Page 42 of Unspoken Promises

Santi pushes his chair back. “I’m going to check on the horses.”

The four of them head out the back door, leaving me with Rio who is staring at me flatly. “What’s going on with you and Ava?”

Having a twin is a fucking nightmare sometimes. It’s futile to deny there’s an attraction because that’s what he means, but it’s irrelevant. It will fade, and I’ll never go there.

His gaze searches me. “You gave her access to confidential areas.”

I don’t waste time. “She knows about two of the Mexico hacks.”

“The fuck?” He wipes a hand down his face, tattoos flexing over his forearm like he’s containing himself. “Does she know thatweknew about them?”

“Of course not.”

“This is bad, Zo.”

“Or not. She could be useful.”

“Or she could let it slip to the wrong person and we’re in breach of contract with Thad. We lied to him.”

I consider how I’ll explain that I know Ava won’t do anything to ruin us. “She has good reasons not to put GhostEye at risk.”

“Oh? And what’s that?”

“She’s… been in danger. Or is. And I know she needs my help. So putting the company at risk would be a surefire way not to get it.”

“What the hell do you mean she’s in danger?”

“I don’t exactly know.”

His words are a warning. “Hermano, don’t get fooled by that red hair and pretty face.”

“I’m not a fool.”

“But if there’s a woman who could make you one, it would be her.”

He isn’t wrong. She has it all. Brains. Looks. A body to die for. I shake myself of the thoughts.

“She had a panic attack when that gunfire went off, Rio. A full-blown, hide-under-the-table panic attack. She’s been through some shit and she came here because she believes we’re the good guys.” I say the words like a command. “Wearethe good guys.”

He considers for a moment then stands down, giving the slightest nod.

“I’m going to help Ava. I don’t know what or how but I’m going to make goddamn sure that she’s safe here. And she’s a decent enough human to help us in return. I don’t see how you can argue with that.”

He stares at me for what feels like an eternity. “So you trust her?”

Do I? No. But it feels like something close.

“I believe her.”

14

I keep hopingEnzo will show up wearing something hideous, or say something ugly or off-putting, but all week he only gets finer and finer by the day. I find myself losing track of the trails I’m following, stealing glances at his chiseled profile or thinking about how gorgeous his lips are when he taps his pen on them while deep in concentration.

Thursday I had a break from being in heat while Enzo worked from the Silicon Valley office.

Come Friday, I realize the distance did nothing to cool me off. In fact, I only wonder if he’s going to come to tonight’s pool party Santi is throwing. Penelope offered to bring me a swimsuit since I don’t haveone. I know from the night of my hazelnut fiasco that Enzo looks like a bronze God under those stiff shirts of his. His neck is thick and muscular. The skin over his abs is stretched thin over muscle…

“Did you find something?” His question pops me out of my daydream.

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