AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The edge of her mouth curls, and she nods.
“The grandfather is definitely involved,” he mutters, as though he’s thinking out loud.
It’s what my gut is telling me too.
“I’m coming around to that theory,” Tamar replies.
“Did you find something that changed your mind?”
“All circumstantial, but it’s piling up.”
It must be really piling up, because a piece or two of circumstantial evidence isn’t normally enough to sway her.
“All right. Let’s do it.”
They nod, and Tamar’s shoulders loosen. She believes this is the best way forward. And I believe in her.
“Do me a favor. Text Lexie and ask if she’s spoken to Valentina.” I’d text her myself, but Tamar’s more likely to get a response.
“I can text her if you want. But she’s not going to tell her. She’s too concerned that Valentina will figure out a way to act alone. I bumped into her after the two of you spoke. She seemed upset, so I pulled her into my office, and we talked about the perils of sharing the information. She didn’t need to be convinced.”
“She’s with Valentina?”
“I believe so.”
Perfect.
“Before she left my office, Lexie offered me her resignation. She thought she’d be on the outs with both owners of the company by the end of the day. It was all very professional.”
She’s not planning on staying in Porto. It hits me like a punch to the gut, even though I saw it coming. “How did you leave it with her?”
“I recently learned that when an employee tries to resign, you don’t have to accept it. So I didn’t.”
I snicker. Tamar’s getting a fucking raise.
I stand and push in my seat. “I’m going upstairs to corral a couple members of the amateur sleuth society to help us. Text me when you two have hammered out the details of Operation Marco.”
66
RAFAEL
By the time I knock on Valentina’s door, I have my own plan—Operation Lexie.
When Valentina answers, her eyes are a bit sunken, probably from lack of sleep, but otherwise she looks fine. Better than the woman standing behind her, pale, with hunched shoulders, which hits me like a punch to the gut.
“What are you doing here?” Valentina asks. “I thought you were in meetings all morning.”
Supposed to be, but my entire morning schedule was shot to hell the minute Lexie arrived at my office door. “I need to talk to both of you.”
Valentina’s expression betrays nothing. But the stark distress in Lexie’s expression shatters a piece of my soul. She thinks I’m going to tell her friend that she came to me about Marco.
“Why don’t we sit in the kitchen?” I suggest.
I touch Lexie’s lower back as we go in, and she flinches as though my hand is fire. The very last thing I want is for her to flinch at my touch.
I’m going to make this right, Angel. You trusted me to do right by you, and I intend to do just that. Your relationship with Valentina is too important. She’s going to need you now, more than ever. And our relationship is important too—you’re important to me—more important than I ever imagined possible. I need you a little more each day.
Valentina and Lexie sit on one side of my favorite island, and I sit across from them. “I have some bad news regarding Marco.”
