Page 148 of Savage Empire

“You find his precaution regarding your allergy ridiculous?” I take a measured sip of my drink, watching her closely.

“It’s not even severe, and he’s made a huge deal out of it,” she grumbles, folding her arms with a huff. “There are like ten EpiPens stationed around this house now.”

“You say it’s not severe, but what happens when you eat it?”

“First of all, Kiwi is like one of the easiest allergens to avoid,” she tells me, sounding like she’s gone on this rant before. “Andsecond, all that happens is my mouth gets all tingly and swollen and sometimes I get hives. It was bad when I was a kid, but I came into contact with it a few years ago and I was fine after taking a Benadryl.”

I find that I’m not able to disguise my surprise, nor my incredulous amusement. “You sound like one of my guys who insists he’s fine while he’s got an open wound.”

Her jaw drops open. “What?”

“Rayna, I’m certainly not an allergy expert or medical professional, but I’m quite certain that your allergyisclassified as severe. If your mouth swells, your throat can as well. If you have hives in the emergency room, whether you can breathe or not, they’re going to give you epinephrine.”

It appears I’ve struck her speechless.

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to side with my dramatic son, on this one,” I add, offering a smile. “He has quite the habit of being right, I’m afraid. My boys are all uniquely logical, most of the time. Apollo, Leon, and Cassio most of all.”

“How inconvenient,” she huffs with a hint of a smile. “Speaking of your sons…” Her eyebrows draw in, contemplation swarming her expression.

“Yes?”

She exhales, deciding how to proceed. “Apollo hasn’t mentioned Emilio at all since, well, you know when. He should be invited to the wedding, shouldn’t he? I doubt Melani will want to come, but they’re brothers…”

I’m once again reassured that Apollo has picked a good woman to make his wife. To be able to put aside one’s anger for the benefit of their partner, it is a rare and commendable quality.

“Emilio will come,” I assure her. “I believe you are correct, that Melani will not make an appearance. But she won’t keep my son from attending, she wouldn’t dream of it. Family disputes aren’t unheard of in our history. This will pass, and more willcome, I’m sure. But Morettis remain together through it all. Emilio and Apollo know that.”

“I hope so,” she admits quietly. “I wouldn’t want to be responsible for pulling them apart.”

“They’re responsible for their own actions,” I say sternly. “You may have prompted the rift, but their own stubbornness is the only thing keeping them from having a discussion and mending it. They are grown men, and eventually, they will act like it.”

“You sound so sure.”

“I am sure. I raised them right.”

Rayna’s lips spread, a genuine smile growing. “How have you—” She cuts herself off, shaking her head as her cheeks go pink. “Never mind.”

“No, no,” I tsk, sitting up straight. “Now I have to know. What were you going to ask?”

I watch her throat bob in a gulp. “It was an entirely inappropriate question.”

“My favorite,” I say, encouraging her with a nod. “Ask me.”

“Just, the way you carry yourself and the way you talk about your kids. I was going to ask how you haven’t been remarried. Women love that sort of thing. The confident, protective dad thing. Not to mention the money, and you know, your whole family got their looks from somewhere.”

My eyebrows shoot up, surprised she was brave enough to get all of that out. It’s not everyday that someone is able to flatter me to my face.

“See!” she exclaims, burying her face in her hands. “Now it seems like I was hitting on you. I just meant?—”

“I know what you meant.” I chuckle, cutting into her protesting. “I haven’t remarried as my first marriage was…well, a disaster. I would have done it again ten times over to get my children, but my wife had no love for me. A lot of the time, Ithink she hated me. She wanted the kids as much as I did, even if she couldn’t always show it once they were born. When she passed, I had to put them first, and I haven’t stopped since.”

“They’re all grown up now,” Rayna says softly. “You could find someone now, you know? If you’re ready, I mean.”

“Perhaps,” I muse. “Perhaps I’m waiting for someone who isn’t ready.”

Her head tilts, interest sparking in her eyes. But there’s nothing left to tell, not yet at least. I polish off my drink and stand from the table, feeling pleased. I’m glad to have had this bit of time to get to know Rayna better. I feel certain that she’ll make a good addition to my family.

“Sleep well,nuora.”