She was nervous. Unhappy with me. Despite how every single piece of my life was carefully controlled, down to the detergent I kept in the laundry room, somehow a single frown onher face made me feel like all my hardened edges were in danger of fraying.
“I’m fine.” I leaned back in my desk chair. The wood creaked beneath my frame. “But yes, tell me about your nightmare.”
Her hair bounced as shetskedme. I pursed my lips, amusement blooming in my chest. Only my sisters ever dared totskme. “Uh-uh. It’s your turn.”
“What do you mean?”
“Last time, you got away easy.” Her head tilted. “I told you my nightmare, and then we both fell asleep, and you didn’t even share. I’m not letting you get away with that again.”
Despite my prior agreement, my fraying edges made me want to retreat and break that promise. Vulnerability made my stomach sink and my thoughts race. If she knew the full extent of my past, she would reject me as my sister, Ekene, had. The two of them were similar in their steadfast hopes, their determination, their straightforwardness.
Perhaps after discussing business, she would be tired enough to head back to bed and I could return to my few moments of silent peace before the sun rose.
“First, let’s talk business,” I hedged. I glanced at my open inbox. “I have updates from the Chinese, and our pilot has confirmed our takeoff time.”
“Yes, let’s avoid the difficult topic of conversation.” Her eyes twinkled as they teased. “Are our nefarious plans coming to fruition?”
That time I couldn’t hold back my smile. “We are making progress. The Chinese will take on our transport routes and carry our guns if we can complete their hit request. We scratch their back, they scratch ours, so to speak.”
She nodded as she folded her legs underneath her. “Once we get a manufacturer confirmed, we can start moving product.Hopefully, Kofler will agree to take it, and money can start funneling out of Max’s pockets and into ours.”
Niklas Kofler, the arms dealer. With my input, Leona had spent the last three days preparing to speak with him.
“Speaking of Kofler, Ciel has confirmed our meeting, and the location is set.” Our plane was set to leave in the early afternoon, and it would take around six hours before we landed. “After we arrive in LA, we will have a few hours to kill, but hopefully by the evening, we will have an agreement.”
“That’s good.” Her mouth slanted into a slight frown. “Any news on the Italian gun manufacturers?”
My fingers drummed on the trackpad of my laptop. “The Camorra is withholding. They will meet with us, but not for a few weeks. My contact provided no real update or promise besides that. Apparently, they are in the midst of fulfilling a large order.”
She rubbed her eyes. “Okay. How am I going to sell guns to Kofler if I don’t have them?”
“If the Italians do not supply us, we will get them from the Chinese.”
“That’s a start, I guess,” she said, stifling a yawn. “Any other business I should know about?”
Perfect. Perhaps now she’d be ready to sleep. I shook my head. “That is all.”
With a grin, she patted the leather beside her. “Okay, now there are no other excuses. Time for nightmare talk.”
I held her gaze. I wanted to bridge the crack of tension that had splintered between us. But this discussion would most likely exacerbate it.
“Leona…”
Her smile faltered. “If you don’t want to, it’s okay. I understand.”
Her eyes—brown with the most beautiful flecks of gold—were so earnest. Not for the first time, I found myself at a loss. I wasn’tused to dealing with someone so genuine. I was used to dealing with the scum of the earth, people that should never be trusted.
I pushed from the desk and reluctantly sat beside her. Although she did not tuck into my side the same way she did with Caspian, she did inch closer.
“You go first,” I said, staring straight ahead. I still wasn’t sure what I was doing.
“Only if you promise to go after me,” she replied, tone serious.
“I will.” Though I would not share the buried extent of my violence.
“Chiara texted me again tonight,” she offered, staring at her hands clasped in her lap. “I dreamt about her.”
“What did she say?”
