Page 80 of Point Proven
“No. No, he had no clue. He and Oren aren’t on the best of terms. He… He took off his ring, Liam.”
Thorne had… ended things? But their relationship had been such a guiding force for Simon and me, and if they weren’t together anymore, then what did that mean… What did that mean forus?
“O-Oh…” I mumbled, slowly pushing myself away from the sink.
“I haven’t really talked to him… I… kind of choked him when I found out.”
“So we basically… it sounds like we don’t have friends anymore.”
Simon bit his lip. “I don’t know, Liam. Thorne needs time, and so does Oren. And Matt… Matt’s been fucking that Mafia boss. Well, I think so. He was focused on him the entire mission.”
“The Mafia boss?” My brain hurt.
“Yeah. His name is Levander Vescari, and he runs the entire Italian Mafia over here.” He scratched the back of his head before clearing his throat, “I’ve kind of kept you… away from everyone else. I figured you wouldn’t want visitors, but he does want to meet you. We couldn’t have rescued you without his help.”
“I’d like to thank him.”
“I’m sure. He’s a pretty cool guy, and we were all going to do…” Simon cleared his throat. “Well, that’s in the past. Right now, you need time to heal and rest.”
“All going to do what?” I asked, his refusal to share drawing my attention.
“Art. Lev… Lev wanted Oren and me to come over for painting.”
Resting my hands against the marble, I inhaled deeply. “Yeah? And how are you going to do that without, you know, apologizing for trying to kill him?”
“Maybe I can draw him an apology picture? Won’t be like his, since I don’t have that talent, but it counts as a sorry, right?”
“Or, crazy concept, you could use your mouth and words without a piece of paper.”
“Hmm, yeah, I guess so. You think… think he’ll forgive me? I mean, I’m still pissed at him. I understand why he did what he did, but we could’ve found you faster if he’d confessed.”
I wanted to be angry, vengeful even that Oren had hesitated in speaking up, but I couldn’t find it in myself. If our roles were reversed, and it’d been about protecting Simon, I would’ve done the same, especially knowing how powerful Stefan was. He had unspeakable connections overseas, intertwined alliances with the largest crime lords known to man, and I was sure ties to someone far more significant.
Stefan Ðordevic was influential in the black market, but with his continued errors, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was anyone he reported to. Perhaps someone far darker and more demented than the man who had done everything he could to ruin my life.
“Do you know if Thorne has found any information on connections that we should be wary about? Like… beyond Stefan?”
Scratching his stubble, he fiddled with his hat. “Not that I know of. I mean, we can always call if you want, but I really think you should sit on the couch?—”
“I can sit on the couch at their house.”
He blinked, tugging on his cap. “You… Right now?”
“Yes,” I pulled my crutches from where I’d rested them, “right now.”
“Okay. If that’s what you want, we’ll go right now. As far as the food… Container or trash?”
“Container.” Smiling, I brushed my fingers across his chest. “It’s the best you’ve made so far.”
Beaming, he leaned forward to kiss my cheek, his cardamom and pepper scent wafting off the remnants of my nausea. “Next, I’m going to try a cake! Triple layer,extrafrosting.”
With an exasperated sigh, I dipped my chin. “Okay. We'll see how that goes. Maybe make up with Oren before attempting that. He loves to bake, and I’m sure he would be happy to entertain your idea.”
“Yeah… His cakes are really fluffy. You think he shoves his personality into it? Or maybe it’s his ass, I don’t know.”
Tucking my crutches back under my arms, I gave him a subtle shrug. “Depends which type of cake you’re speaking about, I suppose.”
Pushing himself away from the counter, he gestured to the front door. “Meet you in the car?”
