Page 120 of Romancing His Heart

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“They’re moving Vic again.”Lifting my head, I see Luca drop into the chair opposite my desk. The guy looks like shit, and I feel a pang of guilt. “There was another attempt on his life this morning. Mikhailov doesn’t like being backed into a corner, and he’s clapping back hard.”

My mind strays as I stare at Luca.

“Earth to Loki. Where’d you go?” He waves his hand in front of my face, and I’m pulled back to the present.

“Did you have anyone growing up?”

Luca cocks his head to the side and leans back in his chair. “What do you mean?”

“I had my parents, Claire, my friends. Did you have anyone?”

He turns his gaze to the window, lost in thought. It’s a while before he speaks, and when he does, I hear the strain in his voice. “There was a cook who was nice to me for a long time. When I was eight or nine, she stopped coming to work. I never got the full story, but I was told the boys had found out and had her dealt with. When this is all over, that’s one of the wrongs I need to right.”

“That wasn’t your fault.”

“I know that, but I need to know what happened to her and then do what I can. She was the only one to show me kindness until I met Nadja. In school, I tried to make friends, but as soon as our brothers found out … well, let’s just say they made sure everyone stayed away from me.”

“That’s a lonely life.” I’m not sure what I would have done without my friends.

“We’re all handed different lots in life, Loki. That was mine. I won’t let it dictate my future, though.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t know this sooner. I would have—”

“You would have what? Don’t go feeling sorry for me. You may have had family and friends, but I know your life was no picnic. You’ve existed on the fringes of life to protect those you love. I’m willing to bet that’s been lonely, too.”

“I didn’t realize it until Sloane, but yeah, my life has never really been my own.”

“I think it’s time we change that, for the both of us.” The conviction in his voice breaks down the last of my walls I was holding onto with him. We’re both trying to right the wrongs of our father, and we’ll get there faster together.

“You don’t look like you’ve been sleeping,” I note.

Luca rubs a hand over his face with a sigh. “No, it’s been a struggle. Nadja is due in four weeks. I’m a fucking mess knowing I’ll miss the birth of my son.”

“It’s a boy?” I ask, surprised. I can’t believe I never asked him this.

Lifting his head, I’m met with the beaming smile of a proud father to be. “Yeah, Nadja found out a couple of weeks ago. The little guy had been hiding at all the previous ultrasounds. Um, I-I don’t think I ever thanked you, Loki, for getting her to Claire. She said Claire has been amazing, almost like a mother. It’s something Nadja has never had, and it’s made a stressful pregnancy so much easier.”

“Claire is amazing,” I admit. “She told me Nadja is a lovely person.”

“Nadja is fucking amazing. The kindest, most loving woman I’ve ever met. How she came from such evil is beyond me.”

“That can probably be said about us, too, you know?”

Luca’s cynical laughter fills the air. “Touché, brother. Touché. Can I ask you something, though?”

“Shoot.”

“Who is Claire, really? A nanny wouldn’t know how to go into hiding on a second’s notice. She also wouldn’t have the knowledge or skill set to protect Nadja like she is.”

I smirk because I’ve been waiting for this question. “I can’t believe it’s taken you this long to ask.”

“In all fairness, I think we’ve both been walking on eggshells around each other. Trust doesn’t come easy for either of us, so I didn’t want to rock the boat. As hard as it was, I knew your track record. I’ve watched your career, and I had to trust that you’d do right by Nadja, even if you were unsure about me.”

“Fair enough. Claire was my nanny growing up, but she was a Navy SEAL before that. My parents knew there was always a possibility that Black would come after me. They wanted me protected at all times, so they paid Claire well to make sure that happened. After they died, I kept her on the payroll. Living the way I have, I never knew if or when I’d need a backup plan. She had the skill set and a protective soft spot for me, so it just made sense.”

“I knew it had to be something like that. You know, in all the times I looked you up, she never showed in any searches. Not even when I used FBI resources.”