I noted the tension in my friend’s shoulders, which made me circle Leni’s waist and instinctively hold her to my body in a protective gesture, the wordmineechoing in my thoughts.
Her hand cupped mine, and she threw a curious expression my way, though her features lit up with an easy smile.
“I was just telling Silas about our upcoming trip.”
“I heard.”
She turned to me again, the radiant smile from minutes before vanishing. “It’s okay if you—”
“No,” I said, cutting her off. “I told you I’d help, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“I won’t think less of you if you don’t want to put yourself on the line. I get it. It’s not your fight anymore. Not when you have a choice.”
My eyes flicked over to Santino, who watched us with an unreadable expression.
“You’re right. It is my choice. And it’s not about going back on my word. I’m not willing to let you do this alone.”
Maybe she hadn’t intended to tremble an intake of air, nodding slowly while her eyes filled with vulnerability, but it let me know thisthinggrowing inside me wasn’t just one-sided.
“Fuck it.” Santino tossed the folder with the documents on the coffee table. “I’m in. What’s the plan?”
Twenty-Eight
LENI
Kai’s striking blue eyes peered at me from beneath his dark, shaggy hair. He’d been checking a message on his phone when I opened the front door. Gifting me with a beaming smile, his appraising gaze journeyed from my nude stilettos until he met my eyes.
“Is Silas going to kill someone tonight? You look stunning, as always.”
“It’s not on the itinerary, but the night is young.”
Kai laughed and stepped inside. “Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Save your energy for when you find the son of a bitch who killed Cristos.”
Since his death, hearing my father’s name always caused a painful lance to the chest and threatened the walls I’d erected around that grief. I knew the bursting of the dam was inevitable, but I needed to stave it off until the person responsible lay dead at my feet.
“Of course.”
“You know I’d stay and help if I could. But I have to be in Toronto in forty-eight hours. Came to say goodbye and wish you luck and all that.” He peered around, no doubt looking for Silas. “And something tells me you’re in good hands.”
“Or maybeheis.”
Kai chuckled and opened his arms wide for a hug. I stepped into his warm and familiar embrace, resting my chin on his chest and looking up at his pretty face. As attractive as Kai was, our chemistry beyond sex was non-existent. We’d indulge in each other’s company whenever the opportunity struck, no strings, and each knew what it was. But that phase of our friendship had reached its expiration date, and neither had said as much. We just knew.
Iknew.
Silas cleared his throat, stepping into the living room. I peered around Kai and smiled at the big, beautiful man on the other side of the room, then rose to my toes and pecked my dear friend on the cheek, giving him one last hug.
“Take care of yourself, Kai bear.”
He burst into laughter. “I thought we agreed never to speak of that.”
“Eh, I might be dead tomorrow. Had to get it out of my system.”
Silas’s hand was on my hip the next instant, and he pulled me to his side and held out a hand to Kai. The two men were cordial and acknowledged one another with a head nod, their eyes conveying an unspoken agreement I wasn’t privy to, though I had an idea.
Once Kai was out the door, Silas took my hand and turned me in a 360, whistling a mock catcall before hauling me to his chest.
“You look—so beautiful, Helena.” He nibbled my earlobe, forcing my eyes closed as delicious heat settled between my legs. “But I thought you said you just wanted pizza?”
