Page 92 of The Taste of Deceit

“Neither have I.”

She studies my face for a long moment.

“What?”

“I was thinking that somewhere out there...” She motions vaguely toward the dark horizon. “People are sleeping. People are watching TV. People are probably brushing their teeth.”

I frown.

“That’s oddly specific.”

“My point is.” She smiles. “None of them know that tonight is the best night of my entire life.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s the best night of mine too.”

She kisses me again, smiling against my lips.

We stay there for a long time, letting the waves carry us gently back and forth beneath the moonlight, neither of us in any hurry to leave. Tomorrow we fly back to California. Tomorrow there are phone calls, congratulations, wedding plans, and real life waiting for us. Tonight, though, the rest of the world can wait.

Fuck. We haven’t even left the airport. I stare at my phone for another second before lifting my eyes to Sarah.

“What?” she asks.

I look back down at the screen.

Marco: We got Sal.

A beat later.

Marco: Katie knows, and it’s fucking bad.

I lower my phone just enough to look at Sarah.

“Let’s get to the car. Enzo’s waiting.”

A small line forms between her brows.

“Luca?”

“We’ll talk once we’re on the road.”

Enzo is already waiting on the curb. His face gives away nothing, but the second our eyes meet, I know Marco’s message wasn’t an exaggeration.

Once we’re settled in the backseat, Sarah turns toward me.

“What’s going on?”

“I need to make a call, Baby Girl.”

“Luca.”

There’s enough worry in her voice to make me look at her.

“Just give me a minute.”

I tap Marco’s name and lift the phone to my ear.

“Luca. Where are you?”