Page 133 of Claimed At First Sight

Amusement flickers across Maximo’s face as he watches me flex my fingers.

“Thank you,” I tell him.

His expression softens. “You’re welcome.”

Before I can say anything else, Maximo turns and continues walking.

Is he joining us for this outing?

Ari and Sienna both look at me. We want to explore the city, and unlike us, Maximo knows it like the back of his hand.

Also, picking a fight over this seems pointless. He’s going to walk with us regardless of what I want. We might as well extract useful information from the mafia don currently hijacking our afternoon.

“Are we supposed to follow you?” I call after him. Maximo glances back over his shoulder and grins.

Honestly, he should be banned from doing that in public. He’s already unfairly attractive. Adding smiles to the equation seems excessive.

My pulse gives an appreciative little flutter. I pretend not to notice.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Ari is already hurrying after him, ever curious, while Sienna gives me a cautious look before walking on. I exhale slowly and follow too.

As we continue walking, glass towers give way to historic stone buildings and ornate facades. Every few blocks, Ari spots something new and demands an explanation, while Maximo somehow has an answer ready for everything.

I’d expected him to be knowledgeable about organized crime, business, and intimidating people into obedience. I hadn’t expected him to be an enthusiastic amateur historian. It’s like Chicago sits mapped somewhere beneath his skin.

At some point, even Sienna stops looking terrified by Maximo and starts asking questions.

“…and that one?” Ari asks, pointing upward again as we stop at a crossing.

“The Carbide and Carbon Building.”

Ari squints up at the black-and-gold tower. “It looks evil.”

A flicker of amusement crosses Maximo’s face. “It was designed to look expensive.”

“Those aren’t mutually exclusive,” Sienna points out.

The crosswalk signal changes and the crowd begins moving again.

As we cross the street, Maximo’s hand brushes the small of my back, steering me around a group of pedestrians without breaking stride.

It’s such a small thing, gone again almost immediately, yet warmth spreads through my chest all the same.

On the other side of the street, Ari slows near a narrow alley between two buildings.

I barely notice at first. She’s been getting distracted all afternoon, lured away by shop displays, unusual buildings, and pretty much anything else that catches her attention.

“Ari,” Sienna calls. “Come on.”

“Yes, I’m coming.”

She doesn’t sound convincing. Instead, she continues staring down the alley.

A moment later, I catch the faintest sound coming from somewhere between the buildings. It’s a miserable little cry.

Ari’s face falls. “That’s a cat.”