Page 40 of Valentino

“Good.” I give a weak smile. “Great.”

Her face drops. “Something’s wrong?”

“Not at all,” I lie. “Everything is….”

“What’s going on?”

“Chesk….” I bite my bottom lip. “We’ve been friends a long time, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Long before Giuliano and all the boys and….” My voice trails off.

“I know.” She sips her coffee. “What is it?”

“What I’m trying to say is….”

“Anna.” She widens her eyes. “What?”

“I need to talk to someone but you have to swear on your life that you won’t tell Giuliano a word that I say.”

“Like what?”

Can I tell her Carlo called me?

“About Valentino.”

“Wait.” Her eyes hold mine. “Is it bad?”

“Maybe, I don’t know.”

“Okay.”

“Give me your word,” I push.

“You have my word; I promise I won’t tell him a thing.”

“Have you heard if there’s been a change in the Carlo situation, do they know where he is?”

“Not that I know of, last I heard they had a tip-off that he was in Jamaica.”

“Hmm.” My eyebrows flick up. “I’m not so sure that he is anymore.”

“Why not?”

“Ever since it all went down two months ago, I’ve had bodyguards with me the entire time, around the clock.”

“Good.” She sips her coffee. “Understandably so.”

“Well, on Wednesday Valentino turned up at my house and told me he’s moving in.”

“Moving in?” She frowns. “What do you mean moving in?”

“Who knows?” I shrug. “He turned up and hasn’t gone home since.”

“Where is he staying?”

“In my spare room.”