Page 170 of Lorenzo

I ignore him and move the meeting forward.

The remaining agenda takes another forty minutes. I force my attention onto each issue and make the decisions expected of me.

The meeting ends with the usual scrape of chairs and shuffle of papers.

Ricardo leaves with Diego, already discussing one of the revised projections. I remain seated long enough to finish the note I am making in the margin of the staffing report.

“Lorenzo,” Mario says. “Stay.”

I look up.

His tone is even, but there is nothing casual in it.

The door closes behind the last person, leaving Mario and me alone in the conference room.

I set down my pen.

“What is it?”

Mario does not answer immediately. He gathers the reports in front of him into a single stack, aligning the edges with deliberate care.

“You have been spending a great deal of time with Donna.”

I lean back in my chair. “She was investigating Alessio’s case.”

“I am aware.”

“Then what is the issue?”

“The amount of time you spent with her went beyond what the investigation required.”

I feel my patience shorten.

“According to whom?”

His eyes lift to mine.

“According to me.”

I give a quiet breath through my nose. “You were not there.”

“No. But I know you accompanied her to interview Elaine Monroe.”

“She was following a lead.”

“She is a private investigator. Following leads is her job.”

“And protecting this family is mine.”

Mario studies me across the table.

“She did not require your protection to interview an elderly woman.”

“That was fortunate, because the elderly woman was not the danger.”

His expression does not change.

“Rachel followed us from the motel,” I continue. “Because I was there, we recognized the tail, redirected her, searched her car, and found the evidence that cleared Alessio. So yes, I accompanied Donna. It was a good thing I did.”