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LEONA

A gentle hand on my cheek pulled me from a fitful and painful sleep.

“What’s wrong?” I sat straight up, eyes wide. Dizziness washed over me. “Is everything okay?”

Sunlight streamed through the windows, lighting up the side of Cas’s face and making his deep blue eyes shine brilliantly.

“Everything’s fine,” Cas replied softly, his fingers brushing against my face. I leaned into him like a plant yearning for sunlight. “Wanted to make sure we got some food in your belly. How are you feeling?”

I rubbed my eyes with a yawn. Everything hurt. My nausea had subsided, but everything still felt like a fog. Though that could be a mixture of just waking up along with the events of last night. “My head’s okay. But I feel like I got hit by a truck.”

“You basically did,” Ryuji said from behind the couch. As he took a drink from his favorite mug, I noticed a fresh bandage wrapped around his forehead, threaded through pieces of his dark hair. Somehow, infuriatingly so, it made him look even sexier. “Morning.”

“You okay?” I asked. His back had to be bruised to all hell.

He shrugged. “Been a lot worse.”

I exhaled heavily. Last night could have been a lot worse, too, if not for him. “What time is it?”

Cas glanced behind him, toward the kitchen. “A little after noon.”

I’d fallen back asleep on the couch next to Ryuji almost immediately after leaving Ciel’s room. My hacker had been in rough shape last night. Hopefully, he’d also gotten some rest.

“Any news about Max?” I stood and stretched my hands above my head, ignoring how my muscles screamed in protest. The soreness extended all the way to my fucking bones.

Cas shook his head. “Ciel hasn’t come out of his room yet.”

I frowned. I’d have to talk some sense into him. Yes, I wanted to find Max more than anything, but I wasn’t lying when I said I needed him. He had to take care of himself.

“I know.” Ryuji sighed, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. “He gets like this. Hyperfocus.”

“He’s going to work himself sick.”

“Yeah. But he’ll also find the fucker, so it’s best we let him work.” He took another drink from his mug. “He’ll be fine; he’s a big boy.”

I wasn’t sure he’d be fine. Ciel was always trying to prove himself. He needed to know I blamed my own foolish choices for what happened last night, not him. This morning, he’d snapped at me, and I was worried he’d get even more upset if I interrupted him again, but he couldn’t stay awake forever. I’d go check on him soon.

“So now what?”

Cas placed his palms on my shoulders. “Food. Shower. Then we brainstorm our next steps.”

“I made eggs,” Ryuji announced with a jerked nod toward the kitchen.

My eyes widened, a teasing tone to my voice. “Trying to poison me already, Ryu?”

He winked. “Always.”

I scoffed, but followed them both out of the living room. The three of us sat around the island and ate Ryuji’s rice bowls with eggs and veggies. Cas watched him, analyzing his every move. After a few minutes, Ryuji blew him a kiss, which, of course, put Cas even more on edge. I tried to ignore them both while I slowly stretched to alleviate the stiffness in my muscles. They’d figure this out. They just needed time.

“Where’s Wynn and Obi?” I hadn’t seen either of them, but I longed for their calming presence in the midst of these two dingbats.

“Wynn is running some errands, and Obi is working in the library,” Ryuji answered.

“It’s safe to leave?”

“Not for you,” Cas grumbled. “You’re staying put.”

My gaze slid to his. The last time we fought about me staying put, we’d deeply hurt each other. But we’d also kissed for the first time. I deadpanned, “Do you want to do this again? Now?”

He stared right back at me. “Yep.”

I put my fork down. “Is that because, last time, it resulted in a big fight? Or because we made out to make up afterward?”

Ryuji snorted. “Nice.”

Cas sucked in a breath. “It’s because I’m your bodyguard; it’s my job to keep you safe, and it is not safe to leave this penthouse. Not while we have no idea where Max is.”

Ryuji clicked his tongue. “Sorry, vixen. Unfortunately, and to my utter disbelief, I gotta say I agree with the bodyguard on this one.”

“He has a name,” I snapped, a headache brewing. “Use it.”

“I agree with Caspian. Stay here until we know where Volpe is, at least. Besides, what else do you want to do?” He spread his arms wide, gesturing to the massive penthouse. “We have everything you could want here.”

I stared at the table. “It’s not like I have plans, but I’ve been stuck in this penthouse for two weeks now. Maybe I want to go shopping.”

“You miss being a spoiled princess?” Ryuji smirked. “Spending all your time and money on pointless shit? I thought you’d grown up a bit.”

Hurt sliced a jagged line down my chest. I sucked in a breath. I had been a spoiled princess. I knew that. But they didn’t still think of me that way, did they?

“Shut the fuck up,” Cas growled.

My lips thinned. “You better be careful, or I’ll have Ciel transfer a big chunk of your money to me, and I’ll go blow it on whatever the hell I want. You know he would.”

He raised his hands in defeat. His eyes went a shade softer, like he knew his comment was dickish. “My point is that we can have plenty of fun here instead.”

“Oh, yeah?” I sat back in my chair, eyebrow raised. “Like what?”

Ryuji grinned and opened his mouth, but Cas stuck his fork out in warning. “Stop. Don’t go there.”

Ryuji wiggled his eyebrows. “I’d love to see her spread out on this island, with my face buried between?—”

“Ryuji—” I said as Cas’s face turned red.

Cas put his fork on his plate. “Say one more word.”

Ryu flipped him off while simultaneously winking at me. Cas glowered.

I rested my head on the countertop. This was so fucking exhausting. I loved Cas, but interacting with Ryuji did something to him. And Ryuji? He did not play nice. Anxiety pinched a nerve in my neck, sending a shooting pain down my spine. Should I do something? Step in?

I had no idea how to manage those two, but they were big boys. They’d get past it, wouldn’t they?

“Eat shit, you dick,” Cas snapped to some snide comment Ryuji made.

My heart sank. I needed to get out of here. My head was pounding, and it wasn’t even because of my concussion. I pushed away from the counter and carried my bowl to the sink.

“You two better figure your shit out. It’s giving me a headache.” They both had the audacity to stare at me like I was the crazy one. “I’m going to take a shower. Alone.” When each pushed back their chairs, I scoffed. “I fucking mean it. Stay here.”

They glared at one another, but I didn’t have the energy to glance back as I stalked toward my room. I had bigger things to worry about than their dick-measuring contest.

First, shower.

Then, think.

We needed a game plan. Whether Max surfaced or not, I would not sit in this penthouse forever. I would not fail again. I’d made promises to forge this new syndicate. It was time I delivered on them.