Page 98 of Not Mine to Keep

“Does that mean you believe Rocco won’t crash the birthday party next weekend?” Our plan would work whether he made an appearance or not, but it would’ve been helpful to have him on-site when he “murdered” Armani and Marcello. It’d be easier to pin their deaths on him if he was actually stateside.

“I don’t know. We haven’t picked up any chatter about the Barones even so much as whispering your name. It’s been radio-fucking-silent from them about you and Calliope.”

“Which is why you’re on edge and want to go hunting as well.”

“That, too, yes. And it bothers me we’ve yet to figure out why Gabriel was really in Rome, if not to meet with Esposito.”

“Maybe that’s because there’s nothing there to find?” I didn’t want to find anything on him. Calliope must’ve been turning me into an optimist, because she had me wanting to believe Gabriel could become a good guy again. If he could be saved, that meant there was hope for me.

“We’re missing something. We have to be. And time’s running out.”

“Don’t remind me. I know time is ...” I dropped my hands to my desk, prepared to stand, but for some reason I remained glued to my seat, feeling like I was on the verge of losing my mind at the idea I’d soon be completing my assignment as Calliope’s husband.

“You don’t have to walk away from her after this; you do realize that, right?”

Mind reader, huh?“She doesn’t need someone like me with my issues in her life forever.”

Hudson’s dark eyes narrowed. “And did she tell you that?”

“It’s a fact. You know my track record.”

“It is what it is because you were burned. You don’t need to touch fire more than once to know not to do it again.” He stood and finished the job of ridding himself of the tie and began wrapping it around his hand. “Well, until you’re certain it’s safe to.”

“It’s never safe to play with fire.”Love only gets you hurt.

“I’m guessing that’s a no to hunting tonight, then?”

“Not in the mood, even after the Barone news.” That was also worrisome, because I’d been addicted to the hunt for so long it was the only thing that truly got my adrenaline going. And I hadn’t done it all week.

“Maybe that’s because you don’t need it anymore?” His eyes fell to my wedding band, and I hadn’t realized I’d been fidgeting with it. “Gohome to her. I’ll stay here. Maybe save Izzy from the date she’s on with some Wall Street guy and have her help me do another deep dive to look over everything again.”

“Weird for her to date while we’re in the middle of an op.”

“Well, she said he’s a friend, but no guy hangs out with a woman like Izzy on a Friday night and doesn’t want—” He cut himself off, probably realizing how jealous he sounded.

And damn, he was jealous, wasn’t he?

“So that’s really why you want to hunt. Maybe accidentally hit Izzy’s not-a-date date as your target?”

He laughed. “Not a bad idea, but no.” His dismissive shrug was hardly believable. “Why would I care if she’s not-dating dating? I just hate her choice in men.”

“Mmm-hmm.” I smirked.

“Back to you. Like I said, go home early tonight. Be with Calliope.”

“I can’t be around her.”I want to be is why I shouldn’t be.Hell, I’d been sleeping with her every night without even needing sex. It was ... “Confusing.” I stood. “I’mconfused, I mean.”

“What you are is a man falling for someone you think you can’t or shouldn’t have. And like I said, maybe it’s time you take a chance again.”

“I’m screwed up in the head, you know that. If I get what I want, who’s to say I’ll still want ...” I let my words hang in the air, because I couldn’t refer to Calliope as an “it” when she was the most incredible woman I’d met in my life. And God help me when she sang. Or smiled. Or laughed. Or peered at me with those big eyes of hers. Or ran her sassy southern mouth. Rolled her eyes. Gave me hell for rolling mine. Or just ... well, existed. Collapsing back onto my seat, I admitted, “Fuck, I have it bad.”

“Finally saying what we all know,” he said in a light voice, and I tugged at my tie and looked up to see him smiling.

“Yeah, well, you going to do the same and confess you feel something for Izzy?” Shit, where’d that come from?

His smile vanished. “I don’t feel that way for her. Just told you that.”

“Yeah, okay. Denial is your best friend, like it’s mine.” I still wasn’t sure how I felt about him with my sister, but I had my own problems to deal with at the moment.

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