Page 270 of Reign

Luciano studies my face for a moment.

“The last scene I joined was the day Adriana was taken.”

“Oh.”

“It ended when I received the call.”

I turn more fully toward him. “And after that?”

“I returned to Florida.”

“To deal with a mysterious cartel problem?”

“A rivalry.”

“And you’re not going to tell me about it.”

“Not over breakfast.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s contained, it cannot reach you, and explaining it would require several conversations you aren’t prepared to have before finishing your fruit.”

I glance at the bowl. “That sounds suspiciously like avoidance.”

“It’s postponement. There’s a difference.”

I consider arguing, but that isn’t the question I started with.

“So you were in Florida.”

“For several weeks.”

“And then you came back for the wedding.”

“Yes.”

“And met me.”

His thumb moves once over my waist. “Yes.”

“And after the wedding?”

“No one.”

The answer comes without hesitation.

I blink. “No one for three months?”

“Yes. Hm, so I guess it had been a while.”

He sounds almost surprised by it.

“Why did you say that like you’ve only just realized?”

“Because I haven’t been counting.”

“You didn’t notice you weren’t sleeping with anyone? That seems like something a person would notice.”