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She twisted the key.For a breathless second, the engine sputtered.Her heart dropped to her stomach.Then it roared to life.Relief crashed through her in a laugh that was half sob, half hysteria.“It started!”she gasped, then laughed again, wild with hope.“That’s a good sign!”
For the first time in years, Diane felt something close to joy.
“Let’s go!”she called out, her voice full of trembling laughter.She gripped the wheel tight, pulled away from the curb, and left the stink of Enrico Bianchi’s shadow behind them.
Chapter 21
SalwatchedasCatarinawalked back into the house.He refused to admit, even to himself, that he’d been waiting for her return.Actively watching for her to come back.
Was he worried that she might have run away?
Yeah.Just a little.
Why the hell would he worry?She couldn’t drive.But she had a lot of cash, plus a credit card.And he knew that, if she left, he would still protect her.
So what was the concern?It wasn’t that he was starting to care for her.Yes, she was lovely.Yes, her bright, eager personality was starting to emerge.And yeah, Sal would admit to himself that he was entranced by that excitement for life that was starting to become so alluring.He didn’t know anyone who could light up a room with just a smile like Catarina could.Maybe because her smiles were so rare?No, that wasn’t true.Not anymore.
And that thought made his chest puff up like an idiot peacock.She was smiling more because she felt safe.Damn, that felt good.
So if she were showing all the signs of happiness and smiling more, why was he waiting for her to leave?
The answer hit him like a bomb.He was waiting…because his mother had left him.She’d been all smiles and happiness one day, then she’d just walked out the door, leaving him to figure out how to find food and shelter at the glorious age of seven.
Damn.Until this moment, he hadn’t thought about that memory.In fact, he’d probably shoved it so far down it had never seen daylight.He didn’t like admitting a weakness, even if it was only himself who knew about it.
“Boss?”
Sal turned, watching Tony approach.“I have some news about the shipments you’ve been waiting for.”
Sal sighed, shifting into business mode.He would deal with his mental revelations another time, when it was more convenient.Right now, he had to concentrate.And not think about Catarina.
But the universe clearly had other plans.
Catarina rushed past his office door, that floral dress wisping behind her like an eager breeze trying to catch up with the flower.
Sal forced himself to look back at Tony.He needed to focus on logistics, not on the curve of his wife’s hips—
Except then she breezed into the room, dumped her packages on the floor, and walked right up to him.There was eagerness in her eyes, but also determination.Was he reading her right?
Part of him suspected that he should duck and find cover.But that went against his nature.Sal had learned throughout his life to get in front of problems, to face them head on.Predators could sniff out prey, even when the prey was hidden.Which meant that Sal had become the predator in his world.
So instead of hiding, he braced himself for whatever was coming at him.
The shock he felt when his lovely, previously quiet, shy wife grabbed the front of his shirt and kissed him—hard—nearly knocked him flat.
He was stunned.And furious.Not because she’d kissed him, but because she walked away.After giving him a smile bright enough to level a man, she turned her back and sashayed out.The kiss had been too short, too teasing.He wanted more.Needed more.
Had he just licked his lips?
Sal wasn’t sure of anything as he watched his wife’s ass sway down the hall.Yes, she paused only long enough to scoop up her packages before disappearing once again.
There was a long silence after her departure.Then Tony cleared his throat.“We’re not getting anything done today, are we?”
“Shut up,” Sal muttered, still staring at the door.
But Tony was smirking now.“She’s got you by the balls, boss.Hate to say it, but it’s obvious.”
“Obvious to whom?”Sal snapped, turning his glare on him.
