Page 129 of Caterina

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Vito watches me too, but for different reasons.

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing,” Vito says.

I do not believe him.

From the look on Teresa’s face, neither does she.

I reach for the folded overshirt Elena left on the chair and pull it on carefully, slowly, buttoning it just enough to cover the holster and the bandage. The movement hurts. I keep that off my face as much as possible.

Vito notices anyway.

So does Teresa.

Cristiano does not.

He is chewing on Vito’s shirt now.

When I’m done, I take one steadying breath and nod toward the door.

“Let’s go.”

Teresa rises with Cristiano’s discarded ring in hand and gives me one last assessing look. “Slowly.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

“No.”

She rolls her eyes.

Vito opens the door and steps out first with Cristiano. Teresa follows at my side.

The house is brighter now. Noisier. More awake with the voices below not bothering to stay hushed.

Just a normal family. With armed guards outside and a weapon on each man inside.

And somewhere downstairs, Caterina is waiting.

Or avoiding me.

Probably both.

I start toward the stairs, each step pulling at the stitches in my side, and remind myself of the line that still exists, whether or not she crossed it last night.

Whether or not I crossed it with her.

Client. Principal. Protection.

Complication.

The words should keep me focused and on task.

I'm not entirely sure that they do.

Chapter Twenty

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