Page 112 of L.O.V.E

Cole’s chest rose and fell. He studied me like I was a mystery to solve.

I shrunk into my seat. “I had every intention of going to the police last night, but then I fell asleep and—”

“It’s not her,” he growled, slamming the phone down. “It’s not fucking her,” he said again to his plate.

God, how I wanted his words to be true. “What if it is?”

His fists clenched on the table. Jaw tight, he drew a deep breath, then shook his head, eyes seemingly unfocused.

The excruciating silence lasted an eternity.

He fixed his gaze on me once again. “Do you trust me?”

No hesitation. “Yes.”

“Let me take your phone today.”

Cole

Our table sat in the corner of the dining room, eight stories above Lake Willow. The five-star restaurant occupied the eighth floor of Whisper Springs Resort—one of many hotels Rossi Enterprises owned—and boasted a million-dollar view. Mountains, lake, blue sky. Fine china and French crystal. Two men in crisp white shirts and black ties stood in wait far enough away to offer privacy but close enough to assist at a moment’s notice.

“I was sorry to hear about your wife.” Tango spread his white napkin over his lap.

He’d taken a while to broach the subject. For that, I was thankful. “Victoria is why I wanted to meet with you privately.”

“What’s up?”

I offered my old friend the grim details of my short marriage. My suspicions about the car wreck, the texts. Tango listened, not a lick of judgment.

“Thing is, they never found her body. State patrol says that’s common for those types of accidents. Still, something’s not kosher.”

He leaned closer. “How can I help?”

“You still tight with Moretti?”

A smirk. “Why you asking about Moretti?”

Tango and his cousin, Tito Moretti, had been inseparable back in our college days. Tito had allegedly helped run underground fights for the infamous mob boss, Luciano Voltolini. His true skills, however, were behind the scenes, his weapons not fists but a keyboard. Wasn’t a system he couldn’t hack or a file he couldn’t manipulate.

“He helped me out once before, but he’s off the grid. I was hoping you could get in touch. Anyone can find the truth, it’s Moretti.”

Tango considered me for a moment. Shifted to grab his cell from his pocket. Typed a message. Shot me a sinister grin. “Yeah, I know how to reach Moretti.”

Our server arrived with the first course. When out of earshot, Tango asked with one brow raised. “So, you and Natalie King?”

Fuck, I loved the sound of her name. I nodded. “She’s it for me.”

Tango stared, assessing.

“You’re wondering how I can be with someone else so soon after Vic?”

“There’s no timeline for grief, my friend.” He lifted his hands. “Not judging. I’ve got mad respect for Natalie. Did she tell you we had a meeting today?”

“No.” The little shit. She didn’t want my help.

“Her boss didn’t show. Pops was ready to walk, but that girl of yours took the reins. Impressed the shit out of both of us.”

Not a surprise. Bewitching. Best word to describe my girl. “She’s got a way about her.”

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