Page 75 of The Silence Lies

“Can you ask Raf to run some checks on the Verdi’s movements? If they have—“

“You’re really doing this?” I throw her a stern look. “You’re really going to get involved with the Vultures?”

“I don’t have a choice! You heard them, Luca. It’s her or me, and I happen to like being alive!” She’s visibly shaking, her entire body going rigid. I’ve rarely seen true fear on her face, but as she stands in front of me, my gut twists for her.

“Hey!” I rush forward, bracing her face between my palms. “None of us are going to let anything happen to you. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Sera closes her eyes, taking deep breaths. Her palms slide against mine like this is what she wanted, what she needed.

“But the Vultures can’t be trusted!”

Her eyes snap open. All remnants of the soft interaction have been replaced with a sharp glare that could cut through steel.

“Who can?” she bites back, shoving me away.

I release a sigh that breaks a little of the tension filling the room. I don’t mean to come across like a dick, but she’s a leader, and she’s leading herself to her own death.

“You wanted to know what the Verdis had on the gang, and you’ve got it.”

“You promised them something we can’t deliver!” I feel like I’m fighting a losing battle. All I want is for Sera to see that she hasn’t thought this plan through. There are so many holes, so many variables to what could go wrong and without a solid plan, we’re basically sitting ducks. “This wasn’t a part of the plan!”

“No,” she screams at me. “I’ve made a promise that I intend to keep! If you’re not willing to help, you know where the door is.”

A blanket of frustration lays over us. We’re both stubborn, both in denial over shit we can’t control, and neither one of us is willing to back down.

After a beat, Sera sighs, her shoulders slumping with defeat as she waves me off and heads for the stairs. I hesitate for a moment, stuck somewhere between being polite and pissed off, and I already know which emotion is going to win this battle.

I decide within a matter of seconds. Hot on her tail and eager for answers, I march after her.

“You’re so fucking infuriating!” I growl.

Sera spins around, diverting from her path to the bathroom and marching right for me instead. “And you’re not?” She punctuates her retort with a finger prodding my chest sharply.

I rub at the area because it actually fucking hurt.

“If I don’t do this, I’m going to be looking over my fucking shoulder constantly, until—“

“You don’t get it, do you?” I step towards her but she counters with one of her own backwards. I move again. So does she. We continue the dance until her back is against the wall, her chest heaving with what I can only perceive as anger.

I don’t know how else I can make her understand, though. She still has time to back out. Nobody would think less of her for rethinking terms or even rescinding her side of the agreement. If I’m being honest, rescuing some girl isn’t going to do her any favors and it certainly won’t stop the Verdis. We don’t even know where they’ve supposedly got her hidden—if they even really have her.

“Understand what?” She tilts her head, big brown eyes looking up at me with so many questions.

Too many questions.

There’s only one answer I can give her, though, and I don’t know if it’s what she needs to hear.

She frowns, forcing the words to the tip of my tongue.

“I’m willing to do anything and everything to keep you safe. Is that not enough?”

Our eyes lock for a breathless moment. Time moves at a slower pace, my reactions sluggish as Sera hooks her arm around my neck and slams her mouth to mine.

It’s a hot mess of tongues and desperation. Her need wars with the kiss, consuming me in its wake. I devour her, equally hungry for more of this moment, more of her. Bianchi is like a storm you try to run from. You know she’ll destroy you if you’re not careful, but there’s also the possibility of salvation.

Maybe that’s what we both need.

Her hand reaches for my belt, fumbling clumsily at it until it’s open. With our lips still connected, she claws at my shirt, peeling my jacket off my shoulders urgently. I don’t know what the fuck is happening or how the hell we got here, but my dick is definitely here for it. It’s not until Sera pulls away that I finally catch my breath, realization sinking in of what she wants.

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