And yet I have.
Looks like he wasn’t the only one paying attention.
I silence that voice in my head, get up, and straighten the sleeves of his shirt. It hangs off me, but it’s comfortable, and it smells like cedar and something darker underneath.
Cooking won’t repay everything he’s done. Not even close.
But it’s a start, and the only way I know how to say thank you.
Without giving it a second thought, I walk back into the kitchen. Soon, I am raiding his pantry for ingredients. Everything looks fresh and new. Which strikes me as odd, because he’s been eating at Notte Bianca practically every night since… I rack my brain. I don’t even know how long, but he’s been there since my day one.
He’s a busy man. There’s no way he cooks for himself. No way he can keep all this food and not have a single vegetable that’s gone bad. So why did he stock up this much?
For you.It’s that tiny voice again, the one that says everything I don’t want to notice.He did it for you.
Heat creeps up my cheeks.
I shake my head,find what I need, and get to work.
8
RICCARDO
Ileave the villa with Savannah still on my mind, which isn’t ideal. I don’t like being distracted when I’m walking into business, especially not mafia business.
But every time I blink, I see her face in the hallway. Tilted up toward mine, soft and open, wanting.
I have to shake her out of my head or I’ll drive myself insane.
Alberto greets us and rides up to the penthouse with us. When we arrive, Luca is on the terrace, but he isn’t alone.
It’s that waitress,I realize.What was her name…?
“This is Erin,” Luca says, introducing her to us. “She’s with me.”
“Ah,” I drawl. That explains why he was so pissy about punctuality today. “So this is the girl who’s got Luca acting like a monk.” And me, by extension, since he had Valerio interrupt me at a rather crucial moment.
“Riccardo,” Luca warns.
I hold up my hands. “Hey, I’m just saying. Respect.”
Luca shakes his head, but he’s fighting off a smile. I can see it. We’ve been friends since we were kids, and even though we belong to different mafia families, we’ve always been close. Theother Dons are good allies, but Luca and I? We’re brothers, plain and simple.
Which means I’m happy to see him happy.
We go over today’s business quickly. A new hit, and it has Bratva signature all over it, Alberto informs us. Over at Brighton Beach—Luca’s territory.
They’re getting bolder, or desperate, or both.
Erin doesn’t speak during the meeting, but she’s there. Listening. That can only mean one thing—Luca wants her there. He’s showing her his world and letting her know he trusts her.
I think about Savannah back home. She’s in my bed, in my house, but I’m not sure she’s aware of who I am. What I do for a living.
I should make that clear before this goes any further. Judging by Erin’s face, she isn’t running for the hills yet. I can only hope my kitten feels the same.
And if she doesn’t?
Then I’ll let her go. It’ll gut me, but I’ll do it. I won’t be like that prick Gerard. The new direction of my thought reminds me I still have a loose end left to tie up.
