"You didn't. You never did."
"I accepted information from you. Published stories that served your interests."
"Stories that were also true. That exposed real corruption." I caught his chin, made him look at me. "You maintained your standards even when I was trying to control you. That matters."
"Does it? Or am I just trying to justify what I did?"
"Both, probably. But that doesn't make it less true." I kissed him softly. "You're a good journalist, Valentino. This school board investigation proves that. You don't need me or my information to do excellent work."
He studied my face for a long moment. "Thank you for saying that."
"I mean it. Every word."
We stayed in bed longer than we should have, neither wanting to start the day and face the stress waiting beyond these walls. Eventually necessity won and we got up, moving through our morning routine with the ease of people who'd been doing this much longer than a week.
Valentino made coffee while I dealt with emails. I made eggs while he read the news. We ate breakfast at the kitchen island, legs tangled together, both stealing glances at each other like teenagers.
"I'm going to be late tonight," I said, loading dishes into the dishwasher. "The meeting will probably run long. Stefan has a whole presentation on the property acquisitions."
"I'll probably be working late too. These edits are taking forever." He finished his coffee. "Should I wait for you for dinner?"
The casual domesticity of the question made me smile. "If you want. Or eat without me. I'll text you when I'm done."
"Okay." He moved to stand behind me, arms wrapping around my waist. "Luca?"
"Yeah?"
"This is nice. This... us. Living together. Even with the FBI thing hanging over us."
"It is." I turned in his arms. "I like having you here."
"Good. Because I like being here." He kissed me. "Even though your penthouse is ridiculously fancy and makes me feel like I'm living in a magazine spread."
"You'll get used to it."
"Will I? Or will I always feel a little bit like I'm playing house in someone else's life?"
The vulnerability in his voice made me hold him tighter. "This is your life too now. If you want it to be."
"I do want it. I'm just still adjusting to the fact that my boyfriend is a wealthy former mob boss with a penthouse view and expensive taste in everything."
"Former mob boss?"
"Aren't you? Going legitimate?"
"We're working on it. But technically I'm still a current mob boss who's transitioning to legitimate businessman." I grinned. "Does that make a difference?"
"Not really. I fell for you knowing exactly what you were." He pulled back. "I should go. Need to get some work done before I lose motivation."
"Stay. Work here."
"I've been here every night for a week. I should probably go back to my apartment at some point. Make sure it hasn't been robbed."
"Or just stay. Bring your stuff here. Make this official."
The words came out before I could stop them. Valentino's eyes went wide.
"Luca—"
