Page 44 of His Passerotta

Dropping to my knees, I duck my head underneath the desk in case it’s taped to the bottom, but there’s nothing. I go to stand back up, intent on checking behind the safe next, but my shoulder bangs into the chair.

“Ouch,” I groan, rubbing my shoulder and turning that way.

My eyes widen when I see the cylindrical contraption secured with duct tape to the bottom of the chair.

They were looking to kill.

My breathing fizzles out while I stare at the thing, not wanting to believe it. I was here on a mission, but I hoped to be wrong.

I yank my mother’s old watch from my purse to check the time.

Seven fifty. Ten minutes left.

With a shaky breath, I go back to the bomb. I don’t have much experience with them, but I’m positive there’s a detonator. That’s why it mattered what time Anthony was supposed to be here.

Right? I’m not going to blow up by touching this thing?

Fuck, am I really going to take a chance?

There’s a knock on the door. “Hurry up,” Rainey calls. She doesn’t sound worried, more like annoyed, so I don’t think anyone’s coming, but she’s right. I need to hurry.

My face pinches, and I brace myself—as if that would do any good against a bomb—while I gently peel back the tape. Beads of sweat form on my forehead moments before the first drop rolls into one brow.

The tape slowly gives, and each time the bomb shifts, my heart flutters. I bring up the mental image of Josh handling it today in an attempt to comfort myself. It won’t explode just by touching it, Bailey.

Once it’s finally free, I let out a loud exhale, like I’d been holding it the entire time, and as gently as one possibly can, set the bomb into my purse. I take another look at my watch. Seven fifty-three. Still okay.

I stand up, slowly bringing the purse with me, and go to the door. My heart beats so fast, I can’t hear anything past it’s thumping, and I have to stop myself from sprinting out of here.

It’s okay.

Act normal.

It’s okay.

I back out of the room and don’t dare take the time to lock the door behind me.

Rainey rocks on her heels with interest. “Get what you need?”

“Yeah.” I shuffle toward the backroom with my purse held out at my side. “All good.”

“Bailey?”

Not Rainey’s voice.

I freeze, my spine stealing and sweaty palms suddenly feeling like they’re covered in a layer of ice. If I wasn’t grasping the bag so intently, I’d drop it and potentially blow us all to pieces.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Anthony asks, his footsteps nearing.

I bring the purse down to hang at my thigh so it doesn’t look as suspicious, then turn to face him. Rainey bails around the corner.

My lips feel like stiff leather as they stretch into an awkward, nervous smile. “H-hey.”

His eyes narrow as he takes me in, looking anything but happy to see me.

He glances around before taking my arm to lead me into the empty backroom, shutting the door behind us. My lungs quit working the second his forceful pull bounced my purse off my thigh, but looking down at it now, I try to inhale. The best I manage is a wheeze.

“I thought you were smart enough to realize you don’t work here anymore. Did you really need me to spell that out for you?”

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