RAFFI
I wakewith a throbbing ache in my side. The bruised ribs from last night's altercation with the Bernardis flare with pain if I so much as inhale too deeply. But I'm no stranger to physical discomfort. In this job, it comes with the territory.
I shift gingerly in the bed, trying not to disturb Darian sleeping soundly beside me. But after a few minutes, I know I won't be able to fall asleep again. No rest for the wicked, right? Darian stirs as I get out of bed, but doesn't wake. I press a kiss to his temple before slipping into the bathroom, ignoring the protests of my aching muscles as I strip off and remove all those bandages the Doc left me in. A hot shower helps loosen up my battered body. As I get out, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror—split knuckles, my face all busted up, and purpling skin blossoming all along the left side of my back.
Badges of honor in my profession.
As I bandage myself back up, I think over what we've discovered so far. Because Darian's right. I'm fucking obsessed with this whole thing—and for what? No one who died was a good guy. Even Chops had a few dark deeds in his past. You don't wind up a bodyguard to someone like Foxy Roxy without a background.
No, everyone who died pretty much had it coming, especially AJ Bernardi. I'm glad that motherfucker is dead, and I won't mourn him.
But I don't like to think that someone's been working in the dark. Working without the Boss's knowledge.
Workingme. Using me.
Darian is just sitting up in bed when I emerge from the bathroom, and the sight of him is as good as any painkiller.
"You woke up early," he says.
I lean in to kiss his lips. "Couldn't sleep."
Concern clouds his golden-brown eyes. "Your injuries?"
"Nah. I'll bounce right back. Just turning things over in my mind." I hesitate. "So I guess we better go speak to Julian again. Do you want to come with me? If Leo's there, he can't…" I trail off, but I think my meaning is clear.
Julian is less likely to attack us in front of his lover.
Darian nods. "Of course. Although…" I raise an eyebrow. "They had a big night, Raffi," he hedges. "They might be asleep still. I mean, Julian doesn't like to get up before ten anyway?—"
"Then we'll have to wake them," I say firmly.
But as we walk down—or limp a little, in my case—it becomes clear that Leo and Julian are definitely awake. Loud music is booming from the Retreat, and we can hear Julian laughing, even over the noise.
I bang on the door, and then have to do it again, even louder, to get their attention. It swings open at last to reveal Leo, shirtless and swaying. "You better not be here to tell me to turn the music down, DeLuca," he chuckles.
"I just need to talk to Mr. C," I say loudly, as the music blares even louder. With a shrug, Leo waves us in.
We've caught them in a triumphant mood. Empty champagne bottles suggest a long night of celebration. Julian lounges buck naked on the sofa, and the air reeks of sex and cigars. Leo grabs a shirt from the floor and throws it casually over Julian's junk, for which I am very fucking grateful.
And the two of them are kinda beat up, too, like me. That makes me feel weirdly better. I'm not the only one who took some licks last night.
Julian is delighted to see us. "My favorite dynamic duo!" he exclaims, sitting up. To my relief, he keeps the shirt in his lap. "To what do we owe the pleasure? Have you come to celebrate with us?"
AJ Bernardi is dead.Verydead, I'm guessing, given the level of celebrations. They're both…pretty drunk. Leo collapses on the sofa and lays his head in Julian's shirt-covered lap, looking up at his lover with a dazed grin.
"Booze is over there if you want some," Leo says, waving a hand around in a circle that could mean anywhere.
"No thank you," Darian says. "We actually had some questions for Mr. Castellani."
"Well, here's to justice," Leo says, groping around on the floor for his beer, which he raises up in a toast.
"Here, here," Julian agrees. But from beneath his lashes, I can see that Julian is watching Darian and me with keen attention. He might be sloshed, but he's still Julian Castellani. "Relax, Raffaello," he says. "You look so serious. Just enjoy the moment. We've earned it. All of us."
Maybe this is not the time to accuse Julian of stalking Darian through the redwoods. Maybe we need to be more careful about that. But I still have some other questions I'd like answered.
"Darian and I just have some questions, like he says. Won't take long."
Julian arches an eyebrow. "Then by all means, ask away." He trails his fingers through Leo's hair. Leo nuzzles into Julian's belly and murmurs something that makes Julian chuckle.
