Page 106 of Reckless Vow

Personal business? I ran into Brook. You owe me a getaway with Mary.

I check my watch. It’s way too late there, but Chloe might still be on the floor at the club, so I call her.

“You’re such an asshole. You don’t cancel my plans via a text. And here I thought you needed time with your lovely wife. Where the hell are you?”

I guess she’s still up.

“What did you tell Brook?”

“You’re going to fuck this up, Baldo,” she warns.

It’s a fake marriage. But maybe she’s onto something. “What did you tell Brook?”

“She thought you were away on business, so I pretended I must have misunderstood. I don’t think she bought it. Maybe you shouldn’t have lied to both of us.”

“If you see—”

“Baldo, if you want to talk to her, call her. Not me. Besides, she went to Madrid.”

What the fuck is in Madrid?

“Why?”

“Again, call your wife. I have to go.” She hangs up.

I almost hurl my phone across the car, but I’m not adding another thing to my list of inexplicable behaviors. I rake my fingers through my hair. Madrid?

The car passes a large gate and pulls to a stop in front of a modern cube-like mansion. A red Ferrari and a sensible family-size Mercedes are parked to the side.

I tell the driver to wait for me, and before I reach the door, they are flung open. A blonde woman with bewitching brown eyes glares at me.

“Hello, I’m here to see Art Mathison.”

“I don’t appreciate you intruding on our family time. Art doesnotdo business when we are here, and I hope youremergencyis a matter of life or death because you don’t want me to be your enemy.”

I guess that’s his wife. She steps to the side, and I enter a huge open space. Across the room is a wall of windows that are open, merging the exterior with the interior. In the infinity pool, kids are jumping and splashing.

No wonder Art was unwilling to take this meeting. Shit. “My apologies for the intrusion, Mrs. Mathison. You have a beautiful home here. I’m Baldo Cassinetti, nice to meet you.” I offer a smile and my hand, but my manners don’t placate her.

She frowns and folds her arms across her chest. “Related to Andrea?”

“He’s my brother.” Not sure how she knows him, but maybe it will score me some points.

“He’s an asshole, so I guess it runs in the family.” She shakes her head. “Forgive my lack of hospitality.” Her statement leaks sarcasm. “I really don’t like Art working when he’s here. His office is down the hallway to the right.”

“Thank you. And sorry, again.”

I follow her directions and knock on the door, but don’t wait for an answer. The office is a stark contrast to the rest of the white, airy house.

The blinds are drawn, swallowing the room in darkness, the only light coming from several monitors at a large desk.

The reflection illuminates Art’s face. His expression makes his wife’s welcome a pleasant experience.

“Art.” I nod and take a seat without him offering. This looks like an uphill conversation. “You have a nice place here.”

“Not to be intruded upon.”

“I’m sorry I insisted on seeing you in person. It’s a sensitive matter.”

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