Free Hero: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance by Lara Swann Page A

it into an amused smile instead as I recalled our discussion.
    “Just pretty clear about what she expects, and only partly convinced by us - doesn’t give me much leverage.”
    Valentini reflected on that, no doubt thinking through what I’d described earlier of her unusual priorities - certainly not the usual sort we engaged.
    “Sounds like an interesting character.”
    I just shrugged, not wanting to go there.
    “You sure you don’t want me to put someone else on it?”
    Asking once was a concern. Twice was something else entirely.
    Sure, maybe I did want nothing to do with this - hell, I objected to the very idea of it.
    And Valentini was one of the few who understood exactly why - but that was a private issue, and I’d given him enough reason to trust me that he shouldn’t be pushing this hard. There was no way he should know the doubt I’d battled with just to turn up to the meet I’d damn well arranged—
    Marco.
    That thought explained it. I trusted the man with discretion - but not when it came to Valentini. And that negotiation hadn’t been my finest moment.
    Fuck.
    Regardless of how close it hit to the mark, I couldn’t have Valentini doubting me.
    I met his gaze head-on, nothing showing on my face as I crossed my arms.
    “You think I’m not up to it?”
    My voice was soft, and I didn’t bother to hide the element of danger there either. I’d never threaten him, but I wouldn’t let anyone question my ability.
    He didn’t shrink from it, assessing the empty look I knew came into my eyes at moments like this, before finally shaking his head.
    “No. You deal with it, then. Keeping her safe is on you.”
    I didn’t show the way my stomach flipped at those words, keeping myself strictly under control as I nodded and left.
    I’d already dealt with that sick feeling - and I wouldn’t have met her if I couldn’t handle it.
    I knew the chances of keeping her safe. So there was no way I was going to let that terrifying feeling take over - I’d already embraced the idea of failure. I could handle it. I could deal with another person dead on my watch.
    I’d already acknowledged that I was probably leading her to death or worse, and there wasn’t much I could do about it. The world didn’t work that way, and as much as I’d once thought otherwise, the idea that I could protect anyone was pure vanity.
    Yes, I’d made my decision and I hadn’t denied the consequences.
    It was worth it.
    Xero needed to die.
    After all the things I’d done in pursuit of that goal - the person I’d become to chase it - what was one more, if it came to that?
    One innocent girl. Simply another spot on my soul.
    And from here on out, it was just business.
    She might have managed to get under my skin when I was delirious and confused, but I was in control now…even if those flashes of fire and determination had the unnerving ability to turn me upside down. 
    No matter. I knew how the world worked, and I’d adjust to her peculiarity. It would stop affecting me.
    This was just business.

Chapter Seven
    Lottie
     
    We’d said we’d meet next week, but what I didn’t count on was how the time in between almost drove me crazy. When it wasn’t crawling by excruciatingly, it was one of the most nerve-wracking weeks I could remember.
    It wasn’t like I was doing anything different from usual, but somehow every little act, every word and gesture had more significance.
    It took Jorge’s concerned enquiry as to whether I was feeling well before I noticed that I’d ended up subdued and intimidated for days. My instinctive withdrawal and caution seemed like a natural response to the sudden awareness that I was spying for a rival group. But it was the wrong response, obviously, and the moment Jorge commented on it I felt like an idiot.
    First failure.
    It wasn’t a big deal, but it was hard not to get spooked anyway. I fixed it well enough once I was aware, but it made me wonder what else I was doing wrong without thinking