AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You sound groggy. Did I just wake you?”
“Yes, but that’s okay. I’ve been asleep since the last time we spoke.”
“I thought they might have discharged you.”
I look around and find Gabriele watching me. He offers me a sweet smile before looking down at his phone.
“I thought so too. Maybe they’ve just been letting me sleep, and I’ll leave soon.”
Gabriele looks up again and nods. He probably told them to let me sleep on pain of death.
“Are you going to your place? Would you like me to swing by? Do you need anything?”
Well, fuck.
“No, I don’t need anything, but thanks.”
That sorta answers all of her questions.
“Do you think you should be alone right now? Do you have a friend who can come over?”
I keep watching Gabriele, even though he appears to scroll something on his phone. I know he’s keenly aware of everything in this room. He could probably tell you exactly how many strands of hair I have on my head.
“The Mancinellis have offered me a security detail.”
“Sinead—”
I hear the censure and wince.
“—That is not a good idea. They are your clients. Our clients. The firm will handle that.”
“Marta, you know who they are. You can’t not, and the firm agreed to take them on knowing full well what they charged Mr. Scotto with and who he’s connected to. I’m entering their world, not the other way around. I think any protection they offer me is protection I should take. A regular bodyguard wouldn’t know who to look for. Even if you pulled me from this case, it would be the same for anyone else.”
“Your place isn’t the safest in the world.”
“I know. I’m going to stay somewhere else. I’d rather not say where.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
I hear hurt in her voice, and it’s a stake to the heart. Marta has been like a second mother to me since the day I met her. Our relationship shifted when she became my boss, but there’s still a maternal feeling to it.
“I trust you more than anyone else.”
As I continue to stare at Gabriele, and he pretends not to notice, I realize that statement is no longer true. It has been for years, but in the space of a week, Gabriele ranks right up there, making it a tie between Marta and him for who I trust most.
“Where are you going, then?”
“The Mancinellis have somewhere safe I can stay while still going about my day-to-day.”
“No.”
“Marta—”
“Sinead, that is not how it works. Legal firms may put their clients in safe houses, but clients do not put their attorneys in safe houses. We will pay for a hotel and for your security. You will not rely on the Mancinellis for either.”
I know that tone. It would not be wise for me to argue.
“All right. Thank you.”
