“Was the plan to kill him and find someone more aligned with your ideals, or was it a warning? A way of reminding him that you decide who keeps breathing?”
I clicked my tongue as Salvo shook his head. “No comment.”
Morelli smirked and shut the laptop. “Your wife has just arrived,SignorBuccini. We look forward to hearing what she has to say.”
My glare hardened and my heart pounded as they rose to their feet. I opened my mouth to tell them she had nothing to do with this and to leave her out of it, but Salvo grabbed my shoulder, squeezing tightly in warning.Don’t lose my head.
As soon as the door shut, Salvo slammed his hand on the table. “What the hell was that?”
With my elbows braced on the table, I ran my fingers through my hair and closed my eyes. “It’s not what it sounded like. It was a conversation I had with Aria. Half of the conversation was edited out. I actually said I would never hurt the mayor during it.”
“Well, that’s not what it sounded like,” Salvo growled, shaking his head. “This is bad. Very fucking bad, Santino.”
“I know,” I breathed. “But that’s why my family employs you.”
He groaned, muttering, “I’m not a magician.”
“No. You’d better be a bloody miracle worker for the amount I pay you.”
He huffed. “What do you think your wife will say when they play her that recording?”
I swallowed and pressed my palms together, bouncing my hands against my lips. I hated the very thought of Aria being questioned or put in a situation like this, but I tried to focus on what she would do. How she would act.
“She’ll lie,” I whispered, my heart pounding with a mix of pride and worry. “She’ll lie to save me.”
Salvo leaned forward, searching my side profile. “You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
“The mayor’s daughter? The innocent, blue-eyed woman who avoidsthe cameras and press, works at the hospital, and raises money for charities will give false evidence to save your skin?”
“She isn’t as innocent as she looks,” I said, as my lips curled slightly, knowing my little rebel had it in her to be very, very bad.
“Well, for both our sakes, I hope you’re right. I’d like to sleep in my own bed tonight.”
“Amen,” I groaned, pressing my palm to my growing erection, which was quite unhelpful in my current situation, but just thinking about how naughty my wife could be had that effect.
“Are you…Cristo.Stop that right now,” Salvo groaned with disgust.
“Calm down, Carbone. It’s not for you, is it?”
He rolled his eyes.
I squeezed my hands beneath the table to calm the violent nerves and anxiety that were only heightened by the memories of the last time I was questioned at a police station, the morning after my mum died. I’d been a mess then, barely able to string a sentence together through the sobs and the fact they thought I might have purposely caused the fire. It was soul-destroying. Luckily, they soon realised I was just a completely distraught and grieving daughter who blamed myself anyway, and they let me go.
But this was different. They had the wrong man. Sani may be a sinner, but he didn’t do this. Instead of falling apart under the pressure, knowing that I could be the one to get him out of here forced me to stay calm.
Detective Ferri sat opposite me and opened a slim file, while one of the Buccini family lawyers sat to my left. His partner, Morelli, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, watching me.
“Firstly, we wish your father a speedy recovery and hope he’s back on his feet soon,” Ferri said with a gentle smile.
“Thank you, detective. He’s a strong man. I know he’ll be okay.”
“It must have been quite a shock when your own husband was arrested for involvement?” Morelli interrupted, and my head snapped towards him.
“Shock? Yes. It was a complete shock. Especially because he didn’t do it.”
“SignoraBuccini,” Ferri attempted to draw my attentionback to him. “We just need to clarify a few details to better understand what happened last night.”
