Page 171 of The Devil's Fire

Once inside, I made my way downstairs to where the safe was while Lorenzo checked the desk and computer to see if there was anything new. Arianna checked it earlier and sent a picture that there wasn’t anything to be suspicious about. Now, I was almost certain there would be something.

As I opened the safe, my eyes immediately landed on the new file. Grabbing it, I examined the papers closely, my frown deepening as I continued to study them.

Lorenzo came to a stop next to me, and I turned toward him, presenting the papers.

“Of course.” He tsked out as he looked at the papers, familiar with this kind of work.

“She’s still in the game. Now the question is with whom.” I said, turning my attention back to the file.

Jacinta was using the business for money laundering.

fifty-four

Althaia

We were almost done making the perfect dinner. Well, my mother made the food while Cara and I helped. Actually, we were bickering more than helping make dinner.

I suddenly craved mac and cheese, and we decided to make some at the very last minute. I put Cara on the job since it was the easiest thing on the menu. But somehow, she was screwing it up.

“That’s not how you make it. You’re turning it into soup!” I told Cara, staring down at the pot of whatever she had going on.

“This is how you make it! It just needs to boil for a bit, and it will reduce.” Cara said, annoyed, looking focused as she stirred the pot.

“No, it’s literally soup! It looks disgusting.” I scrunched my nose. I had no idea what it was, but it sure as hell wasn’t mac and cheese. It looked like poison.

“It’s not!”

“I can’t stand listening to you two anymore! Get out and go set up the table.” My mother scolded and pushed us out of the kitchen.

“This is your fault.” Cara continued as we moved to the dining area, which was joined to the living room where the siblings were.

“You’re the one who can’t cook to save your life!”

“You were the one telling me how to make it. You’re the one who fucked up, bitch!” Cara said loudly, making me look at her with wide eyes. She then gasped and slammed her hand up to her mouth when she realized her mistake.

We heard my mother’s footsteps approaching us, and I quickly went to escape into the living room, and Cara followed closely behind.

“Young lady! I did not just hear such words coming out of your mouth.” My mother frowned, pointing her beloved wooden spoon at her.

I bit down on my lip so I wouldn’t burst out laughing at the scenario in front of me. Cara, being a grown-ass woman, was being scolded like a child by my mother. And in front of her fiancé.

It was uproariously funny that tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to stifle my laughter. Arianna leaned forward on the couch, watching us with a grin as she witnessed the infamous wooden spoon in action.

“Is that such language your father teaches you?” My mother raised her brow, and Cara was on the verge of breaking out laughing at the question.

“Ah, you see, my dad doesn’t talk much these days.” She said casually, making me snort a laugh. My mother shifted her gaze back and forth between us, her eyes narrowing.

“What do you mean? That man never stops talking.” Cara couldn’t hold it anymore and laughed, making me burst out laughing, too.

Damiano had a small smirk on his lips. He was, after all, the one who made sure my uncle couldn’t talk anymore.

“You two are not making any sense.” My mother shook her head.

“A lot of shit was coming out of his mouth.” Cara continued, which earned a quick slap with the wooden spoon on her arm, making her let out a yelp and rub her arm.

“And yours too! Don’t use that language under my roof.” She warned and pointed the spoon at her. My mother then looked at me and gave me a whack on the arm with the spoon too, making me gape.

“I didn’t even do anything!”

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