Page 231 of Claimed At First Sight

His low chuckle sounds right behind me as I knock and open the door.

“Your lord and master, sir,” I announce to Aldo as I enter.

He scowls at me in warning, and I give him an innocent smile, acutely aware of Maximo’s presence at my back.

“I’ll leave you gentlemen to your scheming,” I say with saccharine sweetness.

Then I walk out with as much dignity as I can manage, resisting the urge to look back and see whether Maximo is still watching me.

I’m about to pull the door closed when I think better of it and leave it open just a crack.

Whatever they’re planning, I need to hear it for myself and, more importantly, find out whether Maximo intends to help Luca.

Sitting around waiting for Aldo to emerge and deliver whatever carefully edited version of the conversation he thinks Mamma and I should hear isn’t an option. We deserve to know exactly what’s happening.

A quick glance down the hallway confirms there are no guards stationed inside this morning.

How very convenient.

Chapter Sixty-Five

Mialina

Ipress my ear to the door, listening to Luca brief Maximo on what happened.

“So, Luca Caruso turns out to be The Venom and one of the most wanted men in the world.” Maximo’s voice is low, almost bored. “Tell me why I should help you?”

I latch onto the fact that he asked why. Surely he wouldn’t have come all this way if he wasn’t at least considering it.

Luca doesn’t respond right away, leaving me to wonder what’s happening inside the room.

Then their voices drop, too muffled for me to make out the words. Dammit. I inch a little closer to the opening.

A faint creak comes from inside the office, followed by the sound of footsteps. Someone is moving around, but I can’t tell who.

“Let’s assume for a second I was considering helping you,” Maximo says. “What exactly is it you want?”

Some of the tension leaves my shoulders. He hasn’t said no. That’s something.

“I need men,” Luca says. “Hale’s residence is a fortress. I can blind his systems and call his routes, but I can’t pull Isa out alone. I want to make a deal with you.”

Hope flares.

Luca is going to offer Maximo something that will make risking his men worthwhile. But Maximo’s laugh is humorless, extinguishing that spark of hope almost as quickly as it formed.

“Hale’s palace eats men. I need mine for Chicago.” His voice turns colder. “I won’t risk my empire for just a woman.”

Just a woman?

Fury surges through me. I nearly shove the door open and tell him exactly who that woman is. Only the need to hear Luca’s answer keeps me rooted in place.

“I’m willing to be in your debt. One favor. No questions asked.”

Even I understand what that means.

If Luca is The Venom, he’s one of the most brilliant hackers in the world. A blank favor from someone like him is the kind of leverage men would kill for.

Surely Maximo will agree now.