Page 63 of Savage Empire

“Couldn’t miss the opportunity to joke, man. My bad.”

“I want a lobotomy.”

“Never given a lobotomy before so I can’t help you with that one. Would you settle for a tattoo? Those I can do.”

Yordan’s interest is piqued. “Really?”

“No tattoos,” I order, voice stern and loud.

Armani waves me off. “I’ve found it’s better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission.”

“Don’t even think about it,Yordan Damyanev Todorov.”

“Ooo, you’re fucked, man. She full-named you.” Armani chuckles. “Why was that kind of hot? Can you do my full name next?”

“Ignore my brother, he has no shame and knows no boundaries,” Elio cuts in, sighing and rubbing a hand down his face. “I’ll escort them upstairs and make sure Armani behaves himself.”

He jumps into action without another word, ushering the two up the stairs like a father handling his unruly sons.

“Well,” I mutter, finding myself alone with Apollo. “That was…something. Are all of your brothers sospirited?”

He lifts a broad shoulder. “Depends on the day.”

I nod, understanding his point. With eight brothers, I can imagine things change on a day to day basis. Maybe even hour to hour.

“Did you get my text with your banking information?”

“I did,” I admit, looking down. “I didn’t know how to reply.”

“Any form of confirmation, perhaps?” He arches a brow. “A thumbs up would have sufficed.”

I almost laugh, shaking my head at his strange suggestion. “A thumbs up seems like a bit of a slap in the face when it’s the response to millions of dollars.”

His head tilts. “And no response isn’t?”

“I was going to talk to you,” I defend, sucking in a breath. “I figured that I would see you today. And here you are, so.”

“Here I am,” he echoes.

I steady myself, gathering every bit of courage I can find. I can thank him properly. I can be slightly vulnerable for a moment, especially after last night. Rounding the counter, I narrow the space between us.

“Don’t read into this,” I warn. Swallowing hard, I ignore the confusion on his face and walk straight into his chest. My arms wrap around his back, and his deep woodsy scent invades my senses. “Thank you, for the money. For everything, I guess. Yordan’s never been happier.”

Apollo freezes, like he isn’t sure whether he should move, or even breathe. For a second, the apartment feels like it’s suspended in time, there isn’t a single sound outside of my own heartbeat swimming in my ears.

“You’re not going soft on me now, are you,micina?”

A laugh bubbles out of me, and I step back, ending the awkward embrace. “Never. You’re still the worst, but you’re also currently the best. I just needed you to know that I won’t forget what you’ve done for us. Even if I still think you’ll eventually tire of taking care of us. I won’t hate you as much when you throw us away now.”

“Rayna?” he asks seriously.

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to kill every single person that has anything to do with how little you value yourself. I’m not going anywhere. I wouldn’t bother mentoring Yordan the way I’ve decided to if I planned to let you both go. I’m invested in you Todorovs, and I don’t abandon my investments.”

The firmness in the way he speaks sends a shiver down my back. “We’ll see,” I reply quietly, swallowing hard.

“We brought Yordan home early for a reason,” he says, changing the topic swiftly. “Your baked goods and messy closet seems to have distracted everyone.”