“Don’t fucking jinx us, asshole,” Cas snapped from where he pulled off his suit jacket. He frowned as his hand pulled something from his pocket.
“What’s that, Cas?” I asked.
He unfolded a napkin, his eyes going wide. “It’s a note from Chiara. She must have slipped it into my pocket at the bar.”
Leona rushed to read it.
My father told me you were dead, but when Max came to our house to broker an alliance, I overheard them talking about you. I realized theywere both lying. We can’t text anymore. But trust me. I’ll find a way to contact you.
-Chiara
She looked up at Cas. “He must have something on her. We have to help.”
I placed my hand on her lower back, but locked eyes with Ciel. “We’ll get her free. In the meantime, she’s going to help. That’s a good thing.”
Cas cupped her cheek. “She’s safe for now. As much as he threatened to hurt her, he has to know that the Tommaso men would turn against him.”
She nodded but stared down at the napkin. With a sigh, Cas yanked his tie loose. At least he felt like he was settling in. Easing his way into more comfort around the penthouse. “We’ve still got a long road ahead.”
Ryuji grinned. “You should come to the shooting range with me next time. We’ll see who the better shot is.”
Cas raised an eyebrow. “Is that a challenge?”
“Oh, absolutely,” Ryuji said. “Are you scared, bodyguard?”
Cas scoffed, but this time his return held no venom as it used to. “Of jealous fuckers like you? Never. You’re on.”
Ryuji narrowed his eyes. “I am a jealous fuck. That kiss you gave her at the restaurant had me fuming.” He grabbed Leona’s cheeks, turned her face to his, and kissed her. She clutched at him, gasping a breath into his mouth. “That’s better.”
Cas barked a laugh. “Yeah, yeah. Bring it to the range.”
Leona smiled at them all, folding the napkin again, and tucking it into her pocket. Her eyes carried tension, but she wrapped her fingers around mine. Instinctively, I pulled her against my chest, and she relaxed.
Before, Ciel had said that he wasn’t mad because he still had all of us. Not one of my brothers or Leona had seemed angry with me for his injury. Maybe he was right. We were all in this together.
Maybe I could forgive myself.
“Any news on Lucia?”
Cas shook his head. “Giulio says she’s sitting in her cell, but she has been muttering to herself.”
“They’re giving her food? Water?”
He nodded. “She’s fine. No internet in sight.”
“No answer from the Camorra yet,” Obi responded. He swiped through his phone. “I will reach out to them again in the morning.”
“So now what?” Ciel looked to Obi. “Rest tonight and back at it tomorrow?”
There was still so much left for us to accomplish but, for now, we had won the battle.
A small smile broke over his face. “Let’s debrief over dinner, then rest until tomorrow.”
My alarm broughtme out of sleep just as usual. Leona had been up late, drinking and laughing with the guys, while a movie played in the background. She passed out on the couch before nine. Cas took her to their room, but not before Ryuji declared he was going to redecorate the house and purchase a bigger bed for all of us. Brilliant plan.
She was still sleeping when I headed down to the gym as normal, but today I let her sleep. She needed it. We all deserved it. After my workout was finished, I headed back upstairs for a shower. I was just getting out when I saw a text from her.
Leona: Meet me at the front door. I need your help.
