Page 104 of Disarming Caine

“That explains the forged provenance documents at the auction.”

Parker wanted in bed with people he should have steered clear of. He was lucky for only parting ways with them, and not being punished further for that failure.

I said, “You told me in Napoli that you had an interest in that auction?”

He barked a laugh. “An interest in them failing, nothing more. Former associates, remember?”

Cristian had also told me the last time I saw him that Zio Gio was getting out of the business. From the sounds of it, that didn’t extend to Cristian’s network of whisperers.

I ran a finger around the rim of the wineglass, watching the tiny bubbles pop. “No link to Umberto, Eva, and her brother? Or their threat against Samantha in September?”

“I pursued that lead, but those three were independent.”

“Your man who took the fresco told you that?” I shouldn’t have called him out like that, since the man hadn’t said it clearly, but my brain was exhausted from the day.

Cristian was quiet for a moment. “He did. And he’s monitored them for me to ensure they won’t become a problem again.”

My head sagged forward and I closed my eyes. Thank all the saints in Heaven above. As panicked as I’d been about Samantha at the office yesterday, it was nothing compared to hearing Eva’s brother’s voice on Samantha’s phone in Napoli, warning me that I had not heeded his threat. He would have killed her. “So Parker was the end of that?”

He made a humming noise. “I hope so.”

“I do have something else you may not have heard from yesterday.” I paused, watching the sauce undulate, a sign bubbles would form soon. “He told Samantha that someone wants to recruit me.”

Another moment of silence on the other end.

“Exactly like you warned me might happen.”

“Any clue how? Or who?”

“None. Only those words.”

“This is concerning. Less so that it would happen, but more that someone like him would have heard. Let me know if anything comes of it.”

“I will.” I turned the balsamic down to reduce once it was boiling. It would have to cool before serving, so I pulled out some fresh mozzarella Nonna had given us when we visited on Christmas Eve. “Do you have anything else?”

“Just the standard.” In the call's background, the sound of the door opening and closing again, followed by shoes crunching on stones. “You know, when are you coming to visit?”

I’d been avoiding them since I arrived in Napoli in August, but having received so much help from Cristian, I’d have to oblige. They were pulling me back in again. “Soon, I promise.”

“I’ll tell Papa you said that. You remember what to do with the phone?”

“Sì, I do.”

“Antonio?” came Samantha’s voice in the apartment, then the click of the front door.

I snapped the phone shut and placed it on the breakfast bar. What tone had she said that with? I was too focused on the call to catch it. I should have cracked the phone in half and thrown it out, but she’d hear that, and I’d only be digging a deeper hole.

It was time for complete honesty.

No more hiding.

Chapter 36

Antonio

“I’minthekitchen,bella.”

The screech of hangers scraping against the rod was a good sign. She was taking off her jacket and hanging it up, so she was not leaving right away. An agonizing moment later, she appeared, stopping at the dining table, hands on one of the chairs. She didn’t come into the kitchen with me, though, which was not a good sign.