Page 40 of Savage Empire

“Never thought I could entertain him for this long with such a simple activity,” Leon says, eyes bright with fatherly joy. “He’s obsessed with it.”

“Oh, Rayna is good at stuff like that,” Yordan tells my brother proudly. “We didn’t have any real toys a lot of the time when I was young, so she made due with stuff around the house. Bags filled with water and beads, pasta bracelets, homemade slime and Oobleck.”

“Pasta bracelets that you tried to cook and eat,” Rayna replies, scrunching her nose. “You tried to eat everything actually, homemade slime included.”

“It looked like a blue slushie,” Yordan defends. “That one was really your fault. You can’t give me something so delicious looking and not expect me to try and take a bite.”

Rayna laughs, and the sound reminds me just how ludicrous this situation is. I bring Yordan home to find my brother and his sister far too close.Domesticallyclose.

“Why are you here?” I repeat, eyes never leaving Leon.

He opens his mouth to reply, but Rayna doesn’t let him.

“Why are you asking people why they’re in my house?” Her voice is like venom, burning with a lethal drawl. “You said this was our space, did you lie?”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Rayna. This has nothing to do with you. I’m asking why he isn’t back at his house, with hiswife, where he should be,” I say tersely. “I don’t give a fuck that he’s inyour place, I want to know as his brother why he’s neglecting his responsibilities.”

By my side, Yordan winces, taking a step back. He’s going to have to get used to witnessing conflict without reacting. Another note for later.

“Our Capo knows I’m here,” Leon tells me, leveling me with an assessing look. “I didn’t want to chuck Leo back in the car for such a long ride so soon. He had shots today, thanks for asking.”

“His medical status doesn’t explain why you’rehere.”

“I thought you didn’t care that he washere,” Rayna challenges, her face hard like she’s holding back. She can’t chew me out while holding a child, or at least, I don’t think she will.

Leon lets out an impatient sigh. “We stopped in to see how Rayna was settling, not that it’s any of your business. And watch your language around my child, he’s a sponge.”

Rapid knocking on the door cuts through the air, interrupting our tense moment swiftly.

“That’s Elio,” Yordan says, sounding relieved for an excuse to leave. “I’ll let him in.”

“E-yo?” Leo asks, looking up at Rayna with hopeful eyes.

“Did you hear your uncle Elio’s name?” she asks the small boy, smiling down at him. “Should we get him with shaving cream when he comes in?”

Leo’s eyebrows dip down, trying to digest her question. He peeks over at his father, silently asking for help. Leon translates Rayna’s words into effortless Italian, and Leo giggles, nodding.

Endless questions burn in the back of my mind, frustrating me to no end. Why are they so comfortable around each other? Why does Leo look at her like she’s family? Why is Leon so content to allow her to bond with his son? Why did Dad sign off on Leon stopping by here?

Why is Rayna Todorov of all people able to get under my skin so fucking easily?

Elio and Yordan return within a few short moments, but it’s enough time for Rayna and Leo to plan. Covering his tiny hands shaving cream, Leo waits patiently for Rayna’s cue to strike.

“Your nephew wishes to say hello,” she tells Elio by way of greeting.

“E-yo!” he cheers, grinning at his uncle.

Smiling in return, Elio moves around Rayna’s side and leans down to eye-level.“Bello vederti, nipote.”

“Salve, E-yo!”Leo squeals, lunging forward to smear his hands over Elio’s cheeks. He laughs uncontrollably, bursting with giggles as he sees his uncle react.

“Mio Dio, Leo,” Elio chuckles, shaking his head. He finds Rayna trying to smother her own laughter and huffs. “I’ll remember this, you two.”

“So will I,” Leon says smugly, holding up his phone. Spinning the screen, he shows off his prized picture proof.

“Betrayed by my own flesh and blood,” Elio jokes, tsking.

“Daddy, all done,” Leo says suddenly, holding up his messy hands.