelo.

“Say that again, my child.”

“I had sex with the man who killed my sister—the same man I’ve spent six years working for, collecting every scrap of dirt to ruin his life, tear apart his empire, and end him exactly the way he ended her.”

The words poured out like a confession on fast-forward, but I couldn’t stop.

“But now, for reasons beyond human comprehension, I think I’mfalling for him. It wasn’t supposed to be like this! I can’t fall for the man who destroyed my life and left me so… soalone! But he’s so”—I threw my hands up—“infuriatinglyattractive! And he makes me feel things I didn’t even know existed, and it’s like the devil himself is squatting in my brain.”

I finally stopped, panting like I’d just finished a marathon.

Dead silence.

I squinted through the screen, willing the priest to say something,anything.

“Hmm. Father Harrison? Need me to explain your job to you? You’re supposed tohelp me!This is your moment—this is why they gave you the collar!”

He cleared his throat, but his voice was cautious, like he was trying not to set me off. “Miss Whitenhouse… I believe even I can’t help you.”

My jaw dropped. “What? No, no, no! You better find a way, Father, because I am not walking out of here without some soul-saving, or a blessing, or—I don’t know—afactory reset! Purge me! Throw some holy water on me if you have to! I’ll even take a manual reboot!”

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