Page 21 of His Queen

“Maybe it’s the whole Nunzio Ferrero fiasco. She knows that family is responsible. Maybe everything that’s been going down lately triggered her into wanting to know exactly what happened.”

“No.” I shake my head, my jaw clenched as I imagine the consequences of Mira discovering the truth. “That’s not it. Mira’s never shown an interest in digging up the past.”

“So, what do we do?” Maximo leans forward, elbows on his knees. “We can’t just sit back and wait for her to uncover something. It’s too risky.”

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” I say, stubbing the cigar in the glass ashtray. “You just make sure our IT team stays on top of this. One slip-up and everything we’ve done to protect her from the truth will be for nothing.”

“You think she’ll remember when she digs deep enough?”

“Fuck knows. But I’m not chancing it. All it might take is one puzzle piece to slide into place, and her memory could come flooding back.” I stand from my seat and head toward the door. “I’ll talk to her. See if I can figure out what’s going on.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? She might get suspicious.”

“If I don’t talk to her, it’ll be worse. Besides, do you think googling her parents and coming up with not a single result won’t make her suspicious? We need to know what she’s thinking before she digs too deep.”

Maximo nods in agreement.

“What could have prompted Mira to search for information now? Through all these years, she’s never shown an interest, saying she didn’t have to know anything about the past. That the present and future are all that matters.”

“You’re the one married to her. If anyone should know how her mind works, it’s you.”

“I’m not the one sharing a bloodline with her. You are.” I sit back down. “The only thing I’m sharing with her is my bed.”

“Dude,” Maximo raises a brow at me, “stop.”

“Oh, come on.” I roll my eyes. “Be glad I didn’t give you details about how her Pilates stretches come in handy when I’m—”

“I’ll shoot you,” he mutters.

“Come on,” I say, standing and buttoning my suit jacket. “Alexius wants to see all of us.”

“Yeah. I got the memo. What do you think that’s all about?”

I shrug. “Probably an update on all things Ferrero. Who knows what’s up in my brother’s ass this time.”

“I hate that we’re not doing anything.” Maximo stands. “I mean, I get why Alexius doesn’t want to make the first move. But we’re sitting ducks, waiting for Nunzio to fuck up before we can do anything. And that doesn’t sit well with me. We’re basically asking him to shoot us in the back.”

“That’s something you and I can agree on. Plus, it’s been weeks, and we haven’t heard a single fucking thing, which means they’re up to something.”

“Or they’re doing what we’re doing,” Maximo says as we walk out of my office. “Sitting around and waiting for us to make the first move.”

“I doubt it. Nunzio isn’t the patient type. I’m barely restraining myself from going to that goddamn club and planting lead in his skull.”

“That kind of reaction isn’t going to help us get anywhere.”

Maximo and I stop, turning to face Alexius, who has seemingly been walking behind us the entire time.

“Rash decisions often get you killed, and right now, this is a chess match,” he continues. “We need to plan our moves wisely.”

“Imagine if I had to show your restraint,” I say to him. “Then nothing around here would get done.”

Alexius smirks. “In your dreams, brother. Are Isaia and Caelian here yet?”

“I saw Isaia pull up earlier,” Maximo says. “But I haven’t seen Caelian.”

“You know where he is?” Alexius looks my way. “You?”

“I haven’t seen him since we bumped into him earlier.”

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