Page 64 of Primo DeLuca

The slits I squeezed my eyes into caused my face to pull into a tight grimace.

“I didn’t take you for a snake, Aurelio. I’m usually a pretty good judge of character. I truly believed you were loyal to your family.”

He didn’t comment, simply sat there and observed my every move, twitch, and eyeblink. “Are you some type of double agent, trying to get me to say some foul shit about Primo, so you can make a case. Well, it's never going to happen. He’s a reputable citizen who pays his taxes and minds his own damn business. You and your questions can take the quick way out of this suite by jumping off the balcony.”

I stood.

“I’m done.”

Didn’t care if he was or not.

He looked up at me. His facial expression changed so many times, I didn’t know what the hell to think. A sparkle of a smile flickered across his gaze and disappeared with the smooth quickness of a lightning strike. Had I imagined it? Was my mind conjuring up hope where there was none? Right now, all I wanted was for this interrogation to have been some type of family test that we could laugh at later.

Aurelio stood. His imposing body and towering height intimidated me, but I dared not show a hint of unease.

“Thank you,” he said before tipping his head forward and stepping away. His steps were as silent as if he were walking on cotton versus a marble floor in those expensive loafers.

He pulled the door closed behind him, and I re-anchored the security lock.

“That was…weird,” I muttered, standing at the door, lost, confused, and terrified.

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