Page 25 of Phantom Mine

“I had a panic attack earlier,” I admit.

Her gaze softens and she squeezes my hand. “I know.”

“I can’t talk about why.”

“That’s okay.”

We sit silently for a while. Our bodies are marked with bruises left there by the same man and our secrets are bared before us, and it’s impossible to resist the connection I feel starting to form between us.

“Aurora.” She looks at me. “That’s my real name.” My heart swells and a soft smile teases my lips. “I don’t want to pretend to be someone else when we’re talking about this.”

I drop my head back and blink up at the ceiling. The weight of holding up my protective walls is draining and I realize I won’t make it through this without trusting someone.

“I’m Valentina,” I whisper. “Please don’t tell anyone.”

“It’s a pleasure toactuallymeet you this time, Valentina.” I turn to look at her and find her beaming back at me, her sparkle twinkling once more in those beautiful eyes of hers. “Your secrets are very safe with me.”

“Likewise, Aurora.”

I close my eyes, completely spent. I survived my first day. It didn’t go anything like the way I’d planned it. I got a new job, made a few enemies, and nearly died.

But more importantly, I made a new friend.

I tell myself there’s a reason Aurora and I met. I’m sure Adriana guided her to me. She would have liked her.

Chapter Nine

Matteo

The day after my conversation with Emiliano Marchesani, Enzo and I meet with Patrick O’Shea, the longtime Police Commissioner for the Met. He’s been in my father’s pocket for ten years and has only him to thank for his ascension to the highest rank in the service.

His loyalty should be ironclad. Convincing him to join forces with me shouldn’t be easy, but like many other things, my father has let the relationship slip over the few years.

Where it used to be a mutually beneficial arrangement with O’Shea receiving monthly bribes in exchange for directing his men to look the other way when it came to our business, my father decided to withhold cash payments and instead started resorting to good old fashioned blackmail to get what he wanted out of him.

Consequently, getting O’Shea to align with me is far easier than anticipated. His newfound hatred of my father means that he readily agrees to my terms and the meeting is over in under thirty minutes.

We’re in the car on the way toFirenzewhen Enzo asks, “Do you think he’s actually trustworthy?”

“No, but he’s as trustworthy as anyone else we’re getting over to our side,” I muse. “Wire him a payment as a show of good faith that we’ll keep our promises.”

“Got it, boss. Thirty?”

“Fifty,” I tell him. “The only thing I trust is he’ll be motivated by greed. Fifty should help solidify him to our cause.”

He nods as we walk into the club, then frowns when he sees me head in a direction other than my office.

“You don’t want to have a drink?” he asks.

“I do. I’m going to VIP for a while. It’s important that I start spending more time with the rest of the crew,” I explain. “I’ve been on the sidelines for too long. That needs to change.”

Enzo crosses his arms. “Is that the only reason?”

“What other reason would there be?”

As always, my cousin sees too much.

“Guido told me the new girl is in the rotation tonight.” He looks down at his watch. “Coincidently, her set appears to be starting in just a few minutes.”

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