This was heaven.
Ciel broke the momentary silence. “Cas.”
My bodyguard looked up. “Yeah?”
“Ryuji’s always been a shithead,” Ciel said. I snorted, taken off guard, but Cas tensed. Ciel pressed forward. “He says mean things to get a rise out of people. But for the official record, I think you’re one of us just as much as Leona is. You both belong here.”
Cas was quiet for a moment. “You heard what he said to me?”
Ciel shook his head while I frowned.
“What did Ryuji say?” I asked.
Ciel ignored me. “I didn’t hear, but I know him well enough to guess.”
Cas sighed. “Thanks.”
“Tell me what he said, Cas,” I demanded. I’d fuck that boy right up. I wasn’t scared of him.
He cupped my cheek. “It doesn’t matter, princess.”
“It does,” I insisted, leaning into his palm. I wanted my men to get along, to be happy together. With me. With us. My chest ached to know that Ryu and Cas didn’t get along. I still couldn’t figure out how to smooth things out between them, and every tense look, every biting word, felt like I had failed them. Shouldn’t I be able to bring them together?
I loved Cas, and I knew what feelings were steadily growing between me and the rest of these guys. It would break my heart if they weren’t happy.
He shook his head. “It doesn’t. I’m over it.”
“I’ll find out the truth, eventually,” I told him.
Cas leaned down to kiss me. “I’m sure you will, and you’ll remember what Ciel just said. Ryuji is a shithead, and Ciel thinks I belong here.”
A little smile pulled at the corner of my mouth. “We belong here.”
“I’m starting to believe that maybe we do.” He rested his head on my stomach.
I ran my hands through his hair with a smile at Ciel. He brushed his thumb across my cheek. “Who wants more snacks?”
My phone vibratedwith a text from Wynn, lighting up the screen on the coffee table covered with snacks. I glanced at it, then looked back at Ciel. “I know we said no screens, but it’s Wynn.”
He nodded. “How is he?”
“Can’t believe Fallon wanted to trade,” Cas grumbled.
I pulled up the message.
Wynn: Albanians have their claws in the city, but we’re making progress. Ronan and I think we found the central ringleader. Taking him out tonight.
I showed the message to Ciel, and his lips pressed into a thin line. “I usually support him on these kinds of missions—get him video and help him track people down.”
“He’ll be okay,” I reassured, squeezing his hand. I had noticed the shift between them. Something was developing, changing. Or at least becoming moreopen.
I knew Ciel was bisexual. I’d guessed Ryuji was the same. But what about Wynn? He’d clearly been into everything back when he, Ciel, and I had been in the library.
And what did Ciel want?
“I know.” He sighed, rubbing at his eyes. “The Irish are capable enough.”
“He’ll come back to us,” I assured him. He twisted our fingers together in silent solidarity.
