Page 29

Within an hour or two, Luca’s warmth had returned to his body and he’d stopped feeling like an animated icicle. Noe was fast asleep, which was all for the better. The doctor had been right in that sleep was his best healing aid right now.

Luca stepped outside, still with a blanket wrapped around him, and into the next room so he could speak with Sho. He didn’t want to disturb Noe, and this conversation might get loud. From frustration, if nothing else.

Sho wasn’t just standing about but instead spoke with Elsbet. She had a bundle in her arms, which looked like a pillow and pajamas. Why?

Upon spying him, Elsbet immediately cut herself off and demanded of him, “How’s Noe?”

“Sound asleep and much warmer, thankfully. What do you have there?”

“His pillow, glasses, and pajamas. In his shoes, I’d want my pillow. He had spare glasses in his chest, fortunately.”

Luca couldn’t refute the logic, as she was right. If he was stuck in the hospital, he’d want his own pillow too. “I’ll swap it out for the one he’s using once he awakens. Thanks, El.”

“I’m here to help, whatever you need. Ren told me all about what happened.”

Ren, was it? Luca wasn’t surprised in the slightest that the two chatterboxes had already made friends.

Elsbet looked furious, her eyes snapping with anger. “I can’t believe this all happened because Noe’s stupid brother couldn’t keep his damn mouth shut. Let me know if you need help burying the body.”

“Sadly, I’m told I can’t kill him.”

“Booo.”

“I feel the same way about it.”

“Almost couldn’t pull you off of him.” Sho explained to her as an aside, “He had Petar by the throat and was strangling him before I could pull O’ Broín off again. Here he is, half frozen, and I still needed help. The cold fatigue should have given me an edge, but it didn’t. He’s stupid strong when enraged.”

“Oh, I could have told you that.” Elsbet grinned at Luca in delight. “Awww, you’re going to be such an overprotective hubby.”

Luca thought about denying that, but it was true, so why should he?

Sho smiled in the same way for some reason. “When you first told me about the engagement, I worried you were with him just because you two were compatible and had the same goals in mind. Now, my concerns are at rest. You clearly do love him.”

Well, of course he did. Noe was incredibly dear to him. He’d not marry the man otherwise. He was the dearest friend and his lover—it was only natural, wasn’t it?

“Aww, look at that smile.” Elsbet leaned in to poke him in the shoulder. “I’m still jealous, mind you. I want my own cute husband.”

“As I said before, we’ll introduce you to people,” he promised her. “For now, though, a bit of business. Sho, update me. Is Petar leaving tonight or tomorrow?”

“He’ll be on a boat by tonight,” Sho promised, his smile feral. “I gave him no option. Ewan’s escorting him to the ryokan so he can pack. I’ll sit and write a formal report about how badly he screwed up before he leaves and send it along on the same boat so he can’t try and downplay any of this.”

“Good.”

“Also, I’ll take over your duties while you’re recovering. Arman’s already in charge of the worksite, but he asked for updates. As did Giric, who’s quite mad he’s in charge and can’t check on his friend.”

“Did Brahms actually ask or give you that quirk of the brow thing he does?”

“Well, more the latter.” Sho rolled his eyes but also grinned. “My husband never changes. I’m assuming even after you’re fine, you won’t leave Noe’s side until he’s back on his feet?”

“You assume correctly.”

“Then I’ll direct any work I can’t handle to your room at the ryokan. I think I can handle most of it, though.”

“Watanabe-san will know where things are if you need more assistance.”

“I likely will.” Sho’s expression turned shrewd. “I think an account from you as well will be beneficial. You know more of why Petar acted up and what he was trying to accomplish. If Noe wakes up before the ship sets sail, I’d like to include his account as well.”

“Smart. I’ll write something up.”

“I’ll leave you to it for now. Call if you need me. In fact, I’ll send a runner up here shortly to wait on you so you don’t have to worry about getting your report to me.” Sho gave an elaborate bow to Elsbet. “Lady El, a pleasure.”

She returned the gesture in kind, teasing right back. “Warden Brahms, likewise. Do let us meet again to gossip.”

“I would like nothing better.”

Definitely two peas in a pod. Luca rolled his eyes and went to the nurse’s desk to borrow pen and paper, leaving them to play.

The narrow patient beds didn’t let him sit next to Noe like he wanted to, so he returned to his chair next to the bed. Balancing the clipboard on his knee, he wrote out a very detailed report of everything that had happened since Petar’s arrival. Listed out like this, Luca gained a whole new perspective of how heinous this situation had been. How much, day-to-day, he’d navigated around and put up with when he really shouldn’t have.

He’d swallowed too much in an effort to not upset Noe any further. Luca looked at his list—a full three pages of transgressions—and swore to himself to do better. The next time someone spoke to Noe like this, family or not, Luca would punch them straight out. Regardless of Noe’s peacekeeping wishes.

The time for tolerance was well past. Tolerating something didn’t ever help the situation. It just let the abuser think they could get by with it and emboldened them. Luca had learned from this mistake. Never again.

Listing everything out also broke his heart even further, for two reasons. First, he was sure Noe could add to the list, as he likely hadn’t told Luca everything. He was still in the habit of handling everything himself. Second, no one should be subjected to this kind of verbal and emotional abuse. Petar wasn’t even sorry. Oh, he was sorry Noe was hurt and he was the direct cause of it. Luca believed that much. But he wasn’t sorry for believing his brother was nasty and unnatural. He wasn’t sorry for threatening and abusing his brother constantly. Without a doubt, Petar hadn’t learned anything from this. He likely never would.

Luca was proud of Noe for finally standing his ground and saying enough was enough. It also worried him that it had taken this catastrophic event to push Noe to that point. His fiancé was too nice for his own good.

Luca suspected Noe’s breaking point wasn’t even about his own safety. He’d realized Luca would endanger himself to safeguard Noe, and it was that which had pushed Noe the final step. Luca didn’t know everything about Noe, far from it, but he did understand his lover enough. Noe would protect his own, above all else.

Luca would need to have a serious talk with his man after Noe felt better. No more tolerating the bigots. Neither of them deserved that negativity.

Luca wrapped up the report with the strongest possible language, urging that Petar be punished for gross negligence on the job, if nothing else. What he’d done was criminally stupid, so Luca had high hopes someone would probably punish the idiot.

Then he signed it and set it aside. Nothing else he could do for now.

Luca’s eyes drifted to Noe. Gods, seeing him sail through the air and hit the water had terrified Luca. It was a miracle, all told, Noe hadn’t been hurt worse. If he’d hit a chunk of ice at that speed... Luca had seen men die after they’d been thrown off a ship into an icy sea.

Luca’s hand went to Noe’s forehead first, then his cheek, checking his temperature. He was definitely warmer, but Luca felt he was a bit cold still. He took the blanket he’d been using and draped it over his fiancé. He didn’t want Noe chilled.

His mouth looked pinched with pain even in his sleep. Having bruised ribs in the past, Luca had a good idea of how painful the healing process would be for Noe. If Luca could switch places, take the pain from him, he’d do it in a heartbeat. Luca never wanted him hurt like this again.

Maybe he should arrange for Petar to be thrown overboard on the way to Scovia. The right amount of money would take care of it.

Then he sighed again. Sho would likely anticipate such a move and head it off. The former general had been their main strategist in the war for a reason. He knew people, how they reacted, and knew how to plan ahead.

Dammit.

His eyes went to Noe once more. Sho’s observation truly had hit home. In love with Noe? Luca wasn’t sure of that.

He’d always liked Noe, respected him. It was why he’d asked to date to begin with. Of course, part of the selling point in their relationship was their very surprising but gratifying sexual chemistry. Luca hadn’t anticipated that going in. He’d been as surprised and pleased as Noe that they were compatible in that way.

Really, their relationship had started because Noe hit almost every bullet point on Luca’s checklist. It had been enough. Luca had felt gratified he’d found a man to raise a family with, whom he could trust, and didn’t look any deeper than that.

Today showcased his feelings had grown deeper, much deeper, than he’d realized. Sho was right in that he normally had a very even temper. Him flying off the handle showed he didn’t just like Noe. Such a tepid emotion couldn’t be ascribed to how he felt. Luca had reacted like one of his own had been hurt.

He didn’t know if he was in love with Noe, per se, but he clearly did love his fiancé deeply. Loved him the way you would love family. Nothing short of that emotion would have elicited such a strong response. Even now, Luca sat here contemplating murder on his lover’s behalf, which said a lot.

Perhaps he’d fall for Noe romantically in the future, perhaps not, but the love he already had for the man was there. Frankly, he didn’t know if he was capable of romantic love. But did it matter, in the end? When Luca had first told the Brahmses about his insane plan, Sho had told him that he wanted a loving, healthy relationship for Luca. He felt he had that, as he cared for Noe deeply.

And that was more than enough.