Riley clears her throat, and they turn towards us. One man separates from the pack, recognition flickering across his facewhen he sees me. He looks vaguely familiar, but I can’t quite place him. “Mrs. Moretti, we were just about to call you.”
That voice. Arrogant. Condescending. He’s one of Rafael’s lawyers. I remember this pompous jackass now—I had a brief altercation with him a few months ago, back when Rafael was first arrested.
God, that feels like ages ago.
“My husband was arrested almost three hours ago, and you werejust aboutto call me?” I pitch my voice in a tone just as condescending as his. “What’s your name?”
His brows fly up. “Luis Miller.”
“Well, Luis Miller—” I look down my nose at him with the kind of withering stare that could wilt flowers, “—you’re fired. You can pack up your overpriced briefcase and get off the premises.”
While he splutters, I walk with Riley to the door that separates me from my husband. My heart stutters as I step into the holding cell. There are three men inside, but my eyes laser straight to the one facing the other two. My husband.
His dark hair remains as smooth and unruffled as his expression. Not a single wrinkle in his suit. And those chrome eyes—they settle on me with the warmth of arctic ice.
Instantly, I know my doubts weren’t just paranoia.He thinks I betrayed him.The air rushes out of my lungs, but I make sure to keep my face blank.
“Mrs. Moretti.” The two men across from my husband get to their feet as the door closes behind Riley. Even though she’s gone, I know someone is watching us from the camera in the corner of the cell.
“I just fired one of the lawyers on our team. A Luis Miller,” I tell Rafael, daring him to say I had no right to do that. “He wasstilldebating whether to call me three hours after you were detained.” I flick my gaze to the two other men I assume are also his lawyers, probably the bosses. “Quite distasteful.”
They gape like fish, looking to Rafael for guidance, but my husband doesn’t utter a single syllable. Just maintains that sub-zero stare fixed on me.
“Leave us.” I wave a dismissive hand at them. They hesitate, clearly uncomfortable.
“Do as she says,” Rafael finally speaks up, and only then do they gather their folders from the table and make their exit.
The tension in this tiny room becomes suffocating the moment that door closes behind them. I’m hyper-aware of Rafael’s penetrating gaze on me while I walk over and take a seat across from him. I notice his wrists immediately—no handcuffs. At least the lawyers accomplished something useful.
“You think I’m involved in this, don’t you?”
He watches me steadily. “Are you not?”
“Answer my fucking question, Rafael,” I snap, losing a bit of my patience. I suck in a sharp breath, trying to regain control, but it’s too late. He has already seen behind the mask.
He shrugs with infuriating nonchalance. “What am I supposed to think? You vanish into thin air, and suddenly federal agents come swarming through our home. And you’ve done something similar before.”
“That was ten years ago!” I squeeze my eyes shut and drag in several more deep breaths, trying to contain the fury and hurt threatening to consume me. It doesn’t work. And I'm so fucking tired of holding back all the time. Tired of everybody doing this to me.
I slap my hands on the desk as I get to my feet.
“I explained the circumstances of what happened in the past, and I thought you understood. I’m not that foolish child anymore, Rafael. I’m a grown woman with grown woman brains and feelings. Be very careful how you handle me.”
“Emilia—”
“No.” I raise a hand, stopping him cold. “I’m not just going to throw our marriage—throwusaway. When I promised toprotect and shield you, when I vowed to be with you through thick and thin without betraying our sacred bond, I meant it...” I wave my left hand inches from his face, almost catching his eye with my rock, but he jerks his head back in time. “I took my vows seriously, Rafael!”
I start to leave, but something roots me to the spot. My throat constricts as I force myself to face him one more time. The words come out barely above a whisper, but they carry the weight of my entire soul. “I love you. And I don’t give a damn if you believe me or not. I’m going to get you and the others out of here and prove to you that I’m on your side this time. That I’llalwaysbe on your side. Not just because I’m your wife and that’s what a wife should do, but because I genuinely, trulyloveyou, Rafael. And because you’ve always been on my side.”
“Emilia, I–”
“Don’t say anything until you’re out of here,” I cut him off again and bolt for the door. Partly because I’m terrified of what might come out of his mouth—I can’t handle another blow right now. And partly because I need my entire focus on the mission of getting them out and not divided with thoughts of him.
The lawyers are clustered together again when I emerge. I scan the group quickly—Luis is nowhere to be seen. Good. They all straighten to attention when they see me, finally recognizing that I hold some measure of power.Very good,I think savagely as I walk up to them.
“Do you have a strategy to get them out?” I ask without preamble.
They exchange a round of looks before one of the two men who was in the detaining room with Rafael steps forward. I assume he’s their leader. “Mrs. Moretti, I assure you we’re working tirelessly to secure your husband’s freedom and have already developed a preliminary plan. In fact, one of Mr.Lombardi’s lawyers just left here with promising news regarding his client.”
