Page 94 of King of War

While I can’t see his features in the shadows, I know it’s him. I’d know his silhouette anywhere. My heart flutters like a butterfly behind my breastbone, and every step I take toward him has a little bounce in it.

By the time I reach him, he’s grinning and looking at me like he wants to throw me down onto the ground and remind me I belong to him.

“This is a lovely surprise, but what are you doing here? I thought Luca was picking me up.”

He slips his arms around my waist, pulls me to him, and kisses me deeply. I will never tire of this man’s kisses. They are hotter than hellfire.

“How was your talk with Tonya?” he asks, not answering my question.

“Good. I think. She really likes my work.”

He winks. “I knew she would.”

“You didn’t influence her in any way, did you?” I ask, my eyes narrowed on his face.

“I told you I wouldn’t, baby, and I didn’t. I didn’t even tell her you were my girlfriend.” He does a two fingered salute. “Scouts honor.”

“Like you were ever a Boy Scout, Enzo Medici.” I run my hands over his chest. “And girlfriend, huh?”

He grabs my ass and squeezes hard. “Yes. Of course, I could refer to you as my future wife instead, but I thought we were taking baby steps?” His dark eyes sparkle with wicked deviance.

Why does him calling me his future wife sound so right? As much as I rail against it, I adore possessive Enzo. “Yes, baby steps. And you never told me why you’re here,” I remind him. “I thought you were busy all day.”

I don’t miss the shadow that falls across his face. “There’s something I need to tell you about.” He tucks a curl behind my ear and my heart rate spikes. “I’ve been putting it off for reasons I don’t fully understand. Except that maybe I don’t want to keep picking at old wounds. And maybe…” He blows out a breath. “Maybe I didn’t want to sway your decision to stay.”

“Enzo, what is it? You’re scaring me.”

He gives me a reassuring smile. “It’s nothing bad, I promise. It’s a good thing.” He takes my hands in his. “I will make you my wife someday, and I will give you as many babies as we can handle. And to do that, I want there to be nothing between us. All cards on the table.”

I’m so confused my head is spinning. “You’re not making this any less worrying. Do you have a secret family or something? A love child I don’t know about?”

A laugh bubbles out of him and he shakes his head. “Nothing like that.” He picks up the helmet from the ground and hands it to me. “Come for a ride with me and I’ll show you what I’m talking about.”

Still skeptical, I allow him to slide my helmet on and fasten up the chin strap for me. He’s also brought the leather jacket he got me and he slides that on for me too. Then I climb onto his bike and wrap my arms snugly around his waist. “Make yourself comfortable back there, baby, we have a long ride ahead of us.”

Now I’m even more curious as to where we’re going, but I trust him. And that’s all that matters.

I don’t know how long we’ve been riding since we last stopped for gas, but my legs are stiff when we finally come to halt outside a fast-food restaurant that promises the best beef patty in California. Across the street there’s a bar named Rookie and the Bear. The wooden tables and benches outside are filled with people, smiling and drinking and having fun. It looks like the kind of place that has live music and serves European beer and local wine. A little elegant but a lot of fun. Enzo takes off his helmet, places it on the tank and rests his forearms on it, staring at the bar across the street.

“What are we doing here, Enzo?”

He checks his watch. “Just wait and see.”

I roll my eyes, knowing he won’t see. But what the hell reason could he have to bring me to some bar in Temecula?

The door opens.

“Here he is,” Enzo says. “Right on time. No matter what day of the week, he always clocks off at eight.”

A man walks out. He’s tall, from here it’s hard to tell his age, but the collar-length dark hair and the way he moves suggests he’s not old. “Who is he?” I ask, straining my eyes to identify him.

“I believe he’s the Rookie. His business partner, Hal, is the Bear.”

I still have no idea who the guy is, until he turns his head slightly and the sun catches his face at just the right angle, illuminating his features in full. Aside from being a little older, he looks exactly the same. I tighten my grip on Enzo’s waist, my fingers digging into the leather of his jacket, and I’m sure it’s the only thing that stops me from falling off the bike entirely.

“Tommy?” I gasp his name, unable to believe I’m saying it. Unable to believe I’m looking at him, a man who’s as alive as I am. He’s chatting to one of the customers now, a cute redhead who’s laughing at whatever he’s saying, and he looks…happy. Really happy.

“Yeah. It’s him.”