Page 166 of Sinful Lies

No more sex, even if I wanted—desperatelywanted—to.

Just the end I’d been chasing.

I let my eyes sweep around the room, taking in his library. The bookshelves were lined with thick, leather-bound volumes, each spineperfectlyaligned. I dragged my fingers along the edge of the shelves, pretending I wasn’t imagining what kind of secrets might be hidden behind the neatly stacked rows.

But my focus didn’t last.

My gaze slid across the room and landed on his desk—bingo.

There it was. The black burner phone. Its screen was ever so slightly cracked.

Four inches to the left sat his laptop, sleek and closed. Four inches to the right, a picture frame stood with a photo of Georgino and his parents, smiling.

I hovered by the desk, fingers grazing the phone like it might bite me back. My stomach churned, not with guilt—that would’ve been too easy—but with this gnawing, sickening fear of being caught.

My fingers closed around the phone. The old, cracked case practically mocked me, the jagged edge biting into my palm like it had teeth. Perfect. Because God knows I deserved the sting.

Time to move.

If I stood there any longer, I’d start thinking—reallythinking—and that was never a good idea.

I slipped out of the room, carefully and silently closing the door behind me. Walking on the tips of my toes, I made my way down the hall, the soft patter of my steps swallowed by thelingering quiet. The sound of the shower had long since faded, leaving only the hum of my own nerves for company.

Pausing just before the living room, I leaned into the shadows, scanning the open space for any sign of movement. Empty.Good.

With quick, measured strides, I reached the kitchen counter where I’d left my bag the night before. My hands worked fast, opening the zipper and slipping the phone inside before tugging it closed again.

Mission accomplished.

Or so I thought.

Two strong arms wrapped around my waist out of nowhere, locking me in place.

I screamed, my hand flying to my heart as it thundered against my ribs.

Angelo’s laugh rumbled against my back, deep and infuriatingly amused, before he dipped his head into the curve of my neck.

“There you are.”

I exhaled shakily. “You scared the hell out of me! I thought you were some crazy stalker about to kidnap me.”

His teeth grazed the sensitive skin of my neck. “Don’t tempt me,” he murmured, his hands sliding down to rest firmly on my hips. “I’ve been told I’d make averyconvincing kidnapper.”

“Really? Because I’m not impressed. No van? No chloroform? Your execution needs work.”

He chuckled, pulling me even closer. “Who needs a van when I can carry you over my shoulder? You’d be halfway to Stockholm Syndrome before I even reached the front door.”

“Bold of you to assume I’d make it easy.”

“Bold ofyouto assume I wouldn’t enjoy the fight,amore.”

Infuriating.

Absolutely infuriating.

And yet, my body was ready to hand over all my common sense and let him win.

I moaned as his lips kissed the sensitive spot behind my ear.

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