Page 224 of Lorenzo

“Yes.” She tightens her arms around my neck. “So I guess that makes us both a little stupid.”

I kiss her again, slower this time, deeper, pouring all the fear, anger, and love I felt this morning into it.

When I finally pull away, we're both breathing a little heavily.

“We need to talk.”

“I know.” She pulls back, her expression serious. “About Lakeview.”

Still holding her, I look around the office at the open drawers, scattered paperwork, and the door someone managed to enter without leaving obvious damage.

“But not here.”

Chapter Twenty Eight

Donna

For a few seconds after Lorenzo finishes, I say nothing.

We keep walking along the edge of the lake while Mocha moves several yards ahead of us, nose to the ground as he investigates a clump of dead grass with the concentration of someone solving a major crime.

The wind coming off the water is colder than I expected, and I pull my coat tighter around myself while I try to sort through everything Lorenzo just told me.

Behind us, far enough away to give us privacy and close enough that neither of us can pretend they are not there, two of his security people follow at an unhurried pace.

Under normal circumstances, I would probably make a comment about it.

Right now, I barely care.

“So Marcello thinks you killed Angelo,” I say finally.

Lorenzo looks out across the water. “In every way that matters to him.”

“But you didn’t.”

“No.”

I glance at him, at the expression on his face. “You know that, too, right?”

His lips tighten slightly. “Knowing something and being entirely unaffected by it are different things.”

There is no defensiveness in his voice, which somehow makes the answer easier to understand.

“I get why you feel guilty,” I say. “I don’t agree with it, but I get it.”

He looks at me then.

“Do you?” he asks quietly.

“I don't have to be a parent to understand your guilt and where it's coming from. You may not have liked Marcello, and yes, Angelo made his own choices, but you're still a father, and watching a father not be able to protect his son obviously hits close to home. You can know they made their own choices and still feel guilty at the part you played in all of it.”

Lorenzo watches me for a moment before looking ahead again.

“That is more or less the argument I have been having with myself since it happened.”

“Well, congratulations. You can stop now. I’ve settled it.”

That earns me a sideways glance.