Page 68 of Forbidden Arrangement

“It doesn’t matter.Also, I spoke to Hamilton this morning, and he’s offering another fifty grand for the job I’ve done because I’ve been so quick with everything.”

“Whoa!”Sergio said, his jaw dropping.“So we’re getting a hundred and fifty grand for that case?”

“Yeah, we are.So don’t question me about my motivations or how I’m feeling.”

Stefano bit down on his lower lip and shrugged.“I mean, it’s on you, bro.”

“Yeah, it is on me.And I’m doing a job.I’m supporting the family and—”

“Don’t say you’re doing this for the family,” Stefano said.“You chose to do this for you.”

“Yeah.I chose to do this for me.Okay.”I rolled my eyes.

“Shh!”Sergio said.“I think that’s the guy.”He pulled out his binoculars, and Stefano grabbed his camera.

“Yeah, that guy over there in the leather jacket with the redhead?”He pulled out his phone and looked at the photo.“That’s the boyfriend.”

“And that certainly isn’t the girlfriend.”We watched as he made out with the redhead in the street, his hand cupping her breast.Stefano opened the door and jumped out quickly.

“Let me just get some photos.I’ll be right back.”He slammed the door behind him, and Sergio snorted.

“Why’re these guys so stupid?”

“What do you mean?”I asked.

“I mean, if you’re going to cheat, why would you do it in the middle of the street?”

“Maybe because he didn’t expect his girlfriend to have hired private detectives to figure it out.”

“Yeah, I guess.”He looked back and sized me up.

“What is it, Sergio?”

“I just wanted to see if you’ve spoken to Valentina recently.”

“Um … not super recently.Why?”

“I was just curious if Gabriella had said anything about me or …”

“Um, why would Valentina and I be talking about whether Gabriella had said anything about you?”I shook my head.“No.”

“Okay.I was just wondering.”

“Yeah.Okay.”I was about to ask him if he was interested in Gabriella when the car door opened and Stefano got in.

“Okay, I got the photos.”He held the camera up.

“That was a quick five hundred bucks.”

“Yep,” Sergio said with a smile.“You guys want to get a drink?”

“Um … sure.”I nodded.I was looking forward to hanging out with Valentina, but I hadn’t heard from her yet.I suppose she was still at dinner with her father.

“Hey, isn’t that Valentina?”Sergio said as if he’d read my mind.

“What?Where?”I blinked as we looked out the window.He pointed ahead, and there she was in a black dress, laughing.

“Let me go and say hi, I guess.”I paused when I saw a tall blond man next to her.She reached up and touched his shoulder, and both of them started laughing.

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