Page 56 of Dangerous Kiss
Chapter Twenty-Three
Cosimo couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. He sought out Lars, who was working at one of the tables in the lounge. Lars smiled at him as he sat down.
“Biba get away okay?”
Cosimo nodded. “Fine, but now I’m thinking I shouldn’t have let her out of my sight.”
“It’s the yips,” Lars said with a shrug. “We’ve all got them since Stella. She’s with Reggie and Steve, Cos, they’ll die before they let anything happen to her.”
Cosimo sighed. “You’re right. Any news?”
“Not on Stella, but Rich’s family is suing the studio.”
“Well, I don’t blame them. Tell them I’ll support them in their bid.”
“They’re suing you, too,” Lars said with a half-laugh, and Cosimo snorted.
“I don’t blame them for that either. Tell their lawyer I’ll settle.”
“Seventeen million?”
“Do it.”
Lars laughed again. “Oh, to be a billionaire.”
Cosimo smiled, but his eyes were serious. “I’m responsible, Lars. When I’m the director on a film set and something like this happens, I’m responsible. I should have upped the security, asked for a different FBI agent—so much more.”
“Dude, you had an army—relatively speaking, of course.”
Cosimo rubbed his face then pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “Steve’s supposed to be checking in every hour.”
“How long ago did they leave?”
“Forty minutes.”
Lars took the phone from Cosimo. “You’ll drive yourself crazy like that. C’mon, man, relax a little. There’s nothing else to do.”
“Maybe I should follow them up to the cabin.”
“Jesus, Cos.” Sifrido came up behind them, rolling his eyes. “Always the control freak. Relax, brother.”
He flopped down into an easy chair and exchanged a look with Lars that Cosimo didn’t understand. Lars picked up his phone. “Gotta make a call. Be right back.”
Cosimo waited until Lars had left and then looked at Sifrido. “What is it?”
Sifrido hesitated. “I’m not sure this is the right time to bring this up. Then again, I don’t think there is a good time to have this conversation.”
“Just spill it, ‘‘’Frido.”
Sifrido squared his shoulders and nodded. “It’s about Grace...and me. And one night sixteen years ago.”
He didn’t need to say anymore, but Cosimo would bet all of his money he wasn’t expecting the reaction Cosimo gave him. “Oh,thank God.”
Sifrido’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”
Cosimo started to laugh. “As weird as this sounds…I’m glad. I’m glad it’s you, ’Frido. I had always suspected you and Grace were attracted to each other, I just didn’t know you’d acted on it. But, God, I’m relieved. Knowing Nicco…you know.”
Sifrido was incredulous. “You’re okay with raising another man’s son?”
