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“I’ve no doubt.”
“So Maria’s brother’s is still alive. Who’d have guessed it?”
I turn to look at him. “Find out what rock Marconi is hiding under and kick it over.”
He nods. “You thought about how this might affect Isabella?”
“She’s not a part of this.”
“She came out of the elevator with you. They saw her face. Word gets back to him; she could become a hostage or worse.”
He lights a cigarette and takes a drag. “I hate to say it,” he continues, “but marrying her is the only way to keep her alive long enough for you to get over that obsession of yours.”
I shake my head. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Word gets back to Marconi that she was with you. He puts two and two together and decides the best way to hurt you is to hurt her. Won’t take him long to find out where she lives, will it?”
“He’s no idea she means anything to me.”
“You really want to take that risk? You’ve been watching her for six months. I know what she means to you.”
I shake my head, my gaze fixed on the distant city lights. “I vowed to keep her away from my world, Marco. She’s twenty years younger than me and has her entire life ahead of her. And now you suggest I just put a ring on her finger?”
“Think about it. Under your protection, who would dare touch her? Fuck her a few more times, get this obsession out of your system. Kill Marconi, then get back to normal, stop all this stalking bullshit. It doesn’t suit you.”
I rub my chin, the weight of the decision heavy on me. “But dragging her into my world... She’ll end up like me, desensitized to the violence, to the darkness. I can’t do that to her.”
“So, don’t tell her about your world,” Marco suggests, his voice calm.
“I think she’d notice when I dragged her down the aisle.”
“It’s not going to take long to track Marconi down. Just tell her you need to stay married for a little while.”
I glance at him, torn. “Remember what happened last time I got married?” My thoughts drift to my late wife, her memory a sharp pang in my heart. “That’s why I’m in this mess.”
“So what are you going to do? Let him kill her?”
“Right now, Marconi has no idea what she means to me. I intend to keep it that way. For all he knows, she’s an employee who got unlucky when she shared the elevator with me. I keep away from her, don’t talk to her in public, don’t do anything to draw attention to her. You find Marconi before he hires a more competent crew.”
“If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you wanted an excuse to keep watching her. You’ve fucked her once already, isn’t that enough?”
I give him a look that I usually reserve for those about to die. “Nowhere near.”
4
ISABELLA
Six weeks later…
Ispot Sarah near the ice cream truck, her fiery red hair unmistakable even from a distance. She’s got an easel set up and is hard at work painting the passing crowds.
“Isn’t Bryant Park the most gorgeous place?” she asks as I reach her. “On the most gorgeous day too.”
“You’re in a good mood,” I reply.
“Sold a painting yesterday.” She sets her brush down, pointing to the picnic blanket beside her. “Care to join me?”
I sit beside her, doing my best not to bite my nails. She notices the tension at once.
