Page 95 of The One-Night Heist

“Oh, Giano…” Franz brought a hand to his mouth, looking close to tears. “That’s how you found out?”

“Yes,” I gritted out, bitterness rising like bile in my throat. “Not only was I not a match, but we didn’t even share the same DNA.”

“Oh, my God… I know you’re not a hugger, but… Fuck, Giano.” Franz sniffed and wiped his eyes, his earlier disappointment forgotten. “I am so incredibly sorry…”

As am I.

I smiled tightly, knowing there was only one man’s arms I wished I could fall into. “While I was devastated at the time, I’m grateful it happened. After my initial anger faded, it resulted in some uncharacteristically candid conversations with my mother. By the time she passed… I wouldn’t say I’d forgiven her, but I certainly had a better understanding of her—of why she was the way she was. Because, as you know, I’ve also been pressured to hide parts of myself… for family.”

I spat the word with the same vitriol my mother had all those years ago, in the same breath she’d told me what I would be expected to do—and what was expected to stay hidden—to keep up appearances.

None of that matters anymore.

I’m the only Luxford left.

Franz sighed again and returned to his seat. “I do know, and I hope—after the dust settles—that you finally feel comfortable being with whoever you want. Openly, if you choose.” He paused, looking torn on whether he should say more. “But, as your family, I wish you weren’t choosing someone quite so… incriminating.”

“Careful, Franz,” I growled. “Family or not, I will not allow you to speak ill of who I’m choosing to be with.”

Who I would choose every day of my life if given the chance.

“Giano.” He straightened, going into “older brother” mode. “I know we are most likely here because I shared my unfounded suspicions with the wrong person, but…” He glanced at the open doorway before leaning closer and lowering his voice. “How can you not humor it as a possibility that he might be behind this? He’s… he’s an art thief for goodness’ sake.”

I leveled Franz with a warning look, hoping he had enough sense in his head to back off. “Even if he was behind this, it wouldn’t have been his idea.”

And I will protect Rowen with every inch of power I have left.

Franz’s brow furrowed, but the longer he frantically searched my face, the more his confusion turned to shock and dismay.

This is what you get for digging.

“No…” he finally whispered, almost pleadingly. “Please don’t tell me⁠—”

“Signores?”

We both turned to find a nervous clerk knocking softly on the doorframe as they peered around it. “A representative from Signor Luxford’s legal counsel is here to collect you.”

Collect me?

I glanced down at my watch. While it was nearing when I expected Decatur’s “attorney army” to land in Florence, it would have taken a miracle for them to arrive at the police station by this time.

And why would Bob send a single “representative” instead of collecting me himself⁠—

“Greetings! Dan Cooper, junior attorney for Decatur, Trent, and Fuller Associates at your service with bribe money and a getaway car.”

The world seemed to slow as I took in the well-dressed man sauntering through the doorway with the same easy confidence I’d come to cherish from the one person I couldn’t stop thinking about.

Rowen?

It looked like Rowen, but as if I was viewing him through the lens of a different universe. The height, build, and swagger was the same, but this man had no freckles, was wearing thick-rimmed glasses over brown eyes, and—to my absolute horror—had black hair.

Please tell me he didn’t dye his hair.

“Not who you were expecting, I see,” he chuckled before handing both of us business cards with the words “Dan Cooper, Junior Attorney, Decatur, Trent, and Fuller Associates” plainly printed on the surface. “Understandable. I’m so new, they haven’t even added my photo to the staff page of the website yet!”

Why would he be on the website at all?

That’s when he grinned, revealing that gap in his teeth I also couldn’t stop thinking about, and my bewilderment turned to fury.