Page 42 of Savage Empire

“Chemistry is chemistry,” Elio replies, shrugging him off.

Yordan’s face twists, lips pursing in distaste. “So, you’d cheat on your wife if you had chemistry with someone else?”

“No, but I wouldn’t marry someone who’s as indifferent to me as Cleo is to Leon. The man probably has balls bluer than his eyes.”

I have to ignore them, choosing to pick up Leon’s discarded hand towel and making quick work of cleaning the counter. Ithrow the cookie cutters into the sink, rinsing out the towel in the process. Wiping the cool stone counter top once more, I make sure that the surface doesn’t become sticky with any residue.

Yordan and Elio are still politely bickering about marriage, chemistry, and the possibility of affairs when I’ve finished. Footsteps approach, along with the sound of paper swishing.

“Yordan, can you help me grab these—” Rayna stops, dropping the shopping bags in her hands. Her eyes flicker from the counter to her brother. “Did you clean up?”

“Yes,” I answer for him. “He did.”

“Great manners, this kid,” Elio agrees, picking up on my firmness.

Yordan looks contemplative, like he doesn’t want to lie to his sister, even if it’s a small fib. “You finally bought clothes?”

Rayna huffs. “Sort of, can you help me grab the bags? There’s a million of them by the door.”

“I gotchu.” Yordan salutes, sliding past her to do as she asked.

“How do yousort ofshop for clothes?” Elio wonders.

“Leon gave Armani access to my app,” Rayna says, hiding a smirk. “He seems to have gone entirely overboard, but Apollo can yell athimif the bill is ridiculous. We’ll see if anything fits.”

“Oh, if Armani did this, everything will be perfect,” Elio assures her. “He has fashion superpowers.”

“I didn’t even blink at the bill.”

Rayna startles at the sound of my voice, like she’d forgotten I was even still here. I was notified with every charge as the purchases were made, and I’d assumed she went on a splurge to try and punish me for pestering her. The number didn’t frustrate me, but the fact that Armani had to do the task for her does.

“Well, good for you I guess.”

“Oof,” Yordan grunts, dropping a bundle of bags onto the couch a few feet from us. “This bag full of shampoo and soaps and shit is heavy as fuck. How many products does one need?”

Rayna shrugs. “Don’t ask me, I haven’t even looked at what’s in there. Do some more push ups if it’s too much for you.”

“You calling me skinny?”

“Yes.”

Yordan doesn’t pretend to be offended, he grins like she’s fallen for his trap. “Better fatten me up with dinner, then.” Turning to us, he adds, “You guys staying?”

“Are we invited?” Elio chuckles. “Your sister looks like she hates that idea, buddy.”

“No,” Rayna grits, trying to restrain her reaction. “You’re both welcome to stay and eat. It’ll be a couple of hours?—”

“That’s fine,” Yordan says excitedly. “We’re going to plant weapons around the house anyway, it might take awhile.”

“You’re going towhat?”

I chuckle at the intensity of her reaction. “You know how to handle a gun, don’t you, Rayna?”

Her lip curls up. “Why don’t you put one in my hand and find out?”

Tempting.

Chapter Thirteen