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“Smartass.”

“Handsome smartass,” he bounces right back at me. “Don’t leave that part out, it’s crucial.”

Instead of indulging his childishness, I sigh and glance at my watch. 5:56 p.m. That dinner is fast approaching and I am going to have to face my wife sooner or later.

As much as I don’t want to admit it, the sex with Maria scared me.

“You keep looking at your watch,” Valerio utters from beside me. “Do you have somewhere you need to be?”

I turn my head and look to my second. “How about mind your business?”

“Damn, someone’s on edge. You need to get laid, boss. Your chakra is all fucked up.”

“And what the hell do you know about chakra?”

“Edith, she’s this sexy little yoga instructor who came by the club the other day. She’s teaching me all about finding my inner peace and shit.”

I blink. The things that come out of his mouth surprise me every single time.

“Shut up.” The elevator opens just before I have the chance to punch my second in his face. “Don’t you have other things to keep you busy? I don’t know, maybe you can go make me some damn money?”

“I already do that. In fact, I just made a few million this morning. The new shipment of arms came in from Moscow. The deal with the Turks is on the table now.” He sounds like a gleeful schoolchild. “Meeting is set up for tomorrow.”

“Good, you are useful for something after all.”

Valerio places a hand over his heart and feigns hurt. “Um, hello? Did I or did I not get employee of the month ten months running?”

“No, that was Ingrid in accounting.” I give him a flat look. The smile drops from his face, and he shoves me. “Work as hard as Ingrid and you may get it next month.”

He pulls his finger at me and walks off to his office. As much as Valerio and I get on each other’s nerves, I trust the man with my life. I would die for him and he would do the same for me.

At 6:30, the majority of the office is gone. I walk into my office and close the door so I can get to work. In the back of my mind, I have this dinner I need to attend.

I should have told her no.

I am only in my chair for five minutes when I hear my door open. I turn my head, thinking it is Valerio, but my body seizes when I take in his burly structure.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

Giacomo spreads his arms out wide. “Not happy to see me, Matty? You wound me. The last time we came face to face, you were a little rude.”

My nostrils flare. “Get out before I?—”

He plops himself onto the chair on the other side of the desk. He makes himself comfortable and leans into the expensive leather. The smile on his face makes me want to punch out all of his teeth.

“How did you get in here?”

He shakes his head. “Let’s not focus on the how but the why. Why do you think I’m here?”

Silence blankets the room, thickening the air between us.

“I must say, you and your wife did look like quite the pair. You did well.”

“Don’t speak on my wife.” I bite the words and make sure to douse them in poison.

“Your wife, such a tasty little thing. I find it hard to believe that you were just going to hand her over to your son.” Giacomo kicks his legs onto my desk, and my eye twitches. “She’s quite the looker—dare I say, even more beautiful than Beatrice.”

“Don’t say her name.” I launch out of my chair, sending it backward. “Go before I put a bullet in the middle of your head.”