Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“You’re allowed to come to work with me whenever you want.” He runs his fingers through my hair.
“Don’t you have work things to do though?”
“I have no idea.”
“Typical boss. Getting all the credit while putting in none of the actual effort.”
“Trust me, if I could get out of here, I would.”
“Why are you in charge, anyway?”
“Luca trusted me with this. He and Enzo are off running some other job and it was left to me. This was a promotion.”
“You don’t feel like that though.”
“No, not at all.”
“Which is why you fight. To try to get back the old you.”
“Pretty much.”
“How’s that going?”
“Not great. Doesn’t last for long.” He lets out a long sigh. “Maybe it’s time to accept I’m not the same young man I used to be.”
“That’s not so bad, right? Everyone changes. It’s just what happens in life.”
“You’re right.” He looks down at me and kisses me softly. “How are you changing, Charlie?”
I don’t answer. I’m not sure what to tell him. Guilt hits me again, followed by a flood of shame.
I didn’t come here today because I wanted to get to know my husband better. I came here to spy on him.
My plan was to get as much information as I could, or at least to get a good idea of where I need to go looking later on.
But the more time I spent here talking to him, and later following Giorgio around, the more that guilt festered and grew rotten and septic. I couldn’t stand what I was doing, and in the end, I stopped looking. I decided to be what I was pretending to be: just a curious wife and nothing more.
I’m still a filthy spy. I’m a traitor and a liar. Stefano’s done nothing but follow my rule and tell me the truth, while I’ve been maneuvering behind his back this whole time.
And the sickest part is I like being here with him.
I don’t want to find a way out of this marriage.
Not right now, anyway.
Maybe we’re not perfect together. God knows Stefano was never my type and he’s way too old for me. But as I get to know him, I see a man of experience, a man who knows what he is and desperately needs to find a way to get back to himself. I can deeply sympathize with that.
In so many ways, I’m going through the same thing. He’s struggling to get back to himself while I’m fighting to find out who I really am.
“We should get dressed,” I say eventually, ignoring his question.
He grunts in reply. “I’m the boss. Nobody’s going to say shit.”
“I know, but—”
“But I’ve been starved of touching you for too long and now I’m going to gorge myself.” His fingers run down my back and I shiver slightly. “You’ll move when I say you can.”
For once, I decide it’s better to play along.
Since it happens to be what I want too.
Chapter 21
Stefano
I’m barely home for a few hours before Davide’s blowing up my phone. “There was another break-in,” he says breathlessly. “Security got here before I could, but they said nobody was on the premises.”
“That was fucking quick,” I snarl, frustration filling my chest as I grab my clothes and yank them on. Charlie watches me from the bed curiously. She’s only half awake and squinting through the dark. “I’ll be there soon.”
I hang up the phone and finish getting dressed. It’s ten minutes past two in the morning and I should be deep asleep. Instead, I’m already going back to fucking work.
“What happened?” Charlie asks, sounding sleepy. “Are you okay?”
“Just some problem at the depot.”
“Now? This late? Come back to bed.”
“I wish I could.” I pause, looking back at her. I’m tempted to go over and kiss her gently. Do I still have a pass on the rule? But no, if I start pushing against the edges of our agreement, I’ll end up throwing the whole thing away.
“Aren’t you the boss?” she whines, stretching with a sigh.
“That just means I have more responsibility.”
“Want me to come with you?”
“No. Go back to sleep.”
“Good. I wasn’t really going to.” She rolls over with a groan. “Don’t wake me up when you get back.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
I’m smiling as I get into my truck. I don’t know what it is about that girl, but she makes me feel something. Protective, obsessed, light and young, better than I have in a long time. Even when she’s sleepy and only partially awake, I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anyone before. It’s a little terrifying, but that makes it better.
I have to remind myself that this is a good thing. I’m supposed to want my wife. It’s not bad if she’s wriggling herself deeper into my brain every day we’re together. Anyone else would be happy about it.
But I know better.