Page 95 of The Taste of Deceit

“Come in.”

Marco opens the door, and I lead Sarah inside.

Mikey is standing behind his desk. He looks like he hasn’t slept. His tie is gone, the top two buttons of his dress shirt are undone, and there’s a fresh bruise across his knuckles.

His eyes move to Sarah.

“Sit down.”

Neither of us argues.

Sarah lowers herself into one of the chairs across from the desk, and I take the one beside her. Marco steps back into the hallway, quietly pulling the door shut behind him.

For a long moment, Mikey doesn’t say anything. He studies Sarah before finally speaking.

“Sarah...”

She lifts her eyes to his.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

“She already knows.”

His attention snaps to me.

“What?”

“She knows.”

One dark eyebrow lifts.

“What do you mean she knows?”

“She’s known for a month.”

Silence settles over the room. He looks from me to Sarah, then back again.

“You’ve known for a month?”

Sarah nods once.

“I found Luca before...” Her voice catches for a moment. “Before he was ready to tell me.”

Michael leans back slightly in his chair, processing it.

“And you never told Katie.”

It isn’t an accusation. It’s a realization. Sarah lowers her eyes.

“No.”

Another silence fills the office. Mikey rubs a hand across his jaw before letting it fall.

Another silence fills the office. Mikey studies Sarah for a long moment before looking back at me.

“You should’ve told me.”

“I know.”