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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN WAITING

We were barely in the door when Luca, Nic and Dom were summoned to Valentino’s office.

A debriefing.

A progress report.

About Donata.

About me.

I was told to wait outside, so I hovered on the stairs, chewing my nails right down to the cuticles. I couldn’t decide which would have been worse, having to sit inside the office with them while they walked Valentino through everything that had happened at The Sicilian Kiss, or having to wait outside on my own until he decided on my punishment for having failed.

I tried not to imagine the fury in the boss’s eyes when he heard what had happened.

I failed. I am a coward. I am useless.

I am weak. I am nobody.

Why did I ever think I could do this?

I can’t do this.

After what seemed like an eternity, my phone rang, and Valentino’s number blinked on screen. I pressed a hand to my heart and lifted the phone to my ear.

‘Come see me in my office.’

Was this it? Was this how it ended? Where would I go now? What was the punishment for failing the initiation? No one had ever told me. I tucked my phone in my pocket and stood up, rolling my neck around to try and ease some of the tension.

I walked slowly, listening to my quiet footfall on the marble floors, and imagining myself as a criminal making my way to the hangman’s noose.