Page 78 of When She Tempts (The Fallen)
I pick some dirt from under my nails. “He owns a few businesses on the island.”
“A few.” Polo chuckles under his breath. “According to Forbes, his net worth is estimated to be close to half a billion.”
Heat creeps up my cheeks. “My brother’s done well for himself.”
“How do him and Giorgio know each other?”
Ugh, what am I supposed to say to that? I still don’t know if Polo is aware of Giorgio’s involvement with the Casalesi, and I sure as hell am not going to be the one to bring it up.
“I’m not sure,” I say dismissively. “Probably from their work.”
“Yeah, theirwork.” He shakes his head as he takes a turn. “Your brother isn’t just a businessman, Martina, is he?”
The back of my nape prickles. “What do you mean?”
“I know what Giorgio does.” His voice hardens. “He handles security matters for the Casalesi. Your brother must be a part of the clan, too. Why are you here, really?”
I meet his scrutinizing gaze in the mirror and wonder what I should say. So he knows some of it, but clearly Giorgio doesn’t trust him enough to tell him why I’m here. Or maybe Giorgio just doesn’t think it’s relevant information. I school my expression into a neutral mask. “Giorgio already told you.”
“I don’t buy it. This isn’t some kind of nature retreat. Like I said, Giorgio hates this fucking place. He comes often, but never for more than a few days. He wouldn’t have agreed to stay here with you for this long if there wasn’t something big in it for him.”
I pull my lips into my mouth. There’s nothing I can say to that. “Why do you keep saying he hates it here?”
“You won’t tell me anything, but you expect me to tell you things?” He scoffs. “Forget it.”
Something in how his face moves strikes me as familiar. I squint at him, trying to decipher who he reminds me of, but I come up blank.
We pass by an abandoned barn. “Polo, there’s nothing to tell. My brother’s busy this summer, and he thought I’d have a better time spending it out here.”
“He sent you here over literally anywhere else in the world?” He adjusts his hands on the wheel. “You know what I think? I think your brother is the capo of Ibiza. And if he sent you all the way over here with Giorgio… You’re being hidden away.”
I don’t react. He turns to look at me, dragging his gaze over my profile. When I don’t say anything, he clicks his tongue. “Who are you hiding from, Martina?”
His proximity to the truth twists my nerves into tight coils. “What is it to you? It’s my business.”
“I’m tired of secrets.” And then he mutters under his breath, “And I’m tired of being told how to live my own damn life.”
Tension lingers inside the vehicle. After a while, Polo turns on the music, and I focus my eyes on the scenery outside window.
Unease swirls inside my stomach as we park in a dirt lot by the nurseries. Even though Polo’s frustration is directed more at Giorgio than me, I don’t like that he looked me or my brother up. Why does he care so much? Is he really just that bored, or is there something else behind it?
“I need to go talk to the owner about my order,” Polo says, sparing me a look once we get out of the truck. “You can walk around while you wait.”
“Okay. See you in a bit.”
As he disappears behind the door of the office building, I spin around, taking it all in. The place is huge. The plant nursery is situated on a large, sprawling piece of land and is filled with rows upon rows of various plants and flowers. I can see a range of different species, from tall trees to short shrubs, and colorful blooms in every hue. My attention catches on the glass greenhouse a little farther away, and I decided to make my way over to it.
My conversation with Polo replays inside my head. I didn’t say anything I shouldn’t have, right? I didn’t even confirm he was right about my brother being the capo of Ibiza. I’m probably overthinking it. Giorgio trusts him, and he must have a good reason for that trust.
As soon as I step through the door of the greenhouse, I’m struck by warmth and humidity. The air is thick with the scent of soil and growing plants, and sunlight streams through the matted glass above my head. I suck in the earthy aroma and let out a sigh. It’s gorgeous.
I walk over to a long wooden table stacked with potted plants and start to browse. Some of them we already have in the garden, but I find a few that will make great new additions.
Somewhere on the distance, a car door slams. Is Polo finished with the owner? I glance in the direction of the entry and then get back to my task. He knows I’m here. He’ll come and get me before he leaves.
When I’m done sifting through the pots on the table, I crouch down to look at the ones on the ground.
A sound penetrates my ears. Heavy and sure footsteps.
