Page 50 of Out of Control

Carlo could feel my reluctance, his grip on my waist tightening as he moved behind me, his other hand just touching my shoulder blades when the front door to the office burst open.

I jumped away from Carlo, eyes darting to the door. I was grateful for the disturbance until I saw who burst in.

What thefuckwas Lucas doing here? I fought to keep the anger off my face, waiting for him to explain himself, but he wasn’t even looking at me.

He was staring straight at Carlo Morelli, his FBI identification already held up.

“Sorry to interrupt your morning, Mr. Morelli, but I’m Lucas Blake with the FBI.”

“I know exactly who you are, Agent Blake,” Carlo said, all traces of politeness gone from his demeanor. “How can I assist you today?”

“We have a warrant out for the arrest of your nephew, Antonio Conti, and understand you may be in contact with him. Have you spoken to him lately?”

Lucas was avoiding my gaze, and a good thing, too. How dare he barge in here! How could he ruin this for me? My mother deserved justice in the same way his mother deserved the truth. Why was it okay for him to search out information for his mom, but not me for mine?

“Not since Tuesday morning,” Carlo said. He no longer had a grip on me, but I still felt entirely too close to him.

“Are you sure about that?” Lucas asked, taking a few steps closer. I heard a noise from Angelo’s office, but didn’t dare turn my head to look.

“I’m very sure. I admit to being a little disappointed about that, as I promised his mother I’d look after him while he was in town, but I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint her. You know how the youth are these days: always doing their own thing.”

“Right,” Lucas said, approaching us with a business card held out. Carlo stepped forward to intercept him and accept the card. “Please give me a call if you hear from him.”

“I certainly will.”

“Ma’am?” Lucas said, finally addressing me. I snapped my eyes up to meet his. “May I ask you a few questions?”

What the hell was he playing at? Why did he feel he had to control every situation? I crossed my arms, getting ready to deny him, but his eyes…Those eyes weren’t hard. They weren’t aggressive or taunting.

His beautiful hazel eyes were begging me to trust him and I caved.

“I’m sure I know nothing of interest to you, Agent.” But I still sidestepped Carlo’s raised arm and walked toward the exit with Lucas. “And I hope you’re aware that I don’t need to answer any of your questions without counsel present.”

“I’m very aware of your rights, ma’am,” Lucas intoned, hand across my shoulders as he opened the office door allowing us to exit. “You’re not under arrest, but your cooperation is appreciated.”

I turned back to Carlo and held a finger up, mouthing that this would just take one minute.

Once we were outside, the door closed behind us, I whispered to Lucas, “What the hell are you doing?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” he hissed back, walking me quickly across the street. He wasn’t even trying to be subtle, his hand shifting to hold my arm in a vice grip.

I glanced back at the office, wondering if they were looking and could see the change in Lucas’s demeanor. Carlo looked pissed, throwing his arms dramatically up in the air as he bemoaned my absence. Angelo came out of his office looked apoplectic, glaring straight out the window at us, even as he gestured at something in the direction he came.

And right before Lucas steered me out of sight, I saw that flash of bright green again, clearly a brightly colored shirt, an arm covered in a mish-mash of tattoos appearing out of the sleeve.

Jesus Christ. Leo Lombardi was waiting in the back room the whole time.

They didn’t call me in for an interview, I was there to be killed.

twenty-one

Lucas

Iwasn’t worried about being gentle as I dragged her across the street and down a dozen yards to the surveillance van. She needed to get out of the open.

I slammed the door closed behind us, not bothering with being quiet or stealthy. I’d worry about the ramifications of revealing this van later. Athena’s safety was the most important thing.

“Lucas—” she began, but I held my hand up to cut her off.

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