Page 29 of Valentino

Can you talk?

“Oh, that’s okay.” I hear Anna talking to Tommy at the door. I think of a reply before I type the words.

Why did you leave me?

Dots dance again as they type and I hear Anna wind up the conversation.

Fuck.

“Thanks so much for that.” The front door closes. “Pizza is here,” she calls out to me.

“Be there in a minute,” I call back, I turn the tap on so that she can’t hear me.

I had to.

I’m calling you.

I clench my jaw. “Got you.”

Ring ring…. I hit answer. “Hi,” I whisper softly in a girl’s voice.

“Anna, baby,” a male voice replies.

Carlo…. I’d know that voice anywhere.

“I swear to you, I’m telling the truth,” he says softly. “I was forced into a corner.”

“I’m going to fuck your girl,” I sneer.

Silence.

“And then…I’m going to kill her,” I whisper. “An eye for an eye, Carlo….”

“Val.”

I smile at the panic in his voice. “You have seven days to hand yourself in…or Anna gets it…and I mean all of it.”

CHAPTER TWO

“You touch her and you die.”

“I’ll be doing more than touch her.” My eyes flick up to my reflection in the mirror. “I’m going to ride her so fucking hard.” The thought brings a smile to my face.

“You touch her and I swear to God….” he spits.

“Seven days,” I whisper.

I hang up, screenshot the screen with the number from my phone and immediately send it to Lorenzo.

Got him.

Run a trace on all numbers in his call register and cross-check them against our men.

I delete the call from the registry, before slipping Anna’s phone into my pocket. I wash my hands and calmly open the bathroom door. “Pizza smells good,” I call as I walk back up the hall.

Anna is in the kitchen; I toss her phone onto the floor beside the coffee table and throw a cushion over it before walking in to where she is.

“Have you seen my phone?” she asks.