I roll over the next morning and fumble with my alarm when it goes off a little after four.

Through blurry eyes I stare down at my screen and the phone call I had with Milo last night that was nearly two hours long.

A warmth floods through me as I force myself out of bed. He called to check on me, a thoughtful gesture that I can't read into. Milo is a business partner, a criminal. I'm using him to advance my career and that is all.

After throwing running gear on I head out the door with my airpods to clear my head, leaping with fright when I see Mateo waiting for me right outside the front door.

"What the hell are you doing?" I gape at him. He's wearing shorts and a t-shirt that don't suit his oversized body. Judging by the half asleep look on his face, he's not an early morning workout kind of guy. "You're coming with me on runs now too? Really?"

"Running alone in the early hours of the morning makes you an easy target, don't you think?" he asks dryly, extra grouchy this morning. "You want to run, you will have security."

I swallow dryly. I wanted to go on this run to clear my head which clearly will not be happening now.

"Do you run often?" I ask, glancing over his massive body made purely of muscle. "I usually do about ten miles."

"I workout for two hours, six days a week. I will be fine," he begins walking across the sidewalk. "Hurry up."

"Do any of these workouts involve cardio?" My question is met with a mean side eye, so I shut up and start jogging.

To Mateo's credit, he keeps up with me well for the first couple of miles. It's strange to run with someone you don't really know, especially given the circumstances.

"Can I ask you something?" I breathe, glancing at the small beads of sweat that begin to build on his forehead. I can see just by the look on his face he's going to say no. "Please," I offer. "Just one question."

"Fine," he mutters, picking up the pace. "One question."

"Why is there a bounty on my head? I don't understand. I know I saw what happened to Jordan, but surely that can't be the only reason Dante wants me dead. I worked with him for months... It-" I pause. "It doesn't make any sense."

"Pick another question," Mateo's voice is uneven now. He glances at me stubbornly when I frown. "A question I'm allowed to answer."

"Why aren't you allowed to answer that?"

Mateo breathes out his frustration, grumbling something under his breath.

"Please give me something, anything," I plead. "The smallest detail."

Mateo sighs heavily and looks forward, glancing around wearily before answering. "He's not after you because of what happened with Jordan. That's all I'll say."

Perplexed by this new piece of information, I offer a stiff nod and leave Mateo in peace while he runs beside me. What the hell does that mean? If he's not after me because of Jordan, what else did I do?

How else could I be threatening him?

"Stop," Mateo's wheezing voice stops me in my tracks about half an hour later. I turn around, watching as he clutches his side and hunches over. "No more running."

"We still have four miles to go," I encourage, but Mateo is too busy gasping for air to listen. "Are you alright?"

"No...I've broken...every organ...in my body," he looks up at me, red faced and sweaty. "This is terrible exercise, tomorrow we will go to the gym and lift weights."

He hobbles past me slowly, daring me to say something when we make eye contact. "Let's go," he orders. "I need food. Now."

I bite back my smile when I join him in walking home. The sun is just starting to rise now and for a moment, the peace of the dewy morning calms my nerves.

Today will be a better day.

I don't need to worry about the bounty because I'm protected, that's the whole reason I agreed to stay working for Milo. All I need to do is keep my head down, avoid Grayson, and become the most profitable realtor in New York. What could go wrong?

"Where are you going?" Mateo turns on his heels to look back at me when we reach my apartment.

"Inside to shower," I point awkwardly over my shoulder, confused by his question. "Why?"

"I need food, come on," he gestures towards the cafe down the street and keeps walking.

"What?" I mutter under my breath. The man usually does all he can to spend as little time with me as possible. "Fine, but I have a meeting at nine!" I yell so he can hear me, but he simply disregards me with the wave of his hand.

"Food first," he says. "Hurry up realtor. I can't protect you from over here."

I roll my eyes, running to catch up with him because his strides are so much bigger than mine. He holds the door open for me when we reach the cafe and follows me inside to a booth he barely fits in.

I watch him order waffles, a big breakfast and a bagel and try to keep a straight face.

"What is it?" he asks when the waitress walks away with our orders.

"Nothing, it's nothing," I shake my head and sip my coffee, leaning back in my seat.

The ring on his left finger catches my attention. "So," I hum, in an attempt to make conversation. "You're married?"

"Yes," he nods. There's a warmth in his eyes I haven't seen before, it softens his terrifying demeanour somewhat. "Three kids."

"Wow," I say, trying to seem unphased by him sharing something personal with me. "It must be hard being away from them."

"It's my job," he says curtly, but I see a faint look of sadness in his eyes. "Has been for a long time."

I frown. "I'm sorry. I hate the idea of you being kept away from your family because of me."

"There are worse jobs I could be doing. You are only irritating sometimes," he answers in a softer tone.

"Ghee, thanks," I mutter, hiding my smile. "So what is it you actually do for Milo? Security?"

"Yes," he twirls the water in his glass with a distant expression. "I'm in charge of his security."

"In charge?" my eyes widen. "If you're in charge shouldn't you be doing something more important than looking after me all the time?"

He shrugs as our food arrives, unbothered by my concern. "You are clearly important to Milo."

His words make my stomach tighten. He must mean the work I'm doing is important to Milo, not my personal safety, but still my mind is a mess. I need to get myself together.

I pick at my eggs as Mateo digs into his three course breakfast, trying my luck while he seems in a good mood. "How long have you known Milo?"

"You ask a lot of questions," he mutters warily.

"I feel like I'm always ten steps behind in this arrangement, I don't know anything and it's driving me crazy."

Mateo sighs and swallows his food. "Milo and I have known each other since we were young."

I hesitate before trying my luck once more. "What's he like?"

Mateo sends me a pointed look. "What do you think he's like?"

"From the handful of times I've dealt with him?" I muse, shrugging lightly when he nods. "He seems very... formidable."

Mateo almost looks to be hiding a smile too. "That he is."

"You seem fond of him," I note, amused by his unimpressed look. Maybe fond wasn't the right choice of words.

Mateo examines me slowly like he's trying to figure something out. "He's like a brother to me," he answers quietly, reaching for his bagel. "You are banned from asking any more questions for the next 24 hours."

Now it is I who smiles. "Seems reasonable."

***

After an oddly civil breakfast with Mateo, I return to my usual work day. Well, aside from the fact Mateo still shadows my every move and doesn't leave me alone for more than five minutes at a time.

I glance at him from where he sits in the corner of my office, hunched over his laptop in deep concentration.

"Mateo," I murmur, returning my gaze to the contract on my desktop. He hums distantly without looking up from his work. "What do you think Milo would do if I didn't put the deal together for Encanto?"

This grabs his attention. He stops what he's doing and looks across the room at me, studying my expression.

"I think you need to be more decisive," his tone has a sharp edge to it.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" I ask tentatively, watching the way his jaw tightens.

"You know exactly what it means," he says, returning his attention to the screen.

Exhaling slowly, I glare at my computer. I do know what it means. He's telling me I agreed to do this and I keep going back and forth complicating everything. If I'm going to make this arrangement work, I have to get on with it or I'll drive myself insane.

But if I do this, I'm knowingly helping a criminal commit a crime. He's going to use the business to launder money and I'm helping him make it happen. That makes me an accomplice, possibly a criminal myself.

Once I make this move and send this contract, there's no going back.

If I want to climb to the top, this is the only way I'll get there. I know for a fact the six agents ranked above me all bend the rules to stay ahead of everyone else. This is the only chance I'll get to make my move.

"What the hell are you doing Adele," I mutter quietly, running a hand down my face as I blind CC Milo on the email.

I press send on the document before I can talk myself out of it.

A weird sense of adrenaline courses through my veins as I stare at the screen. I did it. It's done. I'm officially tangled in this in every way imaginable.

When my phone vibrates I glance down at the screen, rereading the text from Grayson at least ten times.

Can we talk?

I hesitate in replying;

No.

Whatever he has to say, I don't want to hear it.

It's too late now anyway.

I can feel Mateo watching me, analysing the way I stare at my screen with dread.

"When you have a moment, we need to talk," he says.

"No thank you. I don't like the sound of that."

I lean forward, trying to collect my nerves as he stands and walks towards me, taking the seat directly opposite my desk with rigid posture.

He looks over me as if he's trying to read my thoughts. Deliberately, I keep my expression neutral and calm.

"Well?" I press.

Mateo holds my stare. Silence looms over us for what feels like an eternity before he finally speaks.

"You and I need to leave for Italy, tonight."