Marco glanced up with a small chuckle. "There is always an emergency, Val." He looked back at the phone, thumb moving calmly across the screen. "Just need to send a quick text. Nothing big."
Nothing big.
Only a lie small enough to test whether his marriage was standing on solid ground or sinking quietly beneath him.
He shot a message to his burner phone, keeping his posture lazy. The text sent.
'Location on the case will be sent soon. You move tonight.'
A baited hook.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
If Valentina had nothing to hide, it would remain just another message on his phone. But if she took the bait…
Marco did not finish the thought. He could not. "Smells delicious," he said, setting the phone face down on the bed as though he had lost interest in it. "I'll just have a shower." He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her forehead. He pulled back and walked towards the bathroom. He stepped inside, left the door slightly open, and waited.
