Page 50 of No Stone Unturned

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Slash

Slash loved a good challenge, but hacking into the personal finances of Cardinal Lazo, stored on the cardinal’s home computer, was so laughably easy a teenager could have done it. Lazo’s arrogance and sense that he was untouchable made him careless and stupid.

He intended to take full advantage of that.

He sat in his hotel suite, working on his laptop, sitting by an open window, the desk angled so he had a nice view of the city. The sounds from below, cars honking, people talking and the smells from the nearby bakery, all soothed him. He was neck-deep in a review of Lazo’s bank account when his phone vibrated.

I’m currently standing in the lobby of the Hotel Meliá in Genoa. Father Armando says you sometimes stay here. I just met with him, asking him if he knew where you were. He didn’t know, but suggested I start here. I know you didn’t want me in Italy, but I came anyway. Whatever demons you are facing, you don’t have to face them alone. Not anymore. I won’t give up until I find you, even if I have to petition the pope himself, so please, don’t put me through that awkwardness. Tell me where you are and I’ll come to you.

For a moment, he stared in astonishment before he closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the phone. She’d come after him. He blocked her, shut her out, hurt her, and yet she’d flown all the way across the ocean to find him anyway, not knowing where he was.

My girl.

My incredible, extraordinary woman.

He couldn’t have stayed away from her even if he’d wanted to. His feet were already carrying him to the door and down the hallway. Skipping the elevator, he took the stairs, his stride quickening as he approached the lobby.

He opened the stairwell door and saw her, his heart slamming against his chest. Standing there, he took a moment to drink in the sight of her—the long brown hair pulled back into the ponytail she was so fond of, and a small furrow between her brow. She sat on the edge of one of the high-backed chairs, staring at her phone and waiting for him to return her text. In a simple white T-shirt, jeans and sneakers, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. His gaze fell on her hand and relief swept through him when he saw she still wore the engagement ring he’d given her—thank God.

“Cara,” he choked out, striding across the lobby in a few steps.

She rose at the sight of him, her mouth forming a small O of surprise. He pulled her into his arms with a hard yank, savoring the warmth of her, the solidness. The one thing that could steady him. Her arms wrapped around his waist as he closed his eyes and buried his face in her hair, not fully understanding how badly he’d missed her until this moment.

For a minute, they didn’t speak. He didn’t bother to ask what she was doing here. He already knew. She’d come for him because, despite his efforts to push her away, to protect her from his ugly past, she loved him.Stillloved him. God only knew how or why, but he never ever wanted to question the miracle of it.

He finally drew back, cupping her cheeks with his hands, his eyes searching hers. “You came.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

“Yes.” She hesitated, seemingly uncertain how he’d feel about her presence. “I didn’t want to be intrusive, but I thought you might need some help.”

He couldn’t help but smile. “You came all this way...to help me?”

“You’ve flown across oceans to help me. It seemed only fair I return the favor.”

He kissed her long and hard, not giving a damn who was watching them. When he lifted his mouth, she looked a little dazed.

“Um, I guess that means it’s okay I came,” she finally said, sounding a bit breathless.

He smiled, winding a strand of her hair around his finger. He couldn’t explain how much it meant that she’d come and still loved him—he hoped—but his brain was raising an alarm that she was too close now. The fact that he loved her didn’t mean he was suddenly okay with her finding out his secrets, which was why he’d come alone in the first place. But he couldn’t bring himself to say anything about it at this point. The fact that she was physically here, in his arms, made his world right. The rest he would deal with later.

“It’s better than okay. Thank you for coming.” He stared at her for a moment longer and then smiled. “Come on. You look like you could use a nap.”

“I’m a little jet-lagged,” she admitted. “And hot. I think the humidity is one hundred and ten percent. A shower and some food might be good, too. I can’t decide what I need most at this point.”

He grabbed her backpack and holding her hand, they headed to the elevator. “What about work?” he asked her. “Finn let you come?”

“I’m taking unpaid leave right now. I’d just wrapped things up with a client and I’m not working on anything I couldn’t hand off. I’m lucky he puts up with me.”

Slash squeezed her hand. “Trust me on this,cara. He’s got a good deal with you and he knows it.”

When they got to his suite, Lexi dropped her laptop bag by the door and went directly to the window. She stared out at the bustling city below. “Wow. You’ve got a great view of the city.”

He came up behind her, sliding his hands around her waist. “You always do that.”

“Do what?”

“Notice the view first. Not the suite nor the amenities. You walk into a room and your mind goes beyond that. It focuses on a vantage point, a window to the world. I love that about you.”

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