Page 57

57

WYNN

S he did it.

We did it.

As soon as we returned to the penthouse, I wrapped Leona in my arms and pressed a firm kiss to her lips.

“I am so proud of you,” I said. She beamed up at me, pulling Ciel into our hug. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, but his eyes flicked to me.

My breath stuttered. We hadn’t spoken much since I’d kissed his knuckles. He hadn’t brought it up, and neither had I. But I still couldn’t deny how my heart raced as the three of us embraced.

Thankfully, today, he’d been able to provide technical support even if he had been slower on the computers. I’d heard his slight grunts of pain as he’d gotten in and out of his van. I’d watched the strain on his brow when he tried to wiggle his fingers.

I’d figure out a way to make it up to him.

“Great job, everyone,” Obi said as we unpacked our weapons. “Now comes turning the other Italian Families against him, and using our new position on the board to divert income away from Max and into our pockets instead. We are one step closer to shaping the future we desire.”

We headed to the kitchen to unwind while the rest of the guys chatted and discussed how the board meeting went, but I couldn’t break my thoughts from Ciel.

“How’s your hand, Ciel?” Leona asked as she gingerly reached for it. Obi started pulling food out of the fridge. “Do we need to change your bandages?”

He shook his head. “It’s fine. Sore, but it’ll heal.”

I opened my mouth. “I’m?—”

“Don’t, Wynn,” he said with a chuckle. Affectionate amusement pulled a smile to his mouth. “I get it already.”

“I’ll make it up to you.”

Ryuji threw his arms over Ciel and Leona’s shoulders, casting a knowing glance in my direction, before he sighed, heavy and dramatic.

“What’s got your panties in a bunch?” Leona laughed, nudging him in the side.

“I didn’t get to kill anyone today,” Ryuji said, lips turning into a pout. “Everything went according to plan.”

“Don’t fucking jinx us, asshole,” Cas snapped from where he pulled off his suit jacket. He frowned as his hand pulled something from his pocket.

“What’s that, Cas?” I asked.

He unfolded a napkin, his eyes going wide. “It’s a note from Chiara. She must have slipped it into my pocket at the bar.”

Leona rushed to read it.

My father told me you were dead, but when Max came to our house to broker an alliance, I overheard them talking about you. I realized they were both lying. We can’t text anymore. But trust me. I’ll find a way to contact you.

-Chiara

She looked up at Cas. “He must have something on her. We have to help.”

I placed my hand on her lower back, but locked eyes with Ciel. “We’ll get her free. In the meantime, she’s going to help. That’s a good thing.”

Cas cupped her cheek. “She’s safe for now. As much as he threatened to hurt her, he has to know that the Tommaso men would turn against him.”

She nodded but stared down at the napkin. With a sigh, Cas yanked his tie loose. At least he felt like he was settling in. Easing his way into more comfort around the penthouse. “We’ve still got a long road ahead.”

Ryuji grinned. “You should come to the shooting range with me next time. We’ll see who the better shot is.”

Cas raised an eyebrow. “Is that a challenge?”

“Oh, absolutely,” Ryuji said. “Are you scared, bodyguard?”

Cas scoffed, but this time his return held no venom as it used to. “Of jealous fuckers like you? Never. You’re on.”

Ryuji narrowed his eyes. “I am a jealous fuck. That kiss you gave her at the restaurant had me fuming.” He grabbed Leona’s cheeks, turned her face to his, and kissed her. She clutched at him, gasping a breath into his mouth. “That’s better.”

Cas barked a laugh. “Yeah, yeah. Bring it to the range.”

Leona smiled at them all, folding the napkin again, and tucking it into her pocket. Her eyes carried tension, but she wrapped her fingers around mine. Instinctively, I pulled her against my chest, and she relaxed.

Before, Ciel had said that he wasn’t mad because he still had all of us. Not one of my brothers or Leona had seemed angry with me for his injury. Maybe he was right. We were all in this together.

Maybe I could forgive myself.

“Any news on Lucia?”

Cas shook his head. “Giulio says she’s sitting in her cell, but she has been muttering to herself.”

“They’re giving her food? Water?”

He nodded. “She’s fine. No internet in sight.”

“No answer from the Camorra yet,” Obi responded. He swiped through his phone. “I will reach out to them again in the morning.”

“So now what?” Ciel looked to Obi. “Rest tonight and back at it tomorrow?”

There was still so much left for us to accomplish but, for now, we had won the battle.

A small smile broke over his face. “Let’s debrief over dinner, then rest until tomorrow.”

My alarm brought me out of sleep just as usual. Leona had been up late, drinking and laughing with the guys, while a movie played in the background. She passed out on the couch before nine. Cas took her to their room, but not before Ryuji declared he was going to redecorate the house and purchase a bigger bed for all of us. Brilliant plan.

She was still sleeping when I headed down to the gym as normal, but today I let her sleep. She needed it. We all deserved it. After my workout was finished, I headed back upstairs for a shower. I was just getting out when I saw a text from her.

Leona: Meet me at the front door. I need your help.

Wynn: Obi said only leave for missions or emergencies. You’re going to get us in trouble.

I waited a moment before I added another message.

Wynn: Be there in five.

Leona sent back a string of hearts that had me smiling.

Leona: Trouble is my middle name. I just need to run an errand.

I grinned, tossing my phone on the bed to pull on a shirt and a pair of pants. By the time I made it to the front door, she was already waiting—her hair pulled back into a ponytail and a mischievous smile on her face.

“I’m not sure leaving the penthouse is such a good idea, darling,” I whispered as I wrapped her hair around my finger. “It’s not safe outside.”

“I know, but a few weeks ago, I told Ciel I would buy him a new gaming mouse.” She practically bounced on her toes. “I want to get it for him. He’s been working so hard, and then with his injury, I want to do something special for him. Thought you might like to come.”

“He’ll appreciate that a lot,” I finally responded before clearing my throat. “But…”

“We already took out the Alacrán. We took out Lucia. Max is licking his wounds,” she reasoned. “It’ll be a quick trip, I promise.”

I looked into her eyes and imagined what Ciel would look like when she gave him that gaming mouse. He’d laugh and joke that he’d lock himself in his room for the rest of the day. He’d press a kiss to her lips in thanks. He’d turn to look at me and give me that gentle, shy smile…

I swallowed. We could be quick and fast. He would love that gift, and it would ease some of the guilt still festering in my chest.

Quickly, I armed myself with two guns, my brass knuckles, and a few extra knives. Just in case.

We quietly slipped out the front door. She pressed the elevator button as I cast a glance in her direction before slipping my hand into hers.

“So, with Ciel,” she started, then stopped. “Are things good?”

Her eyebrow raised. She’d noticed whatever shift was happening between us, hadn’t she? I wanted to ask her…

I’d never thought I’d want someone the way I wanted Leona. Constant. Consuming.

But when Ciel looked at me, I felt that spark. When I watched him slip into that hyper-focus he experienced for his work, or when he twirled his finger through the curls in Leona’s hair, all of it felt different now.

“I think so.”

She tightened her grip on my hand. “Once we give the mouse to him, I want to ride him in his computer chair while you watch from the bed.”

I almost choked, body flaring with heat. “Well, love, you’ve officially got me bought into this plan.”

She laughed as the elevator dinged on the first floor. I followed her out, listening to her chat about how much research she’d done, how she placed a top-of-the-line mouse on hold at the nearest store. It didn’t take us long to walk there. We weren’t that far from the penthouse, and Ciel kept this area on constant surveillance, so if he didn’t see us yet, he’d probably see the feeds later.

Hopefully, she’d given him the mouse by then.

Despite how carefully guarded this area was, I kept my eyes open and my hands near my guns, just in case. The store had just opened, so it was low on people. The employees were normal and indifferent. The pedestrian foot traffic hadn’t yet reached its height. She finished up the transaction, and we walked out of the store. She stared at the box, grinning with pride.

“He’s going to love it,” I said, leaning into her side. “Let’s get home.”

“You could join us both again, Wynn,” she said slyly. That time in the library had been haunting me in the best of ways. Both of them, the three of us. It was perfection. But there was a slightly different meaning to her words—an undercurrent that I didn’t miss.

I pulled her into my side, but didn’t reply.

“If you want.” She looped one arm around my waist while the other swung the bag. She felt so happy . And my chest warmed as I realized I did, too. “No pressure. Just an open invitation.”

I’d never been happier than I felt at that exact moment.

I cleared my throat. “You don’t think Ciel would mind?”

I wanted that. If he did.

“I think Ciel would enjoy that just as much as you would. I think?—”

Her words cut off as a car screeched, mounting the curb in front of us. My training instantly kicked in. I pushed her behind me, skin prickling with danger. My hands closed around my guns, and I didn’t hesitate to fire on the men pouring from the car.

“Run!” I shouted, trying to block her from our attackers with my body. She took off down the sidewalk and back toward the penthouse. Her hands fumbled for her cell phone. The men rushed us, and I took out three of them before sprinting after her. Pedestrians looked on in horror, some frozen in fear, and some running away just as we were. I didn’t have time or desire to protect them. Leona was my priority.

“Wynn!” She screamed when another car almost hit her, blocking her path to escape. More men piled out. No . Too many. There were too many. I only had my two guns, and I’d already used more than half my ammo for cover fire and to take out the first group of assailants.

“Leona!” I fired at two men drawing close to her. They dropped, but two more took their place. One reached for her, blocking my shot, and my eyes went wide as she sank into her training, exactly as I had taught her. Her elbow slammed into one’s chin, dropping him to the ground. She kicked the next, disarming and disabling him. My heart leapt to my throat as I struggled to line up a shot that didn’t have a chance of hitting her.

A blinding white light split through my head.

I collapsed to one knee, my guns flying from my grip.

I blinked, trying to regain focus. Everything was hazy.

“Wynn!” she shouted again. Men grunted and yelled at how she scratched and kicked, but I couldn’t get my arms to work. I couldn’t get my head to focus.

Finally, I stumbled to my feet, pulling my knife from its sheath. I turned on my heel and plunged it into the neck of the man who attacked me. He was dead in an instant.

Where were my guns? It didn’t matter. They had her. Bile coated my throat as they carried her to the back of the car, the trunk open and waiting like the maw of a great beast.

“Leona. Wait.” My words came out garbled. One man turned as I stumbled close. I blocked his punch and drove the blade of my knife into his chest. He fell to his knees.

Another man turned. My fingers curled into my brass knuckles and my brain could hardly keep up as my fist slammed into his throat. There were too many. My movements were too slow. I couldn’t stop the next man’s weapon from rising. From firing. The bullet sank into my stomach.

I fell. My elbows scraped the asphalt. Everything was on fire.

My ears registered her screams cutting short before my eyes could catch up.

No . This couldn’t be happening.

The trunk slammed shut. The men disappeared into the cars. Tires screeched as they sped away.

My fingers braced against the concrete.

She was gone .

“Leona,” I groaned. My blood spilled on the street. “ No. ”

Tears pricked my eyes at the tight feeling in my chest. No, no, no. How could I have let this happen?

No .

With the last ounce of strength I had in my body, I pulled my phone from my pocket. The screen was shattered, but it still worked as I tapped Ciel’s name.

“Wynn?” His voice was thick with sleep.

I could only get two words out. My vision faded.

“ She’s gone. ”

The gaming mouse box lay abandoned in the middle of the street, half out of its bag, splattered in red.