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“Gabriele Serra worked for interests connected to my employers. He was trusted with information that did not belong to him. Instead of returning it, he attempted to use it as leverage.”
The representative’s gaze returned to me. His smile thinned.
“Gabriele betrayed the Coccico family. His daughter has what we want.”
Behind us, I heard hurried footsteps on stone. Anger rose before I turned. Adriana crossed the courtyard toward us. Tone followed several steps behind, one hand gathering the front of her dress so she wouldn’t trip, calling her name.
“Adriana!”
She slowed but didn’t stop until she reached us.
“I told you to remain inside.”
“And I told you this concerns me.”
Tone reached her, slightly breathless and visibly furious.
“She’s quicker than she looks.”
Archie’s face changed when he saw Tone. He crossed the distance between them immediately.
“What are you doing?”
“Failing to catch her.”
“You’re eight weeks pregnant,” I heard him hiss.
Tone opened her mouth to respond.
“Later,” I snapped.
My voice stopped them both. Adriana came to stand beside me. Too close to the gate. I moved in front of her, which caused the representative’s attention to sharpen.
“Miss Serra,” he purred.
Adriana looked past my shoulder.
“Who are you?”
“I’m the man authorized to offer you a way out of this mess.”
Her body went still. The man continued.
“Your father took something from the Coccico family. Return it, and you will be protected.”
Raze gave a quiet laugh.
The representative glanced at him.
“You hunted her across Rome,” Raze replied. “Now you tell her you’ll protect her. I’m sure you don’t think her naive?”
“Mistakes were made,” the man admitted.
“Her father created this situation. She has nothing to do with it.”
Adriana stepped to the side, refusing to remain behind me.
“What do you want?”
