Page 87 of Last Shot

He chewed the inside of his cheek. ‘They’re not my family.’

‘I felt the same about Jackie,’ Max said. ‘I know I’m not objective about her, but because I know her so well, I understood her choices. I respected them, even though I knew she was making a mistake. It’s why I lied for her.’

‘Would you have lied for her if someone had died? If your partner had died that night – say Evan had attacked him? If Jackie had asked you to lie, would you?’

‘I ...’ She faltered. Cal’s round, boyish face swam before her. ‘No.’

He stole a glance at her. ‘Well, I feel the exact same way about the Barbaranis. I wouldn’t protect them at the expense of someone’s life. Or stopping a killer.’

‘So that party where the kid ...’

‘Luca had nothing to do with that. I’d got Forrest and Ariana into a cab after the fight and I went back up to the penthouse to get Luca. He was ... occupied.’

‘So he punched the guy dating the girl he loves and then five minutes later he’s hooking up with someone else?’

‘What do you think he organised a “Strip-Off” for? Charity?’ Grey managed to grin.

‘So I assume the love is unrequited?’

Grey’s skin prickled at the question. He knew this was how Max spoke – direct, to the point, no bullshit. Cop-like.

But this was how Sophie had started.

She’s not Sophie.

Max wasn’t here to write a story about the forbidden Barbarani–La Marca love triangle. She was here to solve a murder.She’s not Sophie ...

‘What did I say?’ she asked.

‘Nothing.’ His throat felt like a rock. ‘I don’t know. I’ve never been around Ariana La Marca long enough to make any judgement. I doubt I’d be able to pick up on it anyway. Nella tells me I’m blind to those things.’

‘Maybe Nella’s in love withyou?’

Grey almost swerved onto the gravel. Or maybe it was Bessy, equally disturbed at that comment. ‘What?’ It came out as a strangled cough.

‘Antonella Barbarani – you know, tall, ridiculously attractive, decorated your entire cottage, wouldn’t let you go after we came out of the cellar?’

‘Nella’s ...’ Grey had to stop himself from laughing because Max was deadly serious. ‘She’s like my ... sister, or cousin or something. I have never thought of her that way and she’s never thought of me like that. Trust me.’ He said the last part quite forcefully; he hoped she didn’t pick up on that.

‘You’ve never considered it?’

‘No. And neither has she. Nella needs someone ... whole.’

‘Whole?’

‘Just leave it.’ He was going to snap this steering wheel in half if he didn’t stop clenching.

‘Did she represent Giovanni with that court case?’

‘Which one?’

‘The latest one – that hotel he wants to build on the wetlands.’

‘Nella doesn’t mix family and business, and Giovanni doesn’t exactly agree with her life choices.’

‘You make it sound like she’s a cannibalistic drug dealer.’

Grey shrugged. ‘Giovanni wants all his children operating in the family business. If you see the way he treats Tomaso compared with Nella, you’ll see what I mean. Luca’s still got a few years before he’ll be expected to step up and start contributing – Gio usually lets themfluff aroundat university for a bit before they’re meant to come back and work for him.’

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