AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I can hack the IRS system. It’s supposed to be impenetrable, but it’s not. People have breached it more than once. I can also track trades and investments and look into his bank accounts. I have the hacking skills and ability to understand the reports. Carmine has the intelligence gathering skills to point me in the right direction. We’ve made little progress in finding out who’s targeting Chellie. Nothing’s happened — thank God — but it also means there’s not a trail to follow. This gives me something to do.
I take a step back, and she follows. It allows me to wrap her in my arms and hold her. I need the comfort now. She runs her hand over my back as her fingers tunnel into my hair. Our kiss is so tender, it makes my heart ache. I wish we could stay like this forever. I’d be able to keep her safe here. But I can’t. I can’t because it’s not realistic, and I can’t because she can only take an hour for lunch.
“We should order,piccolina. I don’t want to make you late back to the office.”
“I told Anderson I’m working from home for the rest of the afternoon. Do you need to stay here?”
“No. Do you want to go to your place or mine?”
“I can work from either. Where do you need to go?”
“Either, but I like yours better.”
Her brow furrows. I have an enormous penthouse loft. It’s far bigger than what I need for just me. All of my furniture is designed for comfort because it’s my escape. But it doesn’t have the same homey feeling her smaller condo does. I prefer it there. I know I need to explain.
“I like your place better. It’s cozy.”
“It’s small.”
“Only compared to the ridiculousness of my place. You have three bedrooms and live alone. It’s not small.”
She looks like she’s building the confidence to say something, but she’s in two minds whether she should. I tilt my head and kiss her temple, her cheek, then her lips before prompting her.
“What is it?”
“Would you ever consider living there with me?”
“Yes. I can move today.”
I grin, hoping it masks some of the desperation I feel. I want to live with her now. I want to declare myself, move in, and start talking about a future for real.
“How about we start with you keeping some clothes at my place? You already have a toothbrush.”
I like that idea. I can live with it. I unlock the door, and we head into the dining room. There’re menus already on the table I favor. It keeps my back to the wall, but I can see the door and out the windows. It’s also angled, so Chellie’s back is to the kitchen. No one can approach her that I don’t see. And I will have watched them arrive.
After we order, I offer her my hand, palm up. She rests hers in mine.
“How much work do you have?”
“Too much.”
She smiles ruefully and shakes her head.
“I’ll work at your place. All I need is my computer. I have some trading to do as well as review some P&L statements. Nothing exciting, but I’d enjoy your company. This is a shitty reason to have it, but I won’t turn it down.”
Lunch progresses, and we share stories about our childhood. I think mine always shock her by how normal they are. Yes, we went on luxury vacations to places most people don’t. But otherwise, it was totally typical.
I have three siblings, so something was always happening. Toss in Carmine, Matteo, Gabriele once I was thirteen, and Emilio until I was twelve. It was a happy childhood filled with playing at parks, swimming in the summer, and food. Always lots and lots of food.
She tells me stories from before and after her brother died. Her voice changes, and I know that despite it having been several years, the pain is still close to the surface. I haven’t lost a sibling, but I’ve lost people I was close to. I can only imagine the amplified version of my grief.
I realize just after we leave the restaurant that I need documents I have in my safe at my place, so we change our plans. Once we’re there, I have calls to make, so I head into my office where I can close the door. She works on the sofa in the living room. I get through them as quickly as possible, then I move into the living room. We occupy opposite ends of the sofa until we both shift and work toes to toes.
When she isn’t typing, she rests her hand just above my ankle. It feels amazing to receive such a simple gesture of affection. I didn’t think I was emotionally deficient, but I was certainly emotionally closed off to everyone outside my family. She draws something out of me I’ve never felt for someone because all this newfound affection is tied up with romantic desire.
We’ve been working in companionable silence for three hours, but my phone just rang three times then stopped. It’s on the second of three rings. If I don’t answer it, whoever it is will continue the pattern until I do. I pull it from my pocket on the third ring. It stops. Michelle’s watching me. This isn’t a family member calling to chat. It’s work. I get it on the first ring, seeing it’s Marco.
“Cosa c'è?” What’s up?
