Our eyes meet and a soft smile pulls at the corner of my lips. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were making a joke.”
“I don’t joke.”
“Sure.” Clasping my hands together, my thoughts race for an excuse to keep him talking.
It’s nice.
Much nicer than dealing with my parents. “Can you uh…can you teach me?”
Falco lowers to his haunches and picks up his water bottle. “To lift weights?”
“Defend myself.”
He rises slowly. “That’s my job.”
“I know. But after…” Swallowing, the phantom press of that bastard’s hands around my throat rises. “I want to be able to protect myself even if it’s something basic. Everyone keeps telling me I’m lucky you were there and I get that, but what if something happens to you or, god forbid, you end up hurt in a way that you can’t help me?”
Falco’s jaw ticks back and forth as if he’s chewing over his thoughts. “What brought this on?”
“Do I really need a reason?”
“Yes.”
I shrug. “I feel like it’s obvious.”
“I want you to say it.”
“I… Giacomo made a good point at dinner the other night that there’s always a chance you won’t be there. I can’t always rely on you or another guard.”
The mention of my brother’s name draws a shadow of anger across Falco’s face.
He, like almost everyone else, is still furious at my brother.
A couple of hours after Falco and I returned here, bruised and bloody, Giacomo sauntered home after a sexcapade conquest with girls he met at the nightclub.
He was never missing; he was just getting laid. I should be angrier at him, but I’m just grateful he didn’t come to any harm.
“I can teach you,” Falco says. “But I won’t go easy on you.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to.”
“We can start now.”
My eyes widen. “Now?”
“Is there somewhere you need to be?”
“No, I-I just…” Warmth sweeps up through my body and settles in my cheeks while the back of my neck prickles. “I uhm…”
Falco doesn’t say a word.
He stands there in all his handsome glory with the sun behind him giving him a golden glow.
Even the silver streaks in his hair turn a warm, coppery hue.
“Do we start with diet?”
Falco frowns. “What?”
