He shakes his head at me. “It’s just been a while since I rode passenger, and the last time I did, the driver was Tildy.”
I quirk a brow. “How was that?”
“You don’t want to know,” he replies, shutting the door.
I huff out a laugh. “That bad, huh?”
“Let’s just say I kissed the ground when she dropped me off on the side of the road,” he answers as I put the vehicle in drive and we take off. Parker and I are of the same cloth, never really having to fill the silence between us or with anyone else, really. We’re both vigilant and quiet in our nature. I have knowledge he doesn’t, just like he has smarts and wits about him I do not. We are similar and still so very different.
We’re just crossing the bridge and getting into the city when I decide to break the silence. “I took everything you said to heart, Parker.”
“I know you did. Still not gonna apologize for punching your throat in.”
“I deserved it.”
He makes an agreeing noise in the back of his throat, tapping his fingers on his thighs, peering out the window to the bay. “So, do you have a ring in mind already?”
“No, but I'm sure we’ll know when we see it. She said something to me right before she threw cake batter on me that really stuck with me, and I… I went online and found a few examples of what I think she’ll like,” I confess while we stop for slight traffic on the bridge. I reach into my coat pocket and pull out my phone and hand it over to him after unlocking it.
He takes it and lifts it to his face, using his fingers to zoom in. “I think this will be good on a titanium band. Halo with white diamonds…”
My brow lifts and I smirk at him. “You know a lot about this.”
He grins. “Who do you think chose the ring you bought her?”
“You know my wife more than I will ever know her.”
He contemplates that while tipping my phone into the cup holder. He faces forward again as I press on the gas, and I watch through my periphery as he shrugs. “Just the same as you having a connection with her that I don’t. I have known her and loved her longer, sure. But you love her just as much as I do. I can see it on your face when you aren’t near her. It’s why I don’t knock your fucking teeth in every day. There isn’t a time limit on love. You can know someone is yours the second you meet them or it can take you two years to fall for them.
“Love isn’t measured in words. It’s measured in actions. It’s measured in choosing them every day. It’s choosing to fight the same fight together and not against each other. It’s building a foundation no one else can tear down. It’s seeing the flaws and still loving them despite them. And you fell for her the same way I did—seeing past the facade and into the soul. You took the time to learn her.” He taps his fingers against his thigh. “Truth is, we’ll never truly know her. She’ll still surprise us every day, I'm sure. But that’s what’s fun about it. Who she is tomorrow will be different from who she is today. I get to know herevery day…and Icount it as a blessing. Not a chore. So as long as you never see her as a chore—I’ll let you keep your teeth. And your balls.”
I take in all his infinite Sabrina wisdom and pocket it as we enter Manhattan. “Will you do me a favor then?”
“What’s that?”
“Keep me in line. I won’t ever cheat on her. You have my word. But whatever’s going on with me, it’s gonna take me time for me to…heal.” I sigh, hating how fucking vulnerable I’m being. “So, when and if you ever need to, knock me the fuck out. I don’t need reminders that I married a woman worth a king’s ransom. But I will need reminders that that’s what she deserves.”
“I’d do that without your permission, doesn’t hurt that I already promised your dad I’d keep you in check,” he retorts with a shake of his head. “Your teeth, my kick, Maks.”
I dip my chin as I park outside of the jeweler, open the door, and hand my key to the valet. Usually, Niko would be driving me to something like this as my consigliere, but he just returned from Boston late this morning. Besides, who better to come with me than an extremely vigilant former bodyguard?
I open the door to the shop and we're greeted by the owner, Emilio, who closed it down for us. “Ahhh Massimo,” he says, kissing one cheek then the other, firmly gripping my hand, then letting go to do the same to Parker. I grin when I realize how easily he’s accepted the Italian way. Even in Italy and Sicily, Parker fits in well, including learning the language. After Emilio welcomes us in, he motions us to the table he has set up for us and directs us to sit down. “So, tell me, tell me, Massimo. What are you thinking?”
We’re barely finishing up with Emilio and putting our coats back on to leave when my phone begins to vibrate with a message at the same time Parker’s phone begins to chime with an incoming video call. His brows knit together, and he answers as soon as we step out.
“Sis?” Parker answers.
Raven’s hands flutter about and I reach down into my pocket for my phone.
“Oh shit,” I hear Parker mutter at the same time I look down at my screen and let out a “What the fuck?”
Niko: Just a heads up
Niko: Sasha and I are with your wife headed to Tribeca to talk todear old Daddy.
Chapter Forty
Maksim.
