“Good girl.” I cringe in disgust at the name but wait for his reply.
“What I want is simple,” he starts. “And if you keep playing the part of the obedient little whore, it’ll be even simpler.”
I listen attentively.
“I want him dead,” he deadpans.
“What?” I yell.
A heavy weight settles on my chest, and suddenly, even breathing seems difficult on hearing his words.
“You heard me.”
“How am I supposed to do that?” I ask.
He chuckles. “I don’t know, maybe when you’re riding cowgirl you could get a knife and plunge it in his chest. Easy.”
Fresh tears gather in my eyes at the imagination. I would never do that, but I can’t help but contemplate it if it will save Lucas’s life.
“What if I get caught?”
“Don’t worry about being caught, missy. Just do your part, and I’ll handle the rest.”
I inhale. “After this, we’re done right?”
“Done and dusted,” he replies.
“Okay. Don’t you dare lay another finger on Lucas.”
The door to my office swings open as soon as those words are out of my mouth. I look up to find Giovanni in the doorway. I quickly put the phone away and wipe my eyes, giving him my full attention.
“Hey, Gio,” I greet, rising from my seat and walking towards him.
I frown when I notice he doesn’t return my smile or stride to me as usual, and that’s when I notice his jaw is ticking and his fists are clenched. A sign that he’s angry.
“What’s wrong?” I ask calmly.
My head is forming a dozen scenarios for his anger. Still, I attribute it to the fact that his brother might have paid him another visit.
“You’re asking me that?” he asks calmly.
His voice is calm, but I can see the anger swirling in his pupils and a hint of hurt that makes me weak in the knees.
He nods. “Let me show you something.”
He dips his fingers in his pocket and brings out his phone while my heart nearly jumps out of my chest, but I must maintain a calm façade.
“How would you explain this?” He hands me the phone while it’s in his gallery, and I look down at it.
“Go on, take it.” He puts the phone in my palm.
I blink and open the gallery to see the first picture. My eyes widen when I see the floor plan of the warehouse. I would have easily dismissed it as a coincidence, but I can see my nail poking through from when I held it down to snap it.
My mouth grapes wide open, and it feels like the whole world is crumbling on my shoulders.
“Keep scrolling,” he instructs, but I can hear the hurt in his voice.
I can’t bear to look at him, so I keep scrolling. It’s almost like I’m scrolling on my phone. Every picture I sent to Victor is there, staring back at me mockingly, including the code I had snapped from a sticky note in his drawer.