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INESSA
As I left the church,which was only two blocks away, I sighed. Vespers on a Saturday evening was something Mama had always attended, and while I often questioned my faith, to the point where I rarely visited church, I tried to go at least once a month.
Since the wedding, I hadn’t been once, so I’d been feeling guilty.
The hieromonk was new, though, so he didn’t look at me like I was scum as I alighted from the deep, cavernous church that always made me feel like I was going underground with its low domes and dark vibe.
“Did you enjoy the liturgy?” he inquired in our mother tongue, his eyes crinkling at the sides.
“I did, Father. Thank you.” I scurried away, not wanting to get into a conversation with him. I’d missed yesterday’s confession, so I didn’t want him to ask me if I’d be attending next week.
Eoghan had said I could have more freedom, but did I want to be spending that time in church?
Nope.
Although…I had both our souls to worry about now, didn’t I? So maybe I should.
With a sigh, I tugged my silk scarf higher over my head as I moved out of the doorway.
This was Bratva territory, which meant it was under siege from the Italians, so I peered out and saw Eoghan was waiting at the side in the Aston Martin like he’d promised.
I slipped down the sidesteps, aware as he was that I was a good target even if I was now Five Points’ property, which would be drawing the Irish into the war with theFamiglia. Ducking my shoulders, I hunched behind the scarf until I reached the bottom step. Launching myself through the iron gates, I didn’t rest easy, even when Eoghan got us out of there.
From his stern expression, I knew he wasn’t happy about the church’s location.
“I can go to a different one.”
My appeasing words had him grimacing. “I don’t want you to have to do that.”
I reached over and grabbed his hand. “It’s okay.”
His nostrils flared, but he slipped his fingers through mine and tightened them. It made me feel tied to him, and because I liked that, I didn’t move my hand away, letting him steer like that.
When we didn’t return home, my brows rose. They lifted even higher when we approached a skyrise I’d never seen before.
“Where are we?”
His serious expression had lessened somewhat, and he shot me a look that was loaded with so many emotions, I didn’t even know where to start.
Something had happened to him, something I didn’t know the details of. He’d been a locked door to me, but somehow, I’d used the key, and I felt like I’d been welcomed in…I didn’t know if it was to his heart, but with a man like Eoghan? I figured that his trust was probably harder to win.
“This is an Acuig property.”
“It is?” I cocked a brow as I peered up at it. The Bratva was rich. I’d known Eoghan’s family was too.
But this rich?
Fuck.
I cleared my throat. “Why are we here? On a Saturday evening?”
“You’ll see.”
“Did your father give you some work to—” They’d been mulling over something at brunch, but when we’d brought out the food, they’d started talking about other things. Normal stuff.
Lena and me, for all that I was younger, were no fools though. Men…always thinking they were smart, when they were shit at hiding stuff from the women in their lives.
He snorted. “We’re going to my office. But not for work.”
