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Before I know it, the day is done. I step out of my office, feeling refreshed after a productive day. I’m feeling better than I have in a while. I’ll head home, make my apologies to Piper, Elysse, and Matteo and enjoy a nice dinner with the family. Maybe I’ll call a friend and head out to a club later tonight and let loose.
I exit the building, looking for my driver when I spot a familiar figure leaning against the wall. I stop short. My breath hitches as Detective Henry Lutz straightens up. I realize I’m having a visceral reaction to seeing him. Not an “Oh, no, the cops are here,” but a “God, is he sexy with that swagger of his.” As if he knows it, he smirks at me, his blue eyes twinkling with that infuriating mix of charm and challenge.
I cross my arms. “You do know stalking is against the law, don’t you?”
Henry's lips quirk up in a half-smile. "Funny, I was about to say the same thing about obstructing justice."
My own lips twitch upward. As much as I hate to admit it, I enjoy our verbal sparring matches.
“Is this the D’Amato raid of the day? Circling back around to where you started since you’ve run out of warehouses?”
Henry shrugs, his casual demeanor at odds with the intensity of his gaze. "Just thought I'd check in on my favorite person of interest."
Favorite?"I guess I should be flattered. Have you considered that you’re being played? I mean, how much humiliation are you going to endure before you realize these calls you’re getting are nothing?”
“I wouldn’t say nothing.”
I arch a brow, hoping my nonchalance hides the clench of my belly, wondering what he’s found. “Poor Hartley was nearly weeping the other day when he didn’t find any hint of a crime.”
He shrugs. “Who do you think is playing us, Ms. D’Amato?”
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip. How many times have I told him to call me Lana? He hasn’t forgotten. I think he likes my reminding him. This is a crazy, dangerous game.
“It’s Lana, and let's just say that not everyone who claims to be on the side of justice has pure motives."
"Interesting theory," Henry muses. "Any particular suspects in mind?"
I shake my head, unwilling to name names without concrete proof. If I accuse the Rinellas, I could start a war, which I'm not necessarily against, but with the police breathing down our backs, now wouldn't be a good time to increase conflict between the Families. "You’re the detective. Maybe you need to look closely at who's been feeding you information lately."
Henry's eyes narrow, his detective instincts clearly piqued. "Why would anyone be out to get you?"
I sigh. “Jealousy? Failed business deals? Who knows? Again, you’re the detective. Why are you asking me to do your job?” I start to turn away, ready to leave this conversation behind. As fun as it is to banter with him, it’s not smart.
“Do you think it involves your brother, Lazaro?”
I stop short and take a breath before I turn to him. “What?”
“I’d like to talk to you about Lazaro’s disappearance. Down at the station.”
I nearly laugh. “Yeah… no. I go to the station, and I may never go home.”
He shakes his head. “Why would you think that? You know we don’t have anything on you. Besides, I want to discuss your missing persons report on Lazaro.”
God, I’m tempted. The police have never taken an interest in Lazaro’s disappearance. My curiosity wars with suspicion. "Why the sudden interest?"
Henry's expression softens, just a fraction. "I've been looking into his disappearance. There might be some new leads."
For a moment, hope flares in my chest. But I quickly stamp it out. This is Detective Lutz, after all. The man who's been hounding my family. This must be a trick.
"I appreciate the offer, Detective," I say, careful to keep my tone neutral, "but I'm afraid I'll have to decline."
His brow furrows. "Why? You’re the one who complained we weren’t taking it seriously, and now that I am, you don’t want to help?"
I let out a humorless laugh. "You're joking, right? After all the harassment you've put my family through, you really expect me to trust you?"
"This isn't about trust. It's about finding out what happened to your brother."
I shake my head, steeling myself against the temptation. "No offense, Detective, but the police haven't exactly been helpful in the past. Why should I believe you now?"
