Page 34 of Her Dark Salvation

“For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing a fine job in the real world. You came up to speed faster than I expected and have been making steady progress despite everything I’ve thrown at you. Any company would be lucky to have you on their staff.”

Heat bloomed in my chest and threatened to color my cheeks. It’s as if he’d known exactly what I needed to hear, except there was no hint of flattery, just sincerity. “Thank you, Mr. DeVita. That—that means a lot.”

He nodded but hesitated. Part of me hoped he’d stay, hoped he’d lean into our connection. But then he dropped his head and walked into his office, and the door closed behind him with a softclick.

I stared at it for a moment, confused and unsettled. Of all the morning’s problematic developments, the warm sensation in my chest was by far the most troubling. Mr. DeVita’s small acts of chivalry, his genuine interest in my background, and his sincere praise had me reeling.

I woke up the computer, initialized my software, and tried to concentrate on the tasks at hand—the remaining elements I needed to add to the first draft of my model and the list of permits I needed to research for the property in the financial district—but my mind had other ideas. It kept drifting back to the warmth that had settled in my chest and the mesmerizing hold of Mr. DeVita’s obsidian eyes.

ChapterEight

Marco

“Matteo! Guard!” Vito’s warning boomed across the gym.

I walked out of the locker room, and Matteo’s opponent connected a mean right hook with Matteo’s left forearm. Lucky son of a bitch got his guard up just in time.

Shuffling and grunts came from the ring. The discordant clank of free weights rang out above the rhythmic thud of the punching bag. Stale sweat and disinfectant clung to my nostrils in a familiar mélange. Vito’s gym was like a second home, a sanctuary where I reset my brain by punishing my body. And after today, I needed a hard reset.

I wrapped my knuckles and made my way to where Vito hovered over two stacks of receipts and an old-school printing calculator. The tape advanced, and he moved a small piece of paper from one stack to the other.

“That kid’s gonna get his teeth knocked out if he doesn’t learn to keep his guard up,” Vito mumbled from behind the desk.

I grunted. “At least he’ll learn his lesson. How’d we do last week?”

“Better than average. Everyone bet on the Pats.”

“Excellent.”

Football season was our busiest time. Gambling was a profitable racket all year round, but nothing came close to what we pulled in on football. Which reminded me…

“How’d it go with our friend?”

Vito finished adding the receipt he was holding, stopped, and looked up. “He either wasn’t trying very hard or he’s wildly incompetent.” I snorted. “Either way, I think we identified a loophole that’ll work. The waiver should be ready by late next week. Two weeks max. He’ll email your assistant when it’s ready.”

“Good.” Good for us, and good for Doug. He didn’t have the cash to pay his debts, but lucky for him, his position guaranteed he could pay me back in other ways. “I want that shit locked down. Any word from the clerks on the Shaughnessys?”

The zoning commissioner wasn’t the only member of city hall I kept on payroll. I had clerks in most departments feeding me information.

“Nothing. Just the initial tip. Confirmed by two clerks.”

“Let’s hope it stays that way. Last thing we need is those Irish fucks buying up that property before the waiver’s in place.”

“You worry too much.”

“What about the European accountants? Find any dirt?”

“No smoking gun. One guy cheating on his wife.” He shrugged. “Nothing that’d push someone onto a take. But not all snakes are born out of dirt.”

Wasn’t that the truth. Greed was just as powerful a motivator. What I couldn’t get with dirt, I got with bribes.

“Keep digging. The timing’s too convenient for coincidence.”

His forehead creased. “Aren’t you flying out tomorrow?”

“What?” I smirked. “Want me out of your hair or something?” He snorted. “I am. Needed to blow off some steam.”

“Hit the bag,” he said and returned his attention to the receipts. “I’m not going to be done for a while, and you’ll KO those kids in about five minutes.”

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