Page 66 of Ruin Me With Lies

I laugh.Not even a fever can stop Gio from being a flirt.

“We’re on the way back now.I’ll come keep you company if Lorenzo doesn’t have a ton of work for me.”

“Hurry.The way I’m feeling right now, today might be my last.”

Men are such big babies when they’re sick.“You’ll live.God would never take the best Castello first.See you soon.”

Stefano lets out a snort as I hang up.“It’s comical that you think that bastard has a chance in heaven.Don’t let the boyish charm fool you.That man has done things that made evenmeblush.”

“Yet, if we could ask God right now, I bet He’d say Gio’s chances next to yours are about a hundred to one.”

He doesn’t say a word, but his stare drills into the side of my face with a pressure that demands attention.It speaks louder than any threat he could voice.

I turn to meet his gaze.“What?”

“Are you trying to save someone’s life again?”

Shit.I force a frown.“What do you mean?”

“Do you think I’m an idiot?”His tone tightens.“You’ve been stalling.Deflecting.What did you get out of that waitress?The one who skittered around like a frightened mouse all afternoon.You went after her, didn’t you?”

Dammit.I’d hoped he hadn’t noticed.The others surely hadn’t.But he’s Stefano Castello—paranoia and hyper-vigilance in a perfectly tailored suit.Of course he noticed.

‘Arriving early gives me an advantage To see things others don’t.’

Of course it does.He probably clocked her nervous energy long before I did.

When I stay silent, still stalling to buy that unfortunate waitress a few more precious minutes to run, he places a hand on my knee.

Not a grip.Not a squeeze.

Just rested there.Warm.Light.Casual.

But somehow, more threatening than a hammer to the kneecap.

“Tell.Me.”

Good luck, Kimone.I hope you get to safety in time.

“Well,” I say, reaching into my cleavage, “it’s like I said...between you and Gio, he’s clearly God’s favorite.”I pull out the vial and hold it up.“Because he was supposed to die today.”

Stefano’s jaw locks as he stares at the clear liquid.Rage simmers in his eyes, hot and clawing, creeping in like flames beneath the surface.“Her name is Kimone Blanchard.She has an eight-year-old daughter in the hospital, waiting on a heart transplant.”

Wow.He knows her by name and plight.

“Your adversary has shown they aren’t above threatening the life of a sick child just to get a terrified mom to do their dirty work,” I say, unable to hide the disgust from my voice.“Despicable cowards.”

“Raya, that staff is a team that’s been carefully vetted and hand-selected to serve at all our private meetings and functions,” Stefano says, his voice tight.“They sign NDAs.They’re paid handsomely for their discretion, for their loyalty.Their contracts state that we are responsible for them and willprotectthem if ever needed.We know everything about them.We surveil them routinely.And theyknowthis, Raya.”

His eyes burn into mine.

“You saw who was at that table today.We don’t sit and eat unless we trust those serving us.Today, that trust was violated.I don’t give a damn what she was threatened with.Kimone has been under contract with us for years.Sheknewshe could’ve come to us for help.She fucking knew.But she didn’t, did she?Instead, she showed up with the intention to kill my family to save hers.”

“Maybe she—”

“RAYA!”he snaps, all patience gone.

That single, rage-soaked bark, and the vein pulsing at his temple, is enough to shut me up.Taking on his wrath right now is not worth it.