FORTY-SEVEN
Gigi
It’s always bittersweet whenever I get to spend time with Harry away from the Circle. Every precious second in his company feels like a ticking time bomb counting down until the truth is unveiled. Yet I cherish it all the same.
Reaching the driveway of the Circle headquarters, I pull up alongside those climbing into the back of the armoured truck on my new Harley. A low whistle sounds as I pull off my helmet and shake my windswept hair free.
Andy wanders over in his uniform and says, “Jesus, Gigi. If fraternisation wasn’t a death sentence, you’d be just my type.”
I roll my eyes at his flirtation. Andy has always been harmless, and I’m pretty certain he’s still seeing Mia. I struggle to ask about her these days, selfishly not wanting to expand on the pain in my chest for leaving her in the dark. Despite my intentions to protect her, the betrayal is still sore.
“You want to repeat that, Davidson?” Richard shouts from across the lawn.
Stepping forwards, Andy grimaces at the interaction, concealing a grin. He drops his voice to a whisper. “Besides, I think Harry would murder me before I even considered the possibility.”
My stomach plummets as I teeter on both feet. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No?” He eats up my reaction with a heavy smirk. “Why don’t we ask the other guilty party?”
As we both turn, Harry climbs out of his Bentley. Eyes landing on the two of us, he strolls over. I drink in the sight of him. The jeans, the long sleeve T-shirt clinging to his muscles. All I can think is that he looks delicious in all-black. I want to shout it from the rooftops that I woke up in his bed this morning and stake my claim.
I’m dating this man. He’s mine!
My hands dig into the crevices of my helmet as he nears closer. I’d climb him like a tree if we didn’t have company, kissing from the Rolex on his wrist all the way to—
“I didn’t know you were joining the heist,” Oliver says, walking over.
I fight the blush on my cheeks, turning my attention to him as Harry reaches us. “I’m not,” I say. “What’s on the agenda for today?”
“A couple of start-up banks in Marylebone. There’s only a short team today. The Boss thought he ought to give you both the day off after the assassination yesterday.”
I nod, placing my hand on Oliver’s arm. “Be careful.”
“Remember who you’re talking to, kiddo.” He pats my hand, muttering to Andy that the truck’s almost ready before he rallies up the remaining recruits.
When I turn to look back at Harry, my stomach flips at his intense stare. His eyes linger for longer than necessary, causing Andy to say, “You’re both definitely fucking.”
“We are not,” I clarify.
Harry’s eyes rake over me, and he cocks his head. “Are we not?”
“No,” I say, my voice stern. Yet when I turn back to Andy, he’s grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. He knows. Of course he knows. Besides, he’s Harry’s best friend – he was bound to discover the truth sooner or later.
“Is it that obvious?” I ask.
“Only to me,” Andy says, throwing his arm around Harry’s shoulder. “ We’ve been best pals for a decade. I know this man better than he knows himself.”
The sight of the two friends hugging tugs at my heartstrings. To think Jack would’ve increased this bromance to a trio causes my chest to tighten.
I smile and say, “I’d give you a run for your money.”
“She would as well,” Harry says, patting Andy’s back proudly.
Andy clasps his chest as if he’s been wounded and then resumes his grin. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
A chilling voice demands, “What secret?”
I whip my head to the side as the Boss wanders over, his face stern, those harsh lines refusing to falter. The shock of his presence brings me to utter silence, stilling my limbs.
Harry steps out from underneath Andy’s arm, his calm fa?ade intervening with impressive speed. “I found some inappropriate content on Antonio’s computer that I thought you’d like to see. It seems Davide didn’t even know the secrets he was holding.”
How does he do that?
Richard nods. “Have it sent to my desk, and I’ll look it over within the hour.”
That was close.
Way too close.
Oh God.
My eyes squeeze shut, the image of our potential repercussions too excruciating to comprehend. I fight the urge to claw at my chest as my heart stutters, struggling for a breath. My ears ring and the impact hits me like I’m being assaulted with a knife straight to the gut.
Do you see what they’re doing?
She’s going to get him killed.
They’re definitely fucking .
Someone tell the Boss!
I shake my head no.
In my mind the Boss unholsters a pistol from the waistband of his trousers, raising it at Leroy’s temple. A fraction of a second passes before he pulls the trigger, assassinating him on the spot.
“May this be a message to my recruits, I do not take negligence lightly.”
As I peer over at the lifeless body, I see a mop of tousled black hair.
No. No. No.
My lungs ache. My heart screams.
Harry—
“Gigi!”
My eyes fly open at the sound of guttural panic. Harry is gripping both my shoulders tight, forcing me to meet his eye.
“Are you okay?”
His eyes capture mine as if he’s attempting to soak up the fear possessing my body like a parasite. Heat claws up my neck at the realisation everyone in the courtyard is staring, having witnessed my episode.
“I’m sorry. I’m not sure what came over me.” I step out of his arms like the weight is physically bringing me down.
The silence that swarms the group is heavy. I lift my chin in case my moment of vulnerability highlighted any incompetence for the job.
“Are we still meeting in the boardroom?”
“Yes,” the Boss says, rubbing at his temples. “But if you’re not—”
“I’m fine,” I assure him, pushing down the fear that assaults me with his heavy gaze. “I’ll meet you and the team in five minutes. I wish you all the best on today’s heist,” I tell Andy, dismissing him.
As I turn to leave, Harry steps in front of me, blocking my path. Expecting I’ll falter under his growing concern, I keep my head down.
“Thank you for your concern, Harry, but I’m fine. I’ll see you in the boardroom.”
“Keep your eyes on the documents like a fucking hawk,” I tell Whizz Tech Dan. “We don’t want the opportunity for a crossover between companies to slip through our fingers. Hit them when they’re most vulnerable.”
“What’s the overlap?” he asks, barely raising his head as his fingers clatter against the laptop keys.
The Boss paces behind me, briefly stealing my attention as he walks the length of the room.
I pick up the documents in front of me, scanning them briefly to add, “According to their last sales report, we have less than twenty-four hours from the news breaking to contracts being finalised. Every. Second. Counts.”
“Unlikely,” Poppy mutters, and my head whips towards her. “That’s a lot of fucking paperwork within twenty-four hours. You’re looking at a couple of days at least.”
“You think the biggest department store in the whole of Europe isn’t going to act accordingly?” I ask. “That they’re not going to cover all ends when they’re at their most vulnerable? Christ, Green, you have a lot to learn.”
Her upper lip curls into a snarl.
“And if we’re not prepared to hit them without that timescale?” someone asks.
I turn to the source of the sound, but Harry captures my attention before I’m able to turn fully. The heavy look in his eyes obliterates my earlier panic to ashes. A rare look passes his features. With a tilt of his head, he hitches his brow as if he doesn’t recognise me .
“Boss?” the same voice presses.
Silence fills the air. I turn my head, waiting for Richard's response, but when I look at the people surrounding the table, there’s something different about them.
Their eyes are on me.
Individually I make eye contact with each of them. Everyone is looking at me, including Richard himself. The comment threatens to overwhelm me, but I take it in my stride.
One of the new recruits – the one who asked the question – nods at me to continue.
I lift my chin, a grin slowly swarming my mouth. “Then we hit them with everything we have.”
A sudden commotion in the hallway diverts our attention. There are shouts, cries, and a high-pitched female scream that chills me to the bone, bringing the whole boardroom to silence. Instinctively reaching for the Glock holstered on my thigh, I halt at the familiar voices.
“What do you mean!” a woman’s voice echoes, near hysterical. “What do you fucking mean he’s gone?”
Andy storms into the room, causing the doors to smack against the walls with a heavy whack . Harsh lines mark his face, and he’s near toppling over. Mine and Harry’s eyes clash from across the room, staring at one another before we turn our attention back to Andy.
He bows his head, shaking it.
A guttural sob assaults the silence.
Tears burn my eyes with white-hot fury.
It’s a feeling I recognise all too well.
A sound, a raw cry, that no one should ever have to hear within their lifetime.
Death is unforgiving. That much I know.