Page 105 of Heart of a Villain

Joel pulled out his phone and tapped on the screen with so much force that Adrían peered at the glass, expecting to see hairline cracks.

“I probably shouldn’t have told you that. It’s not my information to tell.”

“I’m guessing, by now, Lorenzo’s figured out his brother’s not coming back,” Joel said. “I’m not sure if he’s figured out why.”

“The challenge will be keeping him alive long enough to torture.”

“Honestly, I regret not torturing Lavigne.”

“I will torture Lorenzo for us both.”

“For all of us,” Joel corrected. “Seda’s family.”

A server arrived at their table, set two glasses in front of them, and smiled as she walked away. Adrían noticed Joel absent-mindedly start to fiddle with his wedding ring, and he wondered what had been different for Aron Price.

The entire team seemed like the type to sell their souls before they hurt their loved ones. It was a curious thing: what made them different from the man who broke Mora Bentley’s heart?

“What is this?” he asked, peering into his glass.

Joel, shrugging, grabbed the other and took a sip.

Adrían brought his glass to his nose. “Is this juice?”

“Just drink it.”

“Why do you keep denying that we are friends?”

“Because you used to be in love with my wife.”

“And it’s not clear why that is?” Adrían took a sip from the glass and coughed. “What is this? If I had to guess, this is what snake venom probably tastes like.”

“Unsweetened juice made from barely ripe grapefruits with a splash of bitters, tap water, and a sprinkle of salt.”

“This would never willingly touch a Brazilian’s palate. Still, I appreciate it, mano.”

“You’re not supposed to.”

He looked over Joel’s shoulder.

First, he saw Julien, and then the rest of the team, even Giorgio, walked over to the table. Julien, yawning, carried a device in hand and flopped down into one of the chairs. Based on when they’d all gone back to their rooms, they couldn’t have gotten more than a few hours’ worth of sleep.

“Where’s Mo?” Joel asked Giorgio. “I didn’t think I’d see you up here tonight. We would have understood, you know. I mean, we’d have to, but just so you know…”

Giorgio took a seat. “Bez, she is with Wren.”

Adrían glanced at Thanasis, who looked like on the roof with them was the last place he wanted to be.

“Bratishka,” Giorgio hissed.

Thanasis sat.

Giorgio said something in Greek that made Thanasis look off into the water as if deeply contemplating something he was usually otherwise reluctant to think about.

“Aleski will not have brother,” Giorgio added. “Brother is pain.”

Thanasis rolled his eyes. “Tell me how you are different.”

Giorgio didn’t answer, but it didn’t look as if he’d paused to try to think of an answer. It looked more like he’d had no plans to say anything else after “Brother is pain.” Strangely, Adrían found their relationship endearing. While both crazy, they were their own unique versions of stalker-killer crazy.

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