Page 117 of Hidden Echoes

Hunter rolls his eyes.

"Please, Livia wouldn't live without me. But I'd like to keep my relationship with my wife between us and talk about Zane and the proposal to work with Laura."

"What is there to talk about?" I ask.

"Her husband is a little overprotective."

Charlie grumbles.

"Overprotective? Pietro Barone is a psychopath when it comes to his wife and children."

"Great. And you still want me to work with her."

"Laura is not a conventional mob wife. Her father is Nico Riviera. You know Cecilia Ross, right?"

"In truth, no." But I knowNico Riviera.

All too well.

Connor Ross, the leader of Evermore, married Cecilia, but I never met her in person.

"I told you Zane isn't very close to the Evermores," Charlie interjects.

"And I told you it's not his closeness that interests me."

"He won't let you near Mia."

No, I wouldn't.

Hunter looks at me, then continues:

"You know Mia is protected because she's your wife, and we would never hurt her, right?"

"Then there's no need to worry about Mia."

He smiles.

"I'm not worried about Mia. She's my friend."

He shows me the cell phone.

Mia:Have you stopped being an idiot to Liv yet?

Hunter:I’m never an idiot, and I did try to send you a wedding invite—guess it got lost in the mail.

Mia:I’m about to cry here, straight from Paris. Liv told me she didn’t bother sending one since it was something she didn’t even want to do. Looks like you're burned, lover boy.

Hunter:I’ll win her over, you’ll see. We’re still friends, right? You’ll say nice things about me to her?

Mia:I’ve never heard anything good about you, Hunter.

Hunter:Ouch, that hurt... I thought we were friends.

Mia:We can be, but you’ve got to take care of her, or this friendship’s done.

Hunter:Deal.

Hunter:Just don’t have too much fun like you did in LA.

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