Page 78 of Reverence

I frowned, looking at her in disbelief. “Giovanni?” I questioned. “The man who’s been working for the Bureau for the past thirty years? That director?”

She looked around the restaurant, slowly. Observing.

The type of paranoia that most agents had when their unit was compromised. “Yes.” She said in a hushed tone. “A few days ago I spoke to Asher about it.”

“Is that what happened?”

I enquired, finding it a bit hard to believe that she just had a civil conversation about something this groundbreaking. “You just had this conversation, as per normal?”

“Well,” She tilted her head sideways, shrugging. “It didn’t start smoothly. You know the Bureau doesn’t take these accusations lightly. I briefly mentioned it during our discussion but that’s when Asher pulled me aside.”

I nodded, listening attentively.

“This is the reason I told you not to call anyone the morning I got shot. I still don’t know who to trust. Something about this case seems off.”

“I’m going to be honest with you.”

She hesitated. “I have the same gut feeling. Call it intuition if you will but I think there’s more to this case than what meets the eye and somewhere along the line, we’re missing critical information that is being withheld from us.”

She paused. “I don’t think it’s Asher or Stephanie but I think it’s someone in their inner circle.”

The waitress arrived which halted the conversation, the air thick with tension.

It surrounded us like a cloud of smoke. I ordered nothing but a measly salad, just wanting the waitress to leave because this wasn’t a casual conversation.

“Neither do I.” I agreed. “I don’t know who to trust, Amala but I trust you.” The words slipped before I could stop them and now they hung in the air, circling us.

She looked at me with those brown eyes that softened—slightly.

Regardless of our history, the woman was trustworthy and loyal to a fault. She’d never betray her comrades. “I can’t believe I’m saying this but—“ She released a soft breath. “I trust you too. I really do.”

The air shifted, like this was the first real progress we made since the day we met. “I’m honored,” I said sincerely.

“You should be.” She scoffed. “I don’t even trust my own mother.”

I raised an eyebrow, contemplating whether to ask for an explanation or not. “Don’t ask.” She waved her hand and I held mine up in mock surrender.

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, clearing my throat. “Let me ask you this,” She shifted in her seat, watching me. “Do you think the Rossi’s are all related?”

Her eyes flicked from mine to the window for a split second.

“Yes.” She answered. “If he’s not doing this willingly then he’s definitely being blackmailed. Ian and Enzo are almost two decades younger than Giovanni so I don’t think they’d be close in that sense.”

“I trust your judgement.” The waitress returned, placing our food on the table and told us to signal her if we needed anything else. I clenched my jaw, watching the woman walk away.

“One more thing.” I reached out, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.

Twenty Four

Amala

After the events of last night and the prominent ache between my legs, my feelings towards Ares were ambivalent.

I swallowed hard as his fingers brushed my skin and he stared so deeply into my eyes—making me want to disintegrate.

“I’m listening,” I said, poking at my food. Ignoring the burning sensation on my cheek.

“How do you suggest we move forward after last night because if I’m being honest, it’s not something I take very lightly.”