Page 16 of Shield

His grin falls off his face, replaced with a flat, dead-eyed expression, as he rolls his chair back to his desk. “Can’t help you.”

Desperation rips through me. For one reckless moment, I consider stripping down just to prove I’m not hiding anything, but the fact that he might still refuse to help me after that makes my stomach churn. No. Humiliating myself in front of Vin is not an option.

But I need her number.

“This phone belonged to my sister, Emily Bellamorte-Briarone.” My voice is shaky, but at least I have his attention. He stops what he’s doing, his cold gaze shifting to the phone. “It’s dead—water damage—and I need someone to fix it and get inside. I just—”

“You want to break into your dead sister’s phone. Why?”

“I just… I want to understand what happened to her. Why someone would want her dead.” My voice cracks, and I clear mythroat to cover it up and stand taller.

Vin’s expression hardens. “Your sister married a deadbeat little bitch with zero loyalty and less integrity. She’s dead because she had bad taste in men. Learn from her mistakes, princess, and get the fuck out of here before the same shit happens to you.”

I blink, stunned. “I don’t know what you mean. I’m not with anyone. I’m not here for you, if that’s what—”

Vin cuts me off with an eye roll. “From what I understand, you’re pretty heavily involved with one of my best friends. Which begs the question: why aren’t you asking him for help? Why me?”

“You’ve got it wrong,” I say, my face flushing. “I haven’t spoken to Matti in weeks. I just need—”

“Why not?” Vin’s glare sharpens, and I can’t tell if he’s fucking with me or genuinely clueless.

If he’s one of Matti’s best friends, basically his brother, and doesn’t know what happened, it’s because Matti didn’t think I was worth mentioning. The realization sinks through me like a rock.

“He was never serious about me. We were never serious.” Saying it out loud, the truth of the statement cuts even deeper.

Vin stares at me hard. “Were you serious about him?”

“It was…” My voice falters, the words tangling in my throat. Frustration and shame build until the dam snaps, and they come spilling out in a heated rush. “What the fuck does it matter? He killed my sister!”

The words hang heavy in the air, and I instantly regret saying them.

Vin settles back in his chair and frowns. “I thought you said you didn’t know who killed her. If you really believe it washim, why are you here? You think I’d help you dig up dirt on my own brother?” He shakes his head and goes back to his paperwork. “Fucking delusional. Get the fuck out.”

I swallow hard. “You think he did it, too?”

“Jesus Christ,” Vin mutters. “Not to be a total asshole, but I don’t fucking care, princess. Now get the fuck out.”

Desperation leaks from my bones, and I start to shake despite my winter coat and hat. “Please. I don’t want to be here anymore than you want me here. But if someone killed your brother, wouldn’t you do whatever it took, no matter how much you hated it, to know what happened?”

Vin regards me suspiciously, but something about him softens the littlest bit. “What do you think I have that you need?”

“Valentina’s contact information.”

“Fuck me,” Vin groans. “I don’t have that bitch’s number. And if you’re smart, you’ll stay far away from her. She’s not the type to do favors.”

“I’ll worry about that. If you could just get me her number.”

Vin sighs, and folds his hands on the desk, barely able to contain his irritation. “You don’t know what you’re asking for, princess. She doesn’t play nicely with other women. Hell, she doesn’t play nice with anyone. You’re barking up the wrong tree. Find someone else.”

I set my jaw, determined. “I’m aware of who she is. Just… please,” I say, swallowing hard.

Unbidden, an image of Valentina in her red lingerie and trench coat, Matti kissing her, ripping her trenchcoat open, his strong hands gripping her body as he pushes inside her overwhelms my brain. Shame washes over me that I actually thought he could have ever really wanted me, and I wonder ifI’m being just as stupid to believe that I can get Valentina to help me.

I shake my head to erase it, all of it, as fast as it appears. I can’t let Matti continue to fuck with my life.

Vin is watching me, like he’s trying to figure me out, trying to guess my angle. He rubs a hand over his face and turns his attention back to the paperwork. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Hope blossoms in my chest, and I feel myself light up. “Really?”

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