Page 175 of The Art of Ruin

When Adriano realizes I’m gone, the entire city will move.

That thought should probably terrify me too. Instead, it makes my eyes sting unexpectedly.

Jasper notices immediately. “You love him.”

Not a question.

The truth settles heavily between us. I don’t answer. I don’t need to, and he doesn’t deserve that truth from me. Not when I haven’t even told Adriano yet.

Something bitter and broken twists across his face. “He ruined his own life for you,” he says quietly. “Do you even understand that?”

Before I can question that, he hits a button on his phone and holds it to his ear.

I watch him like a hawk, wondering who he is calling, dread knotting my belly. Then Jasper smiles slowly. The expression is completely wrong, devoid of any joy.

“You seem to have lost something, Adriano,” he says, looking directly at me now.

Fear crashes violently through me all over again.

29.Adriano

The meeting runstwenty minutes longer than it should. By the time I step out of the conference room, my patience is already thin enough that Matteo takes one look at my face and wisely says nothing as we walk back toward my office. Things between Casey and me still aren’t good and I’m finding I can’t sleep without her in my arms.

“Rossi still thinks the shipping issue came from Jersey,” Matteo says, snapping me from my thoughts.

“He’s wrong.” I continue walking, just wanting five minutes alone in my office before my brain splits open from the pounding headache.

Matteo smirks. “He enjoys it when you say that.”

I do not need my brother’s jokes right now, but if I don’t respond, he’ll just keep going. “He needs hobbies.”

Matteo grins faintly, pushing open my office door ahead of me.

I barely make it halfway inside before my phone rings.

St. Catherine’s Preschool flashes across the screen.

For a second, I think maybe Letty fell over on the playground or painted another child with glue again. But why are they calling me for that and not Casey?

I answer immediately. “Mancini.”

“Hi, this is Claire from St. Catherine’s.” There’s something slightly hesitant in her voice that makes me stop reaching for the files on my desk. “We just wanted to check if Miss Casey was still coming?”

My stomach tightens slightly, my body freezing mid-movement. “What do you mean?”

A pause. “She’s usually here by now for pickup.”

The world shifts almost imperceptibly.

Casey is never late.

She’s the most punctual person I know, and she’d never be late for Letty.

Something cold moves quietly through my chest as Matteo catches my eye. “I’ll handle it,” I say. “Someone will be there to collect Letty in twenty minutes.”

The second the call ends, I dial Casey immediately.

Straight to voicemail.