Page 165 of Savage Empire

I don’t care that he’s changing the topic back, I’m desperate for his advice. I need something to make her recognize what’s happening between us. Something to show her that we’ve grown past a marriage deal and reluctant friendship.

“Do go on,” I encourage, greedy for information.

“I’ll let you in on a little secret,” Yordan says, grinning. “Raynalovescats. Kittens especially, but cats in general too. Older ones, younger ones, fluffy ones, feral ones…She’s wanted one of her own since she was a kid.” He sighs sadly. “She’s never allowed herself to adopt one because she didn’t want to risk it being hurt by all of the awful fucking people around us. But yeah, get her a cat or two, and she’ll probably love you forever.”

Sweet fucking irony.

“Are you seriously telling me that I’ve been calling hermicinafor months as a cheeky little jab at her being like a feral cat, and that’s what she wants more than anything? A fuckingmicinaof her own?”

“Well, that’s either ironic or destiny,” Yordan says, amused. “But yeah, a cat or two would probably go a long way in winning her over. I don’t think you need to be too worried though, she likes you enough to have let you marry her. She’s planning to give you a kid, man.”

“Given that you’ve just told me that you’re a sexually active teen, I’m sure you know that there’s a difference between physical and emotional intimacy. Rayna is still guarded when itcomes to opening up to me. She’d rather be naked in front of me than tell me how she feels.”

“Okay,ew,” he objects, face pulled into a dramatic grimace. “I did not need the gory details. Thank you for the nightmares.”

“That’s for attempting to extort me.”

“Lesson learned,” he grumbles. “But you’re still going to help me get some alone time soon, right? I was serious about that.”

“We’ll see.”

Fuck my life, I can’t tell him no.

Chapter Forty-Four

Apollo

Two Months Later

Matteo looks like he’s losing his mind. My youngest brother is typically full of jokes, sarcastic grins, and boyish charm. But now? He’s almost unrecognizable. He’s twitchy, and disheveled, dragging a hand through his messy head of hair like he might pull some of it out.

I’m packing up the rest of my office, getting ready to officially move into my new home with Rayna. But I keep catching sight of my brother, pacing up and down the hallway near our father’s office. As if wandering around outside the door will magically make our old man appear.

“Are you having some kind of breakdown?” I finally ask, calling out through my open door.

“Fuck you,” he huffs, one hand dragging down his face as the other clutches his phone close. “Where’s Dad?”

“Out.” I narrow my gaze, analyzing his concerning body language.

“Goddamnit.” Matteo frantically types something on his screen. “Out where? When is he coming back?”

“He went to see Emilio,” I tell him blandly. “Is there a reason you look like you’re going to pass out, or break your phone from holding it so tight?”

He starts to pace again, eyes so fixated on his cell that I think he might burn a hole into the device. “Like you give a shit.”

Internally, I wince. Matteo and I have our bickering. But he should know if he needs something, I’m never going to turn him away. He should know I’ll always be there for him, I practically fucking raised him.

“Spare me the dramatics,” I snap tightly. “Tell me what has got you so worked up. If Dad can help you, clearly I can as well. So, what is it? You’re stressing me the fuck out with all your pacing.”

His blue eyes snap to mine, trying to gauge the seriousness of my claim. He must reluctantly trust what he finds, because he blows out breath and begins to explain himself.

“Anya has gone radio silent.”

Baffled by his clipped explanation, I ask, “You’re working a dent into the floor because your little friend isn’t texting you back?”

“You’re a fucking prick,” he spits, fists clenching. “I knew you wouldn’t be helpful.” He turns to flee down the stairs and I stop him with a groan.

Give me strength.