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I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “You are like a dog with a bone.”
“Can you blame me? This is my life we’re talking about.”
He was right. I was being cavalier, only because I knew the issue had been resolved. I sobered, saying, “It doesn’t matter, because I no longer need to carry it out.”
Giulio’s mouth fell open. “You are kidding.”
“No. The person who wanted you dead has reconsidered.”
“This is a joke. You are . . . .” He huffed angrily, his nostrils flaring. “How could you possibly know this?”
“I rang them just now. It’s canceled.”
“Madre di dio.” He rubbed his face with two hands. “This is unbelievable. Just like that?”
“Well, certain events fell into place. Based on those events, the contract became unwise.”
“You’re talking in riddles, but I don’t care. I’m glad that one less person is trying to kill me.”
“One down, one to go.” I sipped the hot espresso. It was never as good in France as it was in Italia, but I wasn’t complaining.
I let him sit with this news for a few minutes. I knew it came as a shock.
Finally, he leaned in. The look in his eyes was different. Possessive. Aggressive, borderline angry. “And you tell me this now, assassino? When we are in public? When I can’t hold you down and fuck you so hard your teeth rattle?”
My insides wound tight and I licked suddenly dry lips. It was safe to say I liked this new side to Giulio. “You will have to wait, principe.”
“As soon as I have you alone, I’m going to tear you apart.”
Cristo, I couldn’t wait.
He put his sunglasses back on and stared at the horizon. I couldn’t tear my eyes off him. And I no longer had to hide my thoughts and feelings. I didn’t have to pretend that I wasn’t half in love with this man.
“You look very sexy right now,” I said, as I finished my croissant.
He slid me a crooked grin. “I look sexy everywhere.”
We finished our breakfast. Finally, his burner phone rang. Giulio read the number and picked the phone up off the table. “That’s Theo.”
He answered and I listened to the short exchange. It sounded like they were close to shore already.
I watched the crowd in the the marina. We hadn’t been followed, but it was a habit ingrained in me from years in the military. I was constantly searching for danger, vigilant against potential threats. And now I had Giulio to protect.
I wouldn’t let anyone hurt this man.
Ten minutes later we were on a tiny speedboat headed out to sea. There weren’t many other boats on the water at this time of day. Soon a one-hundred-meter super yacht came into view. It was sleek and white, with five decks and dark windows.
“Mamma mia,” I whispered. Whoever owned this boat was rich.
Giulio said nothing, his expression unchanged. No doubt he was used to seeing wealth like this, considering his father. Even though I had millions of Euros in the bank, this was not my lifestyle. More like the lifestyle of my clients.
We slowed and docked at the back of the yacht, where the crew were already waiting to help us aboard. Instantly, I noticed the bulges under their jackets. Odd, for a ship’s crew. Maybe the owner was a paranoid French billionaire.
A crew member led us to the interior of the ship. A man jumped up from a long sofa and came rushing forward on bare feet. He wore wide-leg purple silk trousers and a tank top, his wrists covered in bracelets. Black eyeliner edged his eyelids. “Bello! There you are!” He embraced Giulio, kissing both his cheeks.
“Bonjour, Theo. You are looking tan and rested.”
“That is what good sex on a yacht will do for you,” the man said, turning to me. In French, he asked, “And who is this very tall and handsome man?”
