I don't tell her that I'm planning to do more than that for our mutually favorite sandwich maker, but the next morning, I accompany her to Gordi's shop. We slip into the store before it opens, Ava nervously holding the cheesecake box aloft like a chalice.
"What are you two doing here?" Gordi asks, his eyes darting nervously towards the basement door.
"Ava worked all night to make something special for you," I say, guiding her toward the front of the store and out of the kitchen.
"I didn't work allnightGordi," she says. "I wanted to say thank you. There's no way I can truly thank you for what you did for us yesterday. You came across the shop like an avenging angeland…" She awkwardly holds out the box. "Anyway, this is the one good dessert I know how to make."
He opens the box and looks inside. "You made me cheesecake?" Gordi's eyes look suspiciously moist, but we both pretend not to notice. "I haven't had cheesecake since my ma made it for me. She'd make one every year for Christmas before she passed on in 2022."
"Oh man, Gordi." Ava gingerly pats his burly arm. "I hope this doesn't bring up bad memories. I just-"
"It's wonderful," he says, "I promise."
"Did someone mention cheesecake?"
I groan internally as Roman, Alexsey, and two of my men come out of the basement, clattering across the kitchen when they catch sight of us.
"What are you doing here?" Ava asks, as she looks at the two of them.
They've been here all night questioning the only man who survived the attack on Ava yesterday. "Ava brought a cheesecake to Gordi to say thank you for yesterday. Isn't that thoughtful?"
"Oh." Alexsey nods, "Well, we're here… because… Gordi cuts ribeye’s for us whenever he gets in a new beef order, so we stopped by to pick some up."
"Yes," Roman says with a straight face. "Those ribeye’s are fucking amazing. We should bring some over tonight and have Dmitri grill them for dinner."
"Why don't you take your ribeye’s and get out of here?" I say, leading them toward the back door. Gordi distracts Ava and theytalk about her recipe as he pulls two forks from the racks by the dishwasher.
"Well, that was awkward as fuck," Roman says. "Your girl showing up with cheesecake?"
"I think it's fucking adorable," drawls Alexsey. "I'm just amazed Dmitri let her out of the house. You doing okay there, brother?"
"I'm fine. What do you mean?"
"Mother told me how you looked when you came into the clinic yesterday," he says. "She told me that you nearly ripped the door off the hinges trying to get to Ava."
"Really?" Roman grins. He looks between us. "I think this is the final stage, Alexsey."
"Final stage of what?" I snap.
"She's your girlfriend," Alexsey nods. "You fucking love her. Admit it."
I look through the kitchen door at Ava and Gordi chatting animatedly, as he devours another enormous chunk of the cheesecake.
Well,goddamnit.My brothers are right. I do love her.
Chapter Twenty-Five
In which there are gourmet nachos and horrifying revelations.
Ava…
I don't have any nightmares after the gun battle in Gordi's shop.
Maybe it's because too many other terrible things have already happened and my subconscious hasn't caught up.
But I think Dmitri does. Over the last week, I wake up as he's thrashing in bed next to me, teeth gritted. He usually wakes up instantly when I touch him, running a hand over his face before checking on me.
He won't talk about the nightmares. I wish he would.
