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“Iswear, if you finish that sentence, Burton, I will maim you alive and dance on your motherfucking grave!”
He grins, turning his attention to a wide-eyed Reyna as he extends his right hand. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Marquez—”
“How do you know her name? How did you know we were going to be ambushed?”
I drop my head into my hands. “I need a damn whisky.”
“Calm your tits, DeMarco. I’ve been tracking everything related to you online since Grayson asked me to the other day. An as-yet unknown source disclosed your whereabouts to several media outlets about forty minutes ago.”
I sit up in the seat, reaching for Reyna’s trembling hands to rub them soothingly. “It’s okay, Sunshine.” I bring her hands to my lips, pressing a soft kiss to her fingertips, and she scoots closer along the seat, seeking the comfort of my embrace, which I give without hesitation.
“I need some security in place, Burton.”
Vaughn snorts a laugh. “Not like you to be as unprepared as today.”
The words hang in the silence of the SUV as it travels across Midtown.
“I know. Iknow.” I exhale heavily, scared to think of how aggressive things might have become had Ford not stepped in. “Have you got any connections or not?”
Ford speaks up. “I’m branching out into private security. I’ll do it.”
The tension in my shoulders and chest eases slightly at his words. “Thank you, Ford. I’ll let you know what our upcoming schedule is.”
* * *
“Food’s ready.”
My announcement rings through the penthouse before Rey shouts from upstairs, “Coming!”
I set to plating up the traditional Italian dishes I’ve made, courtesy of my sister Mila’s massively successful cookbook, Nonna’s Kitchen.
I’ve opted for an easy Penne alla vodka with two sides: simple garlic bread and, of course, my personal favorite, arancini. The smell of the food fills the entire open space and having not eaten since breakfast, my stomach is now screaming for sustenance.
I’ve just tossed a ball of arancini into my mouth, moaning in bliss as the cheesy goodness bursts on my taste buds, when my eyes catch a movement on the stairs.
Reyna is wearing a silky white robe over pajama shorts with a matching camisole. Her long brown hair has been braided over one shoulder, and the smile spreading across her face warms me to my core.
Her eyes alight when they land on me, and she lets her gaze drift down along my body in open appreciation. I inhale sharply when she tugs her bottom lip between her teeth, hiding a coy smile – only to suck the half-chewed ball of cheesy risotto into the back of my throat.
My eyes blow wide open as my hand flies to my throat, and I reach to my left to grab the countertop as though that can help me.
I inhale a frantic breath as Reyna rushes down the remaining steps. She runs her hand down along my bicep in an attempt to soothe me.
“I need you to bend forward and cough ashardas you can.” Her serene voice dims my blind panic somewhat.
I do as instructed, and as I cough, she harshly pounds on my back several times until I feel the arancini give way. It flies from my mouth, landing innocently on the tiled floor.
My breathing is ragged, and my heart rate is through the roof as I slide to the floor. I scrub my hands down my face before raising wide, grateful eyes to Reyna, who has dropped to a crouch beside me.
Concern mars her exquisite features when she raises a hand to palm my cheek. “You scared me half to death.”
Her chest is rising and falling rapidly, and her eyes are shining with tears that she’s managing to hold on to by a thread.
And despite my own fear, despite my own desire to be comforted and told everything will be alright, I’m quite simply overwhelmed with the visceralneedto bring her peace.
I palm both her cheeks, bringing her head closer to rest our brows against one another. Our breaths mingle as we struggle to regain composure.
“Lucky it was only half to death, Sunshine. The death of my new live-in fake girlfriendmightbe a scandal that gives Henry the stroke he’s narrowly avoiding.”
