Page 63 of Bratva's Mercy
“Oh.” For a second, she sounded disappointed, then she grinned. “Of course I’ll help you. That sounds like a lot of fun.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely pay you for your time.”
“Sergei, you offer me money again, and I’ll tell my men you tried to solicit me. You’re a friend. Of course I’m not going to charge you.” Then she leaned in and smiled. “Not money at least, but I’m easy for a pair of red bottoms.”
Oh, she was a little scammer. I knew what those things cost since I’d gotten the last pair Maxim had bought her when she helped him out with Wren. She knew damn well the price of those shoes would be more than a day’s work.
But if it meant finally having somewhere to take Leo? Worth it.
“Deal.” I ironed out the details of picking her up tomorrow, then got to my feet. “Thanks again, Jess. I appreciate it.”
“No worries. I’m happy to help. In other ways too.”
She gave me a wink that made me squirm. Was she hitting on me? I knew she was in a relationship with two men, but I thought they were exclusive.
“Er, no thanks. I don’t think I could live down seeing Darius’s and Nik’s bare asses.”
Her smile brightened. “But you’d want to see mine?”
I started sweating and wishing I was better at this peopling shit. “That’s not what I meant at all. I don’t think of you in that way.”
“You don’t think I’m attractive?”
“Of course you are. But—I’m not into women. Okay?”
Jess stopped talking for longer than a second, then her eyes misted over, and before I knew it, her arms were around me, and she was hugging me so tightly her breasts squished against my chest. I almost panicked, and if I could speak, I would have yelled at Darius and Nik through the door to get their slightly deranged woman who’d just hugged me for no goddamn reason at all.
“Jess,” I croaked.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” She took a step back and sniffled, wiping a tear from her eye.
Oh fuck, if I did something to offend her, I would never hear the end of it from Nik. Darius, too.
“Did I say something wrong?” I asked, noticing her wiping another tear.
“No, the opposite. You said something so right, and it just made me react even though it’s been years.”
I had no idea what she was talking about and thought it best to shut up in case I said anything else that would make her cry again. I’d sure as hell put up a fight, but Darius and Nik together would be hard to beat.
“Well, I’d better get going.” I nodded toward the bedroom door. “You can get back to what you were doing.”
She gave a laugh. “Nah, I’ve had my fun, and it’s my turn to make us dinner. It’s good for them to be alone sometimes, too.”
I nodded as if I understood their dynamic or even Leo’s and his husband’s at all. I tried not to think about it, but I had this constant ball in the pit of my stomach, waiting for Leo to drop the other shoe that he was with someone elseintimately. My gut turned every time I thought about it, but there was no way I could tell him outright that I had no desire to be shared or to share him with anyone else, and I didn’t care if they were a fucking wizard in bed.
An hour and fifteen minutes later, I pulled up to Leo’s front door to have dinner with him like I’d done the day before. I hadn’t asked if I could come over, but when I sent him a voice note asking him what he was in the mood for, he’d texted back with the name of his favorite Italian restaurant—apparently, Italian food was the way to his heart—the address, and his exact order down to the sauce.
LEO
Burrata with heirloom tomatoes and basil oil. No balsamic glaze. Extra flaky salt.
Lobster ravioli in a light saffron cream sauce. Sauce on the side so it doesn’t get soggy.
Truffle parmesan fries.
Grilled branzino, deboned, with lemon and capers.
A bottle of Château Margaux, 2015 vintage.
