Sleepy brown eyes blink at me. Her lips part, and I wait.
Ask me to stay.
Ask me to hold you.
“Thanks, Dom,” she whispers. “Goodnight.”
My throat feels tight, but I offer her a smile anyway. “Get some sleep.”
Her eyes are already closing as I softly close the door. I make my way outside, making sure all the locks are engaged before I turn and take up my post.
When Nicolo and Drew return, I dismiss them with a shake of my head. “I’ve got it. Go home.”
As they melt into the darkness, I settle in for the night.
Nothing gets to Caterina on my watch.
Nothing, and no one.
Chapter seven Caterina
“Again.”
Slapping at the treadmill to switch it off, I pin Vito V’Arezzo with my best death glare, the one that makes my Crows piss themselves on the rare occasions I need to use it. Dante’s uncle doesn’t blink, giving me a steady look as I swear and switch it back on. “You’re trying to kill me. This is some fucking bullshit silent assassination plot. Death by running.”
I hate running, and he knows it. But Vito just reaches out and turns up the dial, ignoring my swatting hands. “Faster. Your stamina needs work.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my stamina,” I mumble, but shove my headphones back over my ears and pick up the pace until all I can hear is the pounding bass and the thumping of my own heartbeat inside my head.
I don’t know why the hell I thought it was a good idea to work my way through at least two bottles of wine the evening beforeI had an early morning training session with the other heirs, but here we are. My legs shake, but I swallow it down and keep going, ignoring the views on offer courtesy of the full-length mirrors in front of me.
Luciano and Dante are sparring behind me, fists flying and a whole lot of male flesh on display that I refuse to glance at. Stefano is working on weights in the corner. For a moment, I think I can feel eyes on me, but when I flick my eyes towards him in the mirror, he’s focused on his own workout.
Sheer inhuman fucking force of will gets me through the ten-mile stretch, and when I finally collapse, Vito throws a bottle of water at me with a smirk. “Baby steps.”
“Fuck you,” I gasp, but I take the sealed bottle and drink until the plastic crinkles in my hands. I left my own on the kitchen counter this morning. Distracted by the sight of Dom outside, casually leaning against the steps like he hadn’t spent the whole night stood guard outside my damn door.
I didn’t look at him as I left. He just fell into step beside me, both of us silent, both ignoring the fucking huge elephant that followed us all the way into the dining hall until I gratefully slid into an empty chair in the middle of the Crows, losing myself in bullshit politics and listening to grievances and absolutelynotlooking in his direction as he slammed a plate of fried food down in front of me to soak up the last bits of alcohol from my night.
I’m regretting the bacon. My throat burns as I take a seat on the floor, stretching my legs out and watching Dante and his uncle. Vito’s not that much older than us, and he and Dante joke as they circle each other, Vito pointing out flaws in his technique that I tuck away for future use.
“Morning, little crow.”
“Fuck off, Morelli.” My tone is on the edge of violence, and he whistles, even as he settles himself down next to me.
“Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Sore head?”
I have my hand wrapped around the finger heading for my side before he gets anywhere near me, bending it back until he swears. “Jesus. I was only joking.”
I leave it a few seconds before letting him go. “Don’t touch me without my permission.”
Luciano hums. “Your statement implies that I may have permission at some point.”
Incredulous, I slide my eyes towards him. “How is life in that delusional little world of yours?”
He throws his head back in a deep laugh, drawing the attention of the others. Vito calls out to us as Dante steps away, wiping his face over with a gym towel. “You have breath to laugh, you have breath to fight. Get over here.”
“Fucking ace.” Luc gets to his feet with a groan. Blinking, I stare at his extended hand.
