Page 104 of Fallen Rook

I had a sham of a wedding to plan or a war to fight with the Russians. Both options were unpalatable.

And Tom was facing his own struggles, what with the FBI trying to hurl his ass to Chicago and his desired promotion nowhere in sight. I knew he was having a tough time at work, and I hated that we couldn’t talk about it.

This time, when we got to the city, he didn’t park in front of my building. He slipped into the underground parking and killed the engine. We sat in the dark, neither of us moving or speaking for a few moments.

“I wanted to give you something, too.” He stared at his steering wheel.

“For your birthday?” I teased.

He nodded stiffly, back to being as personable and welcoming as a wet sock.

He produced something from his pocket, sliding it into my hand.

“A crumpled Monopoly card,” I muttered, staring at it in confusion. “My favorite. How did you know?”

Tom shook his head in a you’re-an-adorable-idiot manner. “It’s not just a card. It’s a get-out-of-jail-free card. Look at this as a blank check. If you ever get into trouble, if life gets too much, no matter what happens, I promise I’ll stop everything and save you, Enzo. No questions asked. Just flash me this card and I’ll do it, okay?”

I worked my throat so I wouldn’t cry again. “I—Tom…”

He put his hand on mine. He was still wearing the bracelet, even though it didn’t go with his sharp suit. “You don’t have to say anything.”

I didn’t.

But I didn’t leave, either.

Even though I knew I should.

“What if you get into trouble helping me?” I asked, finally.

“I followed you to a club, saw an idiot with your dick in his mouth and decided to kill him, and got out of it unscathed,” he said seriously. “I know how to cover my tracks when I need to.”

As far as love declarations went, this wasn’t a great one. I doubted Tom could ever feel toward me something warmer than lust. And still, it tugged at my heartstrings when he said that.

“Androcles and the Lion.” I smiled sadly.

He raised an eyebrow. “Am I the lion?”

Yes. And I am the utter fool who ignores your natural inclination to kill me.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

“Don’t thank me. I’m not doing this from the goodness of my heart; I’m doing this because I have little choice. You’re my butterfly, Vincenzo. And I’m your net. I’ll never let you fall. I’ll always catch you. It might feel suffocating sometimes, but I can’t help it. I’m wired to protect you.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Enzo

“Tiernan, for the love of everything holy, please stop humping my baby sister,” I moaned at Achilles and Tierney’s penthouse on the Upper East Side. “At this rate, you’ll knock her up before she’s done cooking your current baby.”

It had been a week since that conversation with Tom, and though I no longer believed he actively wished to destroy me, I knew damn well we weren’t anywhere near a real couple.

Tiernan begrudgingly unlatched his mouth from Lila’s throat. “Gealach, am I humping you?”

Lila shook her head with a grin.

“Harassing you?”

Another headshake, this time accompanied by a soft giggle.