Page 8

“It is Lorenzo who will be sorry.”

My lips twitch. I mightreallylike Mrs. Casiraghi.

“That’s the idea,” I tell her. “Manuel says you have proof of his infidelity?”

“He has been calling her,” she answers coldly. “I have records that I pulled. There are emails also. My husband is surprisingly crass with his mistress. I can’t imagine why woman would want to be wooed with talk of his cock.” She clicks her tongue. “It hardly works anymore.”

I have to bite my lower lip to hold back a laugh as I make notes. “You have copies of these exchanges?”

“Of course. His assistant is as spineless as he is.” She reaches down to a clasped leather bag and starts pulling out manila folders. “The little man was shaking when I made him let me into Lorenzo’s office.”

I take the folders from her, flipping through them. “I have to warn you that even with evidence like this, the defense is going tosay that it’s circumstantial. They’ll claim he was hacked, or that someone else was using his computer, or any number of things.”

“I am aware that Lorenzo will try to slither his way out of his own mess,” she says. “But as you say. This is where you come in, yes?”

A slow smile creeps onto my face. “Right. That’s where I come in.”

“Good. Then we understand each other.”

“I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure your husband pays for his indiscretions, Mrs. Casiraghi.”

She tilts her chin, looking me in the eye. “Call me Bianca.”

“Bianca.” I nod back at her. “Another name for a powerful woman.”

Her answering smile is cool, almost predatory. “Let us hope so, Danica.”

•••

“How did itgo?”

I run my fingers through my hair, noticing Manuel in my doorway. “I think it went well. I gave her a list of all the information I need on her finances, and we went over what she can expect going forward.”

“And? What are your thoughts about her chances?”

“The evidence she mentioned is mostly just phone records and email printouts. Nothing concrete, unfortunately, but she seems to think that some digging will reveal more.” I smile, remembering. “Her exact words were ‘my husband is not as brilliant as he thinks himself to be.’ ”

“I got the impression that Mrs. Casiraghi is not a woman to be fucked with,” Manuel chuckles.

“So did I. Nate and Vera both agreed to help with discovery. I imagine there will be a lot of records to dig through.”

“Good,” he tells me. “We need all hands on deck with this one.”

“I think our chances are good, considering. I’m optimistic.”

“Well, one of us has to be.”

I snort. “And we both know that isn’t going to be you.”

“It isn’t one of my strong suits. Have you told your parents yet?”

I frown. “Not yet. I wanted to wait until after I’d actually spoken to Bianca.”

“I’m sure they’ll want to celebrate.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“It’s not the most terrible thing in the world that your parents are such good friends, Dani.”