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Luca responds quickly, clawing for the weapon. It spins free of the two of them, landing at my feet. I pick it up and point it at Luca who’s aiming punches at Adrian. “Enough,” I say, my finger on the trigger. “It’s over.”
He sneers at me. “Bet you don’t know even how to use it,” he taunts, underestimating the resolve that Adrian has nurtured in me.
“Actually, I do,” I assert with a calm I don’t feel. “My husband showed me.” I squeeze the trigger. The gunshot that follows echoes down the streets of my hometown. Luca’s body falls to the ground, his eyes glazed.
Adrian’s gaze meets mine, a storm of emotions passing between us. “I thought you didn’t want any more killing,” he says, his voice a mix of shock and questioning.
“No, I said no more killing from you. He came to my hometown and threatened my husband.”
“Anyone ever tell you you’re a real badass, Emma Rose?”
“You got that wrong,” I reply.
“I did?”
“My name is Emma Calderone.”
He smiles but then his brow furrows. “Shame I still lost all the money to his account,” he says, a hint of defeat in his voice. “Going to be a ball ache trying to get it back.”
“No need,” I say, passing him the gun. “I didn’t learn coding for no good reason.”
“What do you mean?”
“Might have showed him a fake screenshot. The money’s still where you left it.”
“What? How the hell did you do that?”
“Got to keep some secrets, haven’t I?”
“My wife,” he says. “Outwitted two men with guns. I married the right person.” He laughs.
I give him a smile back. “I wonder what the cartel will do when Charles turns up with no cash to transfer.”
“It won’t be pretty. They don’t like being messed with. Now I better call Matteo, arrange to get this body taken care of.”
He steps away to make the call. As he does, a woman walks out from the alleyway. It’s Luca’s wife. “He beat me. I was so scared,” she confesses, looking down at the body, her eyes narrowed.
“So often I wished he would just die.” She takes my hands in hers, looking up at me. “You saved me from him. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I reply. “What will you do now?”
“I don’t know. I have nothing. He took me from my father when I was fifteen. I have no family.”
“I’ll ask my husband,” I reply. “I’m sure he can help.”
Adrian turns back to face me, phone still pressed to his ear. “Got plenty of places in New York,” he calls across, obviously having heard every word. “She can take her pick.”
17
ADRIAN
“What happens to Luca’s wife?” she asks as I close the door of the mansion, shutting the night outside.
“Matteo’s going to take her back to New York with him. She can stay in one my rentals. Luca had a life insurance policy. She’ll do all right.”
“You did a good thing for her,” she replies, squeezing my hand. “I appreciate it. Thank you.”
“Enough about her. Are you all right?”
