Page 33 of Cruel Longing

She didn’t acknowledge I had been near her. Maybe she was dreaming, or maybe she had passed out like the drunk she had become.

I headed back into the study. There was a storm that had settled over the city. The rain pelted the windows. I had come to the compound for dinner, begun working in the office, and hadn’t left.

The alert on my phone chimed. Who the hell was texting this late?

When I saw Amara’s name on the screen I stopped moving. I had to read the message a second time.

We need to talk. Come over.

Now? In the middle of the night? During a storm that felt like a tropical depression?

Did she think she could summon me like one of her henchmen? I had left messages and sent texts. I’d had flowers delivered along with her favorite champagne from Marguerite’s. She had returned everything unopened, including the apology note. I never had a chance to explain the PAC. My words were always going to fall flat.

But maybe this meant she had taken the bait. She knew Enzo had been in contact with me in public. I expected her to eyes all over the city, but I was impressed how quickly she received the information.

I texted my response.

On my way, kotyonok.

I shoved my phone in my back pocket.

This might be the only chance I had. I grabbed the keys to one of the family cars and opened the garage door. The thunder boomed as I steered toward the Amato mansion.

The windshield wipers swished back and forth on the highest setting. I had to watch for street flooding on my drive over. A few of the roads had already been blockedoff with detour warnings. The storm was only getting worse. I sat outside Amara’s house. I stared at the second-floor window that used to be her bedroom. I wondered if it still was. Had she taken over the master suite? Had she converted her father’s apartments into her own? Part of me found it hard to believe she still lived in the mansion. She had never liked it much.

The house was dark except for the flickering gas lamps on either side of the porch. I didn’t bring my security detail with me. I was alone. If this was the moment Amara decided to take me out instead of call a family truce, there was nothing I could do.

In the days since our date, I didn’t know what she had discovered about me. I only knew she had started making moves. She was playing a high-stakes game.

I was stupid enough to take the fucking chance it wasn’t an ambush.

I pushed the driver side door open and ran into the rain. It streamed down my face. The cold droplets soaked into my shirt.

I pounded on the front door. I wasn’t surprised when Ciro opened it.

He glared at me. “Yes?”

“Amara is expecting me,” I explained. I wiped the water from my eyes, making a move to cross the threshold, but he blocked me.

“Wait here.”

I growled. “There’s a hurricane out here. Let me in now, Ciro.”

He let the door swing wide.

“Thanks.” I walked into the foyer.

“You need to wait. I’ll see if she’s ready for you.”

I shook the water from my hair.

“This way.” Ciro reappeared from the dark hallway. I expected to be escorted into the downstairs office, but he climbed the stairs.

A trail of water marked every step I took. Ciro turned right then left before making another turn. I didn’t know this part of the house. He pushed open the door. A light shone through the brief crack at the entrance.

“You can go in.” I thought the look he gave me was a warning. It always was. How many times had he wanted to kill me with his bare hands?

I walked past him, aware that the door was closed behind me on my way into the room.

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