Page 232 of Claimed At First Sight

But there’s only silence.

I frown. Why isn’t he saying anything?

“He’s an asset, Maximo. The best hacker in the world,” Aldo says, sounding more frustrated than I’ve ever heard him. Good. At least he’s on our side in this. “He can tilt a board you’re already winning, or you can keep the favor banked for when you really need it.”

Again, there’s no response.

My pulse begins to speed up. I press closer to the door, straining to catch even the murmur of a lowered voice.

Still, there’s nothing.

Maximo can’t truly be considering walking away and leaving Isa with Hale. Every hour he has her is another hour Isa is in danger. Maximo is wasting time as though her life is nothing more than a business proposition he can accept or reject at his leisure.

Luca has offered him something priceless. What more could he possibly want?

The silence stretches until it becomes unbearable.

I peek through the narrow opening. Neither man moves. Luca stands as still as carved stone, his eyes fixed on Maximo.

Across from him, Maximo leans back, completely at ease.

Dread crawls over me.

Dear God, he’s actually going to refuse.

No.

I refuse to stand here and do nothing while my sister stays trapped with some madman because Maximo Marco decides she isn’t worth it.

Before I can second-guess myself, I shove the door open.

Every head turns.

Luca’s eyes widen. So do Aldo’s. Maximo’s don’t.

He looks at me as though he’d been expecting me. I ignore the unsettling thought and lift my chin.

“Will you help my sister…” My voice catches for the briefest moment before I force the words out. “…for me?”

Maximo watches me. Under the weight of his gaze, my pulse pounds harder.

He waits another beat before finally speaking. When he does, his voice is completely even.

“I want something in return.”

For one second, I let myself pretend he could mean anything else.

But I know what’s coming.

He sees the instant I understand. Something shifts in his eyes, so slight I almost miss it.

I’m going to be sick.

Some desperate part of me searches his face for a sign that I’m wrong.

“What?” The word barely makes it out.

Maximo holds my gaze. The answer is right there in his eyes.