No Strings Attached

CHAPTER 37

"Too bad," I say, putting my arm out as she lies back down beside me, snuggling into me. I comb my fingers through her hair, rubbing up and down her back.

Goosebumps form on my skin as her finger brushes across my torso, idly tracing my tattoos. Her soft touch sends electricity through my body, and I now realise I'm holding my breath.

She lets out a soft laugh, "Do I make you nervous?" she teases, her eyes shining as she looks up at me.

"You make me feel a lot of things sweetheart," I murmur, watching as her cheeks blush a pretty pink and her eyes cloud over in an emotion I can't read.

Her phone suddenly rings and she leans over me to get it from the nightstand. I look at the screen and am glad to see it's Gabriel calling. Anastasia accepts the call and puts it on speaker, the corners of my lips tilting up as she rests it on my chest.

"Hi Gabe," she says, and the way she smiles makes my heart melt. What the fuck is wrong with you?

"Hey Ana," he says, "Turns out he was telling the truth, I have his laptop confiscated and it has hundreds of emails exchanged by Simon and Leonardo,"

"So Leonardo is in the Vatican City?" she asks,

"Yep, and I have an address and the times detailing his stay," Gabriel says.

"How long is he staying there for?" I suddenly ask,

"Vincenzo?" Gabriel asks in an astounded voice, "Ana?" he asks in a more suspicious tone.

"Gabe please, it wasn't like that," she says in a tight voice, "Please don't go talking about it,"

"It's alright mia nipote, your secrets safe with me," Gabriel chuckles, "And to answer your question Vincenzo, he's staying there for a week until Simon was supposed to sort out accomodation in Australia,"

"Australia?" both Anastasia and I repeat,

"He was really going to flee," I murmur,

"If we want to be certain that Simon will be at this address, we need to leave in the next few days," Gabriel says,

"We're having dinner with the Americans tonight, so we'll leave in the morning," I say.

"I'm just going to skip over the part where you're having dinner with those imbeciles, and suggest that we should do some surveillance of Leonardo at the estate first," Gabriel says, "To get to know his every move whilst he's staying there, and also use it as a time to regroup since the last raid,"

"I think that's a good idea," Anastasia murmurs, looking up at me.

"It's your call, you're in charge remember?" I say, the usual sick feeling in my stomach not settling when I give her control over what's happening.

"We'll go back to Italy tomorrow morning for a few days, just to surveil Leonardo, and see if Simon can be of anymore use to us," Anastasia says firmly.

"So we have to keep him alive?" Gabriel asks in an unimpressed tone,

"If you don't think he's going to be of anymore use to us, do whatever you want to him. I trust your judgement," Anastasia says in a bored tone,

"Perfect," Gabriel chuckles, "Well, I'll leave you to it then, see you later Ana,"

"Bye Zio," Anastasia smiles, hanging up.
[Uncle]

"Well that's good news," she smiles, sitting up and looking down at me.

"It is, isn't it," I yawn, absentmindedly running my hand up and down her thigh.