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I nod. “Of course.”
There’s a pause. “Any hot chicks at this thing?”
“Fuck yeah,” I lie. In truth, I haven’t even noticed. I’ve only had eyes for the one woman I can’t have. “But I’m not here for that, I’m here for Val.”
“Good. It’d be a shame to have to hurt my best friend if anything were to happen.”
“Nothing is going to happen. They’re a bunch of rich kids with nothing better to do with their money than splash it around on a three-day wedding,” I say. “The cost of living here is insane.”
“Goodbye, E. Keep me updated.”
“Roger.” I hang up, and when I glance up, Valentina catches my eye for a moment.
She takes my breath away. I give her a chin lift but look down at the paper I bought on the way here. I don’t need her friends following her gaze and wondering what the fuck I’m doing.
I pick up my phone a few moments later.
Vaughn answers on the second ring.
“Enzo, you’re up early.”
I roll my eyes. “Not you too.”
“How’s the wedding?”
“It’s only just beginning,” I groan. “I need something from you.”
“Shoot.”
“Toby Whinthorpe, he’s Valentina’s age, they went to school tog—”
“I have a file on him.”
I frown. “You do?” Then it dawns on me. “Angelo.”
“Yes, back when they were dating. It’s a few years old now.”
“I want to know everything about him up to today. Where he works, what he does, who he socializes with.”
“Is everything okay?”
“It will be.”
“Shouldn’t be too hard. I’ll text you when I have something updated.”
“Appreciated.”
There is never a time when Vaughn doesn’t answer or do something right away. I guess that’s why we have him on such a big retainer.
We click off.
I don’t know what it is about Toby that I don’t like, aside from the obvious, but the way he was watching Valentina last night made me want to rip his throat out. I know for a fact he’d be hitting on her and trying his luck if I didn’t do what I did.
He might think that he’s a player, but he’s got nothing on what I’ll do to him if he looks at her sideways again. Last night I let slip because I wanted to ensure he got the message, so let’s hope for his sake that he did.
A guy like him, he’s only after her for one reason. He’d use her and spit her out again when he’s done, just like he did the last time. Well, this time, it’ll be over my dead body.
An hour and half goes by before they finish eating and toast Sarah. And still another half hour before they’re ready to leave. I busy myself with folding up the newspaper and gulping down my last mouthful of coffee. This is the third one.
