Page 30 of Savage Empire

He’s unnaturally excited for today, and it makes me feel all kinds of guilty. Yordan is acting like a day being showed around town by Apollo and Elio is fucking Disneyland, and I can’t helpbut feel like he’s been so bored and lost for far too long to garner such a reaction.

“Hey, come in,” I hear him greet, voice chipper and not at all tired.

He probably slept like a baby, feeling safe and anticipating the next morning. He’s far too bright eyed and bushy-tailed to have had a rough night of sleep. But while he was snoozing like a kid on Christmas Eve, I was tossing and turning with trepidation all night.

No matter how comfortable my new bed, blankets, and pillows were, my brain refused to shut off for hours. The events of the past two days kept replaying on a loop,hauntingme.

I don’t know what to feel, so I feel everything all at once. Emotions jumble around, confusing and aggravating me over and over again. I want to scream, cry, smile, and explode.

And it’s all because ofhim.

Dressed impeccably in tailored black, jacketless suit, Apollo strides into the apartment like he owns it—and he does, own it. Wearing an emotionless expression, his lips set into a flat line and his striking blue eyes appear devoid of any feeling.

“You didn’t order anything,” he says, addressing me with that dry tone that makes my heckles rise.

It’s too goddamn early for this.

I glare up at him, wishing I didn’t even glance at him from my seat at the counter. I should have ignored his presence entirely. “Why are you speaking to me?”

“Rayna!” Yordan gasps. “That was rude.”

Elio laughs, having trailed behind Apollo into the kitchen. He appears much more lively than his brother, sporting a smile and sparkling eyes. He’swarmwhere Apollo is frigid.

“He deserved it,” Elio tells Yordan, clapping him softly on the shoulder. “That was a terrible way to greet a lady so early in the morning. Say it with me, brother.Hello, Rayna. How are you?”

“Yordan ordered clothing and necessities as he was asked,” Apollo says, choosing to ignore everyone but me. “Though, he hardly spent enough. You didn’t buy a single thing.”

“Dude, I spent five hundred dollars,” Yordan whispers, looking at Elio. “How much was I supposed to?—”

“Do that ten more times, and he might drop the subject,” Elio advises, cutting him off. I watch my brother’s jaw unhinge. “Don’t worry, I’ll introduce you to Armani today, he’ll teach you how to shop.”

“Rayna,” Apollo says, pulling my attention from them.

“I didn’t have time,” I snap.

He folds his arms in disapproval. “Yordan had time.”

“Yordan didn’t make dinner,” I counter.

“We hadmilinkiand steak,” my brother says, sighing fondly. “Fucking ten out of ten.”

“Milinki?” Elio echos.

“Kinda like pierogi, the way we do it. Pan fried dumplings filled with soft potato and cheese. Rayna’s are thebest.”

I try not to smile, hearing Yordan’s genuine praise. Feeding him after such a rough couple of days, it was the hit of normalcy that I really needed, and having him enjoy it so much only made me feel even better about myself. Milinki is normally baked, and more bread-like. But what isn’t better fried in a pan with some butter?

“You need clothes,” Apollo continues, his voice low and dark. “Order them before we return, or I’ll make Yordan do it for you.”

“Gross,” my brother whines. “I don’t want to pick out my sister’s underthings.”

Elio cackles. “Underthings? Shit, maybe we should swing by the strip club to get you acquainted with all the proper terms.”

“Don’t even think about it,” I demand, seeing Yordan’s eyes light up with mischief. I know Elio is joking, but I don’t need him to get any ideas.

“Just say you’ll order your clothes,” Yordan counters. “I don’t want to be here all day. You said Apollo could burn all his money for all you care, so just spend it. You’re so stubborn.”

“Don’t talk back to your sister,” Apollo scolds, shocking the shit out of me. “Apologize.”