Page 64 of Wrapped in Silver

He turns away, embarrassed.

“Silver Valentino,” I call the full name I made up for him. “Did you…?”

“You seemed to be missing something in your duffle bag.” He points at my bare feet. “Thought I’d give you some comfort in a tough time.”

Melt.

Dead.

Who is this man?

“Don’t make a thing of it.” His loafersclackas he makes way for the closet.

I’m left standing there with my jaw hanging open, and immediately rip open the packaging and slip them on my feet. May be the best gift of all time. Or most unexpected, anyway.

Wait a second…

“Why are you being so nice?” I pry, walking up to him as he stuffs his duffle bag full of items. “Is something wrong? Are you buttering me up so I don’t start screaming when you tell me something terrible?”

His back is to me, but I can still sense the scowl on his face. “Not particularly,” he says, and I don’t buy it.

“Silver.”I pinch his side, and he slaps me away. “Spit it out.” I grab his arm to stop his ritual.

He eyes me angrily and turns on me. “I’ve decided on my course.”

“Without talking to me about it?” I frown. “What am I to you, chopped liver?”

My mom used to say that.Oh my God, I’m becoming just like her.

“I’ve decided I’m going to let you and your father free… in due time.”

I want to explode with excited relief! Only… why is his face so angry then?

“Yeah, thought you’d be thrilled about that,” he says, digging back into the closet.

“What—” I realize by him doing that, a world of disdain might be coming his way. “Arosso,” I use his name when I’m being serious. “I’ll never say anything.”

“I know you wouldn’t. That’s one of the reasons I’ve decided.”

“Then what—”

“I told you.” He pinches my chin lightly. “Ferraro being involved changes everything. He’ll go to the ends of the earth to capture you, if that wasn’t clear. He put his wife in the crossfire for fuck’s sake, which means the Russian’s have a mark on his head for not successfully delivering your father to Yuri. Not to mention, the massacre at that house is a crime scene, and you’re a missing person. If I let you and your father goright now, you’d both be captured by either Ferraro or the bratva, both of which will land you in the same place.”

“I don’t follow… The good cops would be able to protect us. We’ll be fine, and you disappear. We’ll meet again in the shadows.”

“Don’t be a fool, Quinn. Not only will your father have a million questions about a missing person miraculously turning up, but you’ll need me to help clean up this mess. That’s the only way you’ll be safe. We don’t know how deep Ferraro’s ring of cops goes. It’s doubtful he’s working on his own.”

“I have faith this will all work out somehow, Silver.” I’m trying my best to remain hopeful.

He scoffs. “You’ll be okay. Me? This is my last job.”

“Silverstop talking like that.”

“The facts are simple—we’re going to have to work together, and your father will never keep quiet about a guy like me. Not for long, anyway.”

“I’llmakehim,” I say, heat flaring up my chest. “There’s no way I’ll let him put you in danger.No fucking way.After all you’ve done?”

“An old bear like him? His cop instincts will take over. He doesn’t see the grey like you do.”

---