“Speaking of Fed,” Isabella says with a knowing smile, “I saw him with Sophia in the hallway last night. They looked pretty cozy.”
I can’t help but grin. “I noticed that too. Your brother’s smitten.”
“About time,” Isabella laughs. “He’s been alone too long. Sophia’s good for him—keeps him grounded.”
“Like Silvo’s good for me,” I say softly, surprising myself with the admission.
Isabella’s expression softens. “You really have fallen for him, haven’t you? My grumpy, overprotective brother.”
“Completely.” I look down at my wedding ring, remembering how much I’d resented it at first. “I fought it so hard, but somewhere along the way...”
“You realized he’s worth fighting for instead of against,” Isabella finishes.
“Exactly.”
We continue working in comfortable silence, organizing evidence and building a comprehensive brief for Silvo. By the time we’re done, the sun has climbed higher in the sky, and my exhaustion is catching up with me.
“You should rest before Silvo gets here,” Isabella suggests, noting the dark circles under my eyes.
“Can’t.” I gulp more coffee. “Too much adrenaline. Besides, I want to be sharp when I show him all of this.”
Isabella stands, stretching. “Then at least eat something. You’re no good to anyone if you pass out from exhaustion.”
She’s right, of course. We head to the kitchen, where Sophia is making breakfast, Fed leaning against the counter watching her with obvious appreciation.
“Morning, sleepyheads,” Sophia greets us cheerfully. “I’m making pancakes. Who wants some?”
“Me,” I say, sliding onto a barstool. “I’m starving.”
Fed pours me orange juice. “My brother texted. Says he’s landing soon and that you found something important?”
“Very important,” I confirm. “We’ve been up all night piecing it together.”
“Should I be worried?” Fed’s casual tone doesn’t match the sharpness in his eyes.
“Yes,” I answer honestly. “But not in the way you think.”
Sophia sets a plate of pancakes in front of me, and I dig in gratefully. The normalcy of this moment—breakfast with friends and family—feels surreal given everything swirling around us.
My phone buzzes again. This time it’s a call.
“Silvo?”
“I just landed,” his voice comes through, rough with exhaustion. “I’ll be home in forty minutes. Whatever you found, we’ll handle it together.”
“Together,” I echo, warmth spreading through my chest at the word. “Drive safe.”
“Always.”
When I hang up, I find three pairs of eyes watching me with various degrees of amusement.
“What?” I ask defensively.
“Nothing,” Sophia says innocently. “Just nice to see you so happy. Remember when you wanted to murder him?”
“I still do sometimes,” I mutter, but I’m smiling. “He’s infuriating.”
“But he’s your infuriating husband,” Isabella adds with a grin.
