Page 69 of Valentino

I stare at him, lost for words. The question on the tip of my tongue, did you burn Carlo’s house down?

But I don’t need to ask, I already know the answer.

I watch him walk around and collect his keys and wallet; he grabs his phone charger before coming to stand in front of me.

“Can I ask you something?” I say.

“What is it?”

“Should I be scared of you?”

His cold eyes hold mine and we stare at each other for what feels like an eternity. “Goodbye, Anna.”

The door clicks as he leaves and through tears I stare at the wall.

That wasn’t a no.

VALENTINO

I stride out and into my car, fury is coursing through my veins.

I dial Giuliano.

“Hey.”

“What the fuck was that?” I cry. “Turning up at Anna’s and interrogating me in front of her.”

“Calm down.”

“Calm down,” I fume. “I will not fucking calm down,” I spit. “We pay millions of fucking dollars for protection from the police force to have that fucking idiot turn up and cause a scene. Anna heard the whole fucking thing.”

“I’m taking care of it.”

“Commissioner Sartori better turn up in a body bag real soon or I’ll do it my fucking self.”

“Val…calm….”

I hang on him up midsentence, I’m so angry I can’t talk. I pull out into the traffic and drive and my thoughts run over this morning’s happenings…or lack thereof.

I can still feel my hand around her neck, my teeth on her ear.

The cock in my pants.

Fuck.

ANNA

I run on the treadmill like someone is chasing me, hard and fast.

Trying to escape the information in my head.

Some call you the King of Cocaine…. Others call you a cold-blooded killer. I know that you run one of the biggest organized crime syndicates in the world and I intend on bringing you down.

What are you doing, Anna?

You can’t feel like this about him…he’s no good for you.

And yet, Valentino is all I can think about.