Page 180 of Ruin Me With Lies
New words appear on the screen:
Can’t wait :)
And then it flickers to black and the computer begins to reboot.
Just like that, she’s gone again.
“Fucking hell,” Gio mutters, rubbing his jaw.“How the hell does she know what’s going on here?Someone’s got to be reporting shit to her.”
I laugh, light and loose for the first time in months.“Better question is how she knew we were under threat and needed help in the first place.”
Lorenzo frowns.“You think she’s withTHE O?”
“I’ve thought it.”I turn to the suitcase on the bed and start unpacking.“But it doesn’t make sense.Maybe she used to be with them?An ex-member or a rogue?”
“Or maybe she’s got them as hacked as she has us,” Gio grumbles, visibly irritated.“Oh hey, what’s that about a number she left for you?”
“Don’t worry about it.I’ll be at the meeting tomorrow.”I flick my wrist to shoo them out.“Now, get the fuck out.Both of you.”
“You’re welcome, by the way,” Lorenzo mutters as he heads for the door.“Not like it’smylaptop she hijacked or anything.Pussy-whipped motherfucker.”
“Whatever, stalker.”
“At least I knowwhereto find mine to stalk her,” he throws over his shoulder.
“At least I got to fuck mine, creeper.”
“At least I—”
“For Pete’s sake, you’rebothpathetic,” Gio cuts in.
“Fuck off, Gio,” we say in unison.
CHAPTER FORTY
Stefano
THREE WEEKS LATER
BRATTON BACHMANN GREETSMEon the tarmac as I descend from the jet.
“Stefano fucking Castello!”He throws his arms wide.“Welcome to my homeland.”
“Picking me up from the airport now?I’m touched.”
He laughs.“Only to see your ugly mug before I leave.”
We slap palms and bump forearms.“Leave?”
“Yeah...”He points to a waiting jet across the tarmac.“There’s an urgent matter with Kat’s business so I have to head out for a few days.Sorry, man.I was looking forward to balling out while you’re here.You always roll out the red carpet for me in Vegas.But duty calls.While you’re here, though, my people are your people.”He gestures to a waiting Maybach, his longtime driver standing by the door.“You remember Lars.He’ll take you wherever you want.You’ve got carte blanche on everything.”He winks and emphasizes, “And I meaneverything.”
Laughing, I shake my head.“Once again, Bratton, I’m not interested in fucking your wife.”
“Well, I mean...”He shrugs.“That won’t stop her from trying.She never got over her thing for you from back in the day.Better if she gets it out of her system…”
“Dammit.I knew I should’ve gone to The Ritz.”
“Nonsense.”He claps me on the shoulder with a bark of laughter.“Hope you get through with whatever brought you here, though.Mi casa es su casa.I’ll check in after I land.”
