Page 38 of Dark Breaker

“It’s nothing,” Fabio insists.

“I can see our marriage is going to be an open, communicative affair, with the emphasis onaffair,” I say drily. “By the way, if you’re talking about the oceanside land on the northeast of Palermo, he’s already sold it to another developer.”

He glances at me. “How do you know that?”

“Because he told my brother the other day,” I reply.

He seems to regard me in a new light. “I was under the impression you weren’t involved in your family business.”

“Oh, I’m not,” I reply. “I do like to observe, though. And listen. In my house, sound travels fairly easily.”

“I’ll have to remember that when you’re living inmyhouse,” he retorts. “Why was Pietro visiting your brother?”

I shrug. “Probably the same reason he visits you. To negotiate kickbacks for land deals. You’re not the only one who wants to develop land, you know.” I don’t tell him that Massimo’s interest in land only evolved rather recently, mostly thanks to the alliance.

Fabio narrows his eyes, then shrugs. “Your family is no longer our competition. We’re allies now.”

“Maybe, maybe not,” I tell him. “Just because we’re married, and our families allied, doesn’t mean we won’t be up for some friendly competition.”

He shakes his head. “I’ll crush your family. They have no experience in developing land.”

“Then I guess you’ll be teaching them,” I say with a wide grin. “Seeing as how we’re all related now.” When I see his face darken, I take that as my cue that I’ve won this round, and excuse myself. “Gotta run. Nature calls.”

He opens his mouth to get in the last word, but then some random suit introduces himself and distracts him.

Definitely a decisive win on my part.

I dart away, heading for the bathroom. I ask a cute waiter where exactly I can find the little girl’s room, and he points me in the right direction.

I go inside and the noisy din of the fundraiser falls away. I hadn’t realized how loud the place was; the quiet here washes over me, putting me at peace. I can’t help but sigh contentedly.

I feel my phone buzz in purse—yes, those are some powerful vibrations that little sucker can produce. I reach inside and smile when I see a message from Michela.

Bored yet?

I text her back.Out of my mind.

I enter a stall and lock it behind me, then do my business.

I hear the bathroom door open, and a pair of rather loud footsteps echo from the walls.

Someone’s proud of their steel-toed stilettos tonight.

I’ve only just hiked up my panties and lowered my dress when I see an eyeball peeking through the crack at the side of my stall door.

I slam my purse at the crack. “Piss off, pervert!”

The eyeball vanishes and then the door shudders as someone plows into it from the outside.

I scream.

Two hands reach under the stall door, groping for my feet.

I scream again, leaping back. I quickly shut the toilet lid and clamber on top. I kick at those feet and grab my phone from my purse. I quickly text Massimo.

Bathroom attack HeElp!

I pray his phone vibrates as strongly as mine does, because there’s no way he’ll hear it in time otherwise. I fumble for the Mace in my purse.