Page 138 of Tell Me Lies

“There’s no need, Mr. Ludovico. I’ll take a cab.”

“No. I insist.”

“Thank you, but I’m sure you have other things to do.” She fidgeted with the keys in her hand. “Besides, I have to call the insurance company.”

“Nonsense. We can call them on the way to your house. I’m not leaving you here alone, not after that.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Tears of gratitude gathered in the corners of her eyes. She brushed them away impatiently.

“Really. It’s not necessary.”

He held out his hand, simply waiting for her to accept his request. She didn’t react so he grasped it. Her breath caught, kicking her out from the dark cloud she was succumbing to.

“Do you always get what you want?” she blurted out, as he dragged her forward.

Ludovico chuckled.

“Always.”

A black BMW stopped in front of them. Lorenzo opened the door and stood to one side, surveying the area.

“In you go.”

Taking a deep breath, Gigi climbed aboard, closely followed by Ludovico. Her body warmed inside out. His presence took over the space in the car, threading it down to him and him alone. She rushed to focus on something else and fidgeted with her seat belt. Ludovico leaned forward, taking it from her grasp. His knuckles slid across her chest as he adjusted it. The belt buckle clicked. His gaze bore into hers. Her mouth was dry, and carelessly she licked her lips. He leaned closer. She lowered her gaze and saw it.

A surge of panic climbed up her throat and made her heave.

“No,” she cried out, slamming her hands against his chest.

Ludovico sat back laughing.

“You’ve got a good eye. I was right to believe you’d seen me last night.”

“No,” she repeated. She made toward the door, realizing too late that the car was already moving.

“What do you want from me?” she whimpered. “I didn’t see anything.”

“You saw my tattoo, or you wouldn’t have had this reaction just now from catching a glimpse of it. Besides, I think this belongs to you.”

Reaching into the inside pocket of his jacket he pulled out a phone. Her phone. Her skin became clammy.

“Please.”

“Ms. Evans, do you remember what my company does?”

She shook her head. Right now, her mind was scattered, the only thought running through it being fear.

“We’re a software company. On the surface, software developers, beneath the pretty packaging, we are hackers.”

Her eyes widened as she realized what he was saying.

“You’ve hacked my phone?” she murmured.

“Just to know who it belonged to,” he assured her. “I wanted to make sure you wouldn’t go running to the police or I’d have had to kill you, right?”

“I didn’t go to the police,” she cried.

“I know. Nor will you. After all,” he continued as if she hadn’t said anything. “I could place this anywhere near the crime scene and you’d be in a whole lot of trouble with them. Not to mention the things I could do to your reputation. Imagine, from hacking your accounts to making it seem you’re embezzling funds, to sending spicy emails to your colleagues and family.”

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