Page 87 of Steal My Heart

“To what end?” I demand.

“Fabien Calvani’s end.”

Rage blurs my vision.

“The hit Fabien took out on you obviously didn’t pan out, so plan B was to take you out the legal way—by starting a war between you and the new mayor.”

“You never gave the mayor the $50,000 and my message,” I say, realization hitting me over the head like a sledgehammer.

“Ding. Ding. Ding. Told the mayor you weren’t interested in playing ball. He responded accordingly.”

“And Laurie?”

He snorts. “Your lady friend wants a ring so bad she can’t stand it. I had no problem manipulating her into giving me information about you. When she was bitching about this mysterious houseguest of yours, and then the ‘piano teacher’ with the big tits, I had a hunch it was the pickpocket. Seeing her on stage at the party with the mayor, I knew she had to be working for you. And here we are.”

I turn to address Maks. “What was it you told me the other day? Some vows aren’t worth keeping?”

“No!” Mr. Bennett squeals as I stab him in the left ballsack.

Oh, but I’m only getting started.

Angelo

Having washed away all traces of Mr. Bennett, I enter my bedroom to find Remi and Nola napping, with Al engrossed in…oh God, another serial killer documentary.

“Really, Al?” I whisper to my sister, grabbing the remote and turning the television off. “Couldn’t you have chosen something less macabre after Remi’s ordeal?”

“What? You told me to keep her company, and I did. You’re welcome, by the way,” she whispers back with attitude, walking out.

Nola arches her back in a dramatic stretch before hopping down and crossing the room. She purrs and nudges my leg, and I reach down and give her head a little scratch. “Sorry, I don’t have any treats on me.”

It takes me convincing her with the show of my empty hand, which rewards me with a swat of Nola’s paw on my ankle before she saunters out.

“Anyone else like to take a shot at me?” I mutter, closing the door. Stripping out of my clothes, I crawl into bed next to Remi. While Maks is working with our IT whiz to get into Bennett’s phone, I’m in desperate need of a few hours’ sleep. I’ve been awake…hell, I don’t know how long I’ve been awake.

Remi tries to scoot out of bed, but I grab her, yanking her body close to mine.

“Since you’ve offered up a free shot, I’ll take it.” Her body stiffens. “Shouldn’t you be cuddling with your girlfriend? I haven’t forgotten the trench coat incident before the party.”

“That’s it. I’m killing Laurie just so that I don’t have to hear that goddamn word again!” I fumble for my phone on the nightstand, but Remi grabs my wrist.

“How long have you been awake?” she asks gently.

“Too damn long,” I admit. My voice sounds like I have a mouth full of gravel.

“Sleep.” She releases my wrist and attempts to scoot to the other side of the bed, but I band my arms around her tightly.

“Don’t leave,” I say against the back of her head.

She wiggles around to where we’re facing each other, and I tell her, “This is the last time we will discuss Laurie, or any other woman, for that matter. Nothing. Happened. Yes, she had it in her mind to seduce me. No, I was not interested in being seduced.”

“Why?” Remi breathes.

“Why?” I shout incredulously, wanting to bang my head against the fucking wall. “Because a little pickpocket has stolen my heart!”

“You don’t have to sound so happy about it,” she says, disgruntled.

I bark out a laugh.