Page 64 of His Enemy's Daughter
“Compelling’s one word for it.” His arm tightens around me. “You know, for someone who claimed they weren’t fragile, you’re shaking.”
“Adrenaline comedown.” But I’m pressing closer, absorbing his warmth. “Also, I just had mind-blowing sex with a wounded man who technically should be in a hospital bed.”
“Technically, I should be dead about ten different ways.” His thumb brushes across my shoulder. “Instead, I’m in a cabin with the woman who helped me steal evidence that will destroy her father’s empire. Life is full of surprises.”
“We should rest,” I finally say, though neither of us moves. “Plan our next moves. Coordinate with Simeone about releasing the ledger information.”
“We should,” he agrees. “But right now, I’m content to just exist here with you. Proof we both survived, both made it out, both get to fight another day.”
I let my eyes close, finally allowing exhaustion to win. Outside, dawn fully breaks over the mountains—painting everything in shades of amber and new beginnings.
We stole the ledgers. We survived the heist. We have everything we need to burn Sabino’s world to ashes.
But right now, wrapped in Mauricio’s arms with his heartbeat steady against mine, I’m not thinking about revenge or justice or empires built on blood.
I’m thinking about how it feels to finally be seen. To be chosen. To matter to someone who understands survival because they’ve lived it too.
19
Mauricio
“Mauricio Barone?”
The unfamiliar voice on my phone makes every instinct I’ve honed over years scream danger. I glance at Regina, who’s dozed off against my good shoulder, then carefully extract myself from the bed to take this call in the other room.
“Who’s asking?”
“Detective Elisabetta Borghese. Simeone gave me your number.” Her voice carries the kind of crisp authority that comes from years of dealing with men who think they’re smarter than her. “We need to talk about Sabino Picarelli.”
I move to the window, scanning the tree line out of habit. “If Simeone trusts you enough to give out my contact information, he must have mentioned I’m not particularly fond of law enforcement.”
“He mentioned you were just released from prison. He also mentioned you’re currently harboring his enemy’s daughter and planning to release evidence that could start a war.” A pause. “I’m offering you a third option.”
“I’m listening.” Though every cell in my body is calculating how quickly I can disappear if this is a setup.
“I’ve been building a case against Sabino Picarelli for eight years. Evidence, testimony, documentation of every crime he’s committed since I started investigating him. But I need one thing I don’t have—his private ledgers. The ones you just stole from his vault last night.”
My blood runs cold. “How do you know about that?”
“Because I’ve been watching his estate for months. I saw the convoy leave for the emergency meeting. I saw the alarms go off. And I saw two people flee in a stolen vehicle with one of them bleeding from a gunshot wound.” Her tone softens slightly. “You’re lucky his guards are terrible shots.”
“What do you want, Detective?”
“The same thing you want—Sabino Picarelli destroyed. But I want him in prison for the rest of his life, not just dead insome gang war. I want him to suffer legally, publicly, with no possibility of his empire continuing after he’s gone.”
I process this, weighing angles and motivations. “And Regina? What happens to her in your vision of justice?”
“Miss Picarelli walks free.” No hesitation. “I’ve done my homework, Mr. Barone. I know she’s not his biological daughter. I know what he did to her real parents. And I know she’s been gathering evidence against him for years, which tells me she’s more victim than accomplice.”
“You’ve done your homework.” I turn from the window, lowering my voice. “But why contact me instead of just arresting us both and seizing the ledgers as evidence?”
“Because arresting you creates complications I don’t need. Sabino has judges, prosecutors, half the department in his pocket. If I move against you officially, it tips my hand before I’m ready.” She pauses. “But if you cooperate voluntarily, if we coordinate—I can ensure those ledgers get into the right hands. Federal hands, not local corruption.”
Regina appears in the doorway, hair mussed from sleep, eyes alert with concern.Who is it?she mouths.
I hold up one finger. “What’s your offer specifically, Detective?”
“You provide the ledgers and any other evidence you’ve gathered. I build an airtight federal case that puts Sabino away for life—RICO charges, murder, trafficking, the works. Inexchange, I ensure Regina receives full immunity and witness protection if she needs it. You get your revenge legally instead of suicidally.”
