Page 87 of Beautiful Desire

“Ugh, leave me alone,” I say to the empty room.

Reaching for my phone on the coffee table in front of me, I see it’s Enrico calling and quickly slide the bar to answer before the call rings out.

“Anything new?” I ask.

If Enrico is upset with my lack of pleasantries, he doesn’t say anything.

“Yes,” is all he says.

“Care to share those details with me?”

I don’t have time for this shit. Either tell me or don’t bother calling me until you will.

I hear him sigh down the line and, reluctantly, he responds. “Just remember, don’t shoot the messenger. Capisce?”

Fuck, that doesn’t sound good. Leaning forward so I’m sitting on the edge of the couch cushion, I rest my elbows on my knees and stare down at the area rug beneath my feet.

“Tell me,” I say, calmer than I feel.

“Nero went out for a…walk today.”

“Okay, I’m not understanding why I would shoot you for that, Rico.”

Why the fuck do I care if he goes for a walk? I want tangible information here, and this is not it.

“Look, if that’s all you’ve got—”

He cuts me off when he quickly blurts out words that make a chill go down my spine. “He ran into Elle.”

As I try to keep my breathing under control, the hand holding my cell phone grips it so tight I feel like it will snap in half.

“He had a little conversation with her, too.”

“Where?” I ask through clenched teeth.

“Outside, on the corner of Fifth and Main. He came up next to her while she was waiting to cross the street, and as soon as a walk sign appeared, he began to talk to her, but only for a few minutes. Miss Parker seemed to diffuse the situation pretty quickly and took off toward the park.”

“Where did he go after that?” I’m clenching my jaw so tight, my molars hurt from the force.

“I lost him after that. I made the decision to keep tabs on Miss Parker instead of Nero, sir. I thought that was what you would have wanted in case he was planning something. I apologize if I went against your wishes.”

“No, you’re right. I would have wanted you to follow Elle. Thank you. Let me know if he comes in contact with her again.”

“There’s one more thing…” he starts to say as I’m hanging up the phone.

If it’s important, he’ll call back. I’m just about to throw my phone across the room when it rings again.

Not bothering to look at the screen when I answer, I say, “What did you need to tell me?”

“Well, hello to you too, stronzo,” I hear come through the line.

Pulling the cell away from my ear, I check the screen to confirm what I already know.

“Fabi?”

“Were you expecting someone else?” he asks, deadpan.

“Kind of,” I tell him truthfully.

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