Page 159 of Inferno

“Correct. Not officially on my end.” He holds out a hand to her and chuckles.

“Oops. Bit tied up, aren’t you?”

She scowls at him and I can’t help but smile.

“I’m Enzo. I’m sure your husband knows me.”

Her eyes widen. There it is. That horror. The pain.

Inside, I’m pleading with the universe for her to say he isn’t her husband.

“My husband doesn’t divulge business with me. That’s not my job.” She looks down, disgust on her face as she said those first two words.

As she looks up at the camera, my heart races.

I’m not sure what I feel.

Hatred. Anger. Betrayal. Hurt?

Sympathy?

It’s something. Yet deep inside me, I want to rush down there and throw Enzo out of the room to get my real answer.

I don’t even hear my door, as Conan is behind me clasping me on the shoulder.

“You okay, bro?” he asks.

“Not fucking really.” I nod to the screen.

I thought it would be easier than it was to let my anger out on her.

Yet one look in those pools of blue and I was lost. Transported back to a time where life was easier.

To a time I felt alive.

I’ve lived in a hard shell for five years, doing anything to chase that high she gave me, with no success.

“Tell me, Charlotte.”

Enzo leans in closer, and I clench my jaw.

“Who runs the family you work for? I assume you aren’t just married for love?”

My heartbeat is so erratic my chest burns.

Her shoulders slump, but I see her mind racing as she stares into Enzo's eyes.

“Tatiana is the head of the family. Vlad and Emil are her brothers. I’m married to Vlad,” she says harshly, like it’s poison on her tongue.

“How much do you know of Tatiana?”

Enzo is almost flustered, patting down his suit.

“Her brothers fear her. She recently got shot, she’s recovering.” Charlotte looks deep in thought.

“I’ve come to the conclusion she isn’t as evil as her brothers. She doesn’t know me or—” She cuts herself off.

“She doesn’t even know I exist.”

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