He didn’t answer right away, so I got the tea from the fridge and poured myself a glass while he gathered his thoughts. “I don’t know. I just have a feeling. The Russians…they’re not going to let this go.”
“They won’t know it was me.”
“Are you sure about that?”
I stared him down. No one saw me unless I wanted them to.
He changed the subject. “I’m not sure this is the right action to take.”
I didn’t answer. “It's what Luca ordered.”
“Luca’s had a grudge against this particular family since his father had to pull him out of New York because he killed that young Bratok.”
“He was causing problems in our territory. It was the expected result. Even the Russians knew that. They didn't retaliate then, and they won't now.”
“I never said he didn’t deserve it. And they didn't retaliate because Luigi cut a deal, which included sending Luca here." He paused and stirred. "I don’t know why Luca is still hanging onto this feud after all these years. He’s well established here in Austin. He has Veda. Why’s he worried about a few Russians coming to town?”
I shrugged one shoulder. I didn’t pretend to understand how Luca’s mind worked. And honestly, I didn't care if he wanted to hold a grudge against the Russians. I took an impatient breath, eager to see Luna, and a foul odor filled my nose. I approached the stove warily. “What the hell are you making?”
“No idea. I just threw some stuff together I found in your fridge.”
“Is that hamburger?”
“No. It’s ground sausage.”
“I didn’t have any ground sausage in my fridge.”
Enzo glanced over at me, one eyebrow lifting above the rim of his glasses. “Huh.”
“Why don’t you go home to Sera. I can take over here.”
Handing me the spatula, he gave me a cocky grin. It was unnerving to see him so quick to smile these days. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Once he was gone, I threw whatever the hell was in the pan into the trash and pulled out what I needed to make a quick quiche. I had dough for the crust already prepared, so I baked that while I prepped everything else.
Once the vegetables were chopped, seasoned, and pre-cooked, I added the eggs, cheese, and cream and let it bake while I grabbed a fast shower. But first, I checked in with Luca, letting him know I was back and would give him a full report tomorrow before asking him if he needed me for anything else tonight. He assured me he didn’t, so once I was clean, I took the luxury of donning a pair of black lounge pants and a forest-green, long-sleeved thermal shirt. I needed to work out, but I was tired and hungry so I decided to put it off until the next day. Slipping my feet into a pair of house shoes, I went to check on our dinner.
Luna’s scent hit me full force as I entered the bedroom with her dinner in my hand. Blood rushed to my cock as an entirely different kind of hunger set in, and I set her plate down on the table by the lamp. I was going to need both hands.
However, the way she winced as she slowly got up and hobbled over to the far side of the cell, away from the door, gave me pause. She threw a look my way that I couldn’t decipher, and her eyes widened as they traveled over me.
I glanced down at myself. “What?”
She gestured weakly at my clothes. “I’ve just never seen you dressed like that.”
“I’m off duty for the night,” I said by way of explanation. “Hands on the bars, please.”
She blinked at me a few times, then limped up to the bars and stuck her hands through without argument.
“Why are you limping?”
“Because my leg is asleep and my ass is sore from this floor,” she said impassively.
“That’s the only reason? Your feet are healing?”
“Yes.”
I was surprised she didn’t start in on me to let her out again. I searched her face, and that’s when I noticed the dark circles under her eyes. Her lips were pressed together and there were lines of tension around her mouth. Something flickered in my chest, and the thought crossed my mind that I should bring her something—a mattress or a cot, perhaps—so she would be more comfortable.
