Page 66 of Valentino

So, fucking what, get him on the payroll.

This guy is as straight as a die; we have no control over this now.

The hell are you talking about? Get fucking control over this.

I’m not going to prison for you, so you need to sort your fucking shit.

Why the fuck is Ferrara shooting up in my streets. I cannot protect you now.

My mouth falls open, what the fuck?

I drop to the floor and peer under the bed just to be sure that the damn vibrator is hidden. This is too stressful, I’m throwing that damn thing out, nothing good will ever come out of having a battery-operated boyfriend.

With one last panicked look around the room, I take a deep breath in and then out.

In and then out…. Act. Calm.

This is fine…everything is fine.

I walk out into the living room to see two men sitting on my couch, opposite Valentino. They both have a notepad and pen in hand.

“This is Anna,” Val introduces me.

“Hello Anna.” They nod. “We’d like to speak to you too please. Take a seat.”

My eyes flick to Val.

“It’s okay.” He nods as he pats the couch beside him.

Val hasn’t read the texts, he doesn’t know what’s going on.

What the hell is going on?

This is bad…really very bad…. I begin to perspire bullets.

“Of course.” I drop to sit down beside him.

“What seems to be the problem?” Val asks as he looks between the men.

“Valentino Leone, it’s nice to finally meet you,” one of the men says, there’s an unmistakable sarcasm to his voice. “You don’t know me, but I sure as hell know who you are.”

Val’s cold eyes hold his.

I swallow the lump in my throat.

“My name is Mauro Sartori, I’m the new commissioner in Milan.” He leans back in his seat and opens up his notepad. “I’ve been reading up on you, Mr. Leone.”

“And what is it that you’ve learned?”

“I know what you do.”

Valentino’s jaw clenches, their eyes are locked.

“And do pray tell, Mr. Important Commissioner. What is it that I do?”

“I need you to know something. I will uncover the truth so don’t bother wasting my time.”

I feel faint.