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“You'll need to give me some time to retrieve the diamond. I can't just waltz in and grab it without raising suspicions."
“I think we already deduced that,” he looks at me like I’m a fool. My mind runs in circles, thinking of a plan. To save Fiero’s life, I need to do this now. I close my eyes and think of all the possibilities. Finally, I realize there is a way I can pull this off.
"I have Fiero eating out of my hand. Tomorrow, I can spend the night at his. Once inside, I'll need to disable the security system and retrieve the diamond from its hiding place. To do that, I'll need your help with buying me the time I need to bypass the safeguards."
He considers this. "And how do we do that? Do you need my people to hack into their system? Then I wouldn’t really need you for this job, would I?”
“It’s simple,” I say. "No, you attack the compound, and while Fiero and his cronies deal with you, I can get what you need. But remember, no matter what happens,” I make it clear, “you must keep Fiero alive. Because if by a slim chance I fail, we’d need him.”
“Understood,” he confirms, promising to let my Fiero live.
He inches closer and removes the ropes. I look grateful, but there’s a war in my head. Tomorrow, I will betray Fiero. Tomorrow, I see him for the last time.
But it’s a price I’m willing to pay for saving his life.
Chapter 37
Fiero
Waiting for Romola is a delicious torture, the minutes slowly ticking by. It’s been almost 24 hours since I last saw her, and this morning, she said she’d be here by seven p.m. I adjust the cuff of my leather jacket and check my reflection one last time in the shine of the refrigerator door.
I want tonight to be perfect.
The sound of the dining room door opening sends me darting back to the counter. It's finally happening. My men follow their orders well. They’re to escort Romola through the house. I quickly put the garlic in the sizzling butter, and it hisses.
By the time she’s shown into the kitchen, there’s that perfect welcoming smell of an Italian kitchen. I turn to see her wide-eyed, her mouth half-open. “Fiero!” she gasps, looking at the mess all over. “What the hell are you going?”
“Che aspetto ha, tesoro? Sto cucinando per te.” - What does it look like, darling? I’m cooking for you.
“Cucinare per me? Per qualunque cosa?” - Cooking for me? Whatever for?
“I figured you’d be hungry,” I state matter-of-factly.
She glances around the kitchen, her eyes lingering on the simmering pots and the beautifully set table. "You didn't have to go through all this trouble just for me," she says.
"Ah, but I wanted to," I counter playfully, trying to mask my nervousness. Besides, when was the last time you had a home-cooked meal?"
She walks over to my side, and I dip a spoon into the tomato sauce to give her a little taste. She licks the spoon with her juicy, luscious lips, and I can hardly look away. This woman has me wrapped around her finger and doesn’t even know it. “Mmm,” she closes her eyes, almost swooning at the taste.
“Glad you like it,” I whisper.
She opens her eyes and keeps them on me as I carefully flip a piece of fish in the pan. The sizzle of the fish and the aroma of garlic and lemon filling the air are the only sounds.
When I turn back to her and suggest offering her a glass of wine, a tear wells up in the corner of her eye.
"Hey, what's wrong?" I ask.
“It’s just…” she breaks off her gaze and wipes away the tear. “I didn’t expect you to do all this.”
I can't stop the rush of warmth for her. It's not every day that someone is so touched by a simple meal. A woman as beautiful, as intelligent, as extraordinary as her should know what it’s like to be treated like the queen she is.
I put on a mischievous smile and inch closer, placing my thumb on her cheek. I trace it as I say, "It’s good you cried now. It’s just practice for when you dig into my horrible cooking. I truly never thought my culinary skills could be this moving."
For a second, she looks shocked. Then, her eyes turn upwards, and she bends over in a squeal of laughter.
I join her. This is all I want. She and I are happy together.
Once the laughter fades, she still smiles and whispers, "It's just such a sweet gesture, Fiero."
