Page 177 of Savage Empire

“Pepper steak,” I respond as she tears open her box of chicken. She dunks the first piece into her sauce and pops it into her mouth while closing her eyes to bask in the first taste.

“Oh my Goooood,” she moans, taking another bite and chewing slowly until she swallows. “This is the juiciest, crispiest, freshest sweet and sour chicken I’ve had in my whole life. I’ve had less euphoric drunk munchies than this. Just…holy shit. I’m so fucking happy.”

Dipping another fried bit of chicken into her tub of bright red sauce, she opens her mouth with lidded eyes, tossing the whole piece inside. “I could eat this chicken off your abs and die happy, Apollo. Seriously, is this some kind of exclusive Chinese restaurant that only rich people have access to? Because I’ve never had chicken this good. I want to absorb it into my bloodstream. Get me an IV of this chicken.”

“I’d prefer to keep fried food off of my bare stomach, thank you,” I say with a chuckle. “And no, the restaurant isn’t exclusive, or expensive. That container and the sauce was eight dollars.”

“Eight dollars?” She gulps down her next bite. “They can have all my dollars. I’m going to eat this entire thing. And all the soft fries. God, remind me to do something sexy for you for picking out all the best fries.”

“I will. But promise to tell me the next time you have a craving,micina.”

“I’ll have to now,” she agrees, nodding happily. “I know that you exceed expectations and I won’t be able to resist.”

“Good,” I rumble.

Taking care of her is my favorite thing to do.

Her, and our baby.

Rayna

I’m still full of chicken and fries when it’s time to get ready for bed. I’m almost overwhelmed with how warm and happy, and in love, I am—a feeling that truly can’t be beat. Going into the bathroom to start talking off my makeup, my phone rings before I get my hands wet.

I frown, hearing it buzz and chime. Unplanned calls are few and far between for me. Typically if I’m answering the phone, it’s after texting with Sienna or Jade. We almost always give each other a heads up before going in for a phone call.

Grabbing the device and looking down at my screen, my confusion only grows.

Unknown caller.

I have the instinct to let it ring, and go to voicemail. But it could be Yordan or even Sienna. My brother is supposed to be out doing some nighttime training thing with night vision tech with Javi and Elio. But maybe he’s using one of their burner phones?

Unease has me hesitating, but eventually, I pick up. “Hello?”

“Rayna Todorov,” a deep and chilling voice crackles over the line. “You didn’t think we would forget about you, did you?”

An eerie understanding crawls up the back of my neck, and my throat tightens as my heart begins to race. I don’t recognize the voice directly, but it sounds familiar, andangry.

Something is wrong, really wrong.

“That’s not my name anymore,” I reply stiffly. “How did you get this number?”

“Yes, how silly of me. I forgot that you go through last names like a dog goes through bones.” He laughs bitterly. “I think a better question is, how did I get my hands on that brother of yours? The Morettis have done such a good job of keeping you two locked away, but there’s always a flaw to exploit if you wait long enough.

My stomach churns and burns, horror flooding me.

“You’re lying! Who the hell is this?”

“I think a brother for a brother is poetic, don’t you?”

Oh no.

Oh no, no, no, no.

“Luis,” I say, voice barely above a whisper.

Federico’s brother. His family was told not to retaliate by Abramo, their leader. But I should have known they wouldn’t take his death lying down.

“You always were smarter than you looked,” he growls, confirming my suspicion. “It’s that conniving little brain of yours that got you hitched to the fucking heir of The Outfit. But it’s not going to be enough to save your precious little brother. Not unless you doeverythingI say, to the letter.”