Page 109 of The Silent War

It still left me wondering, if they could have anyone, why me? Why keep circling back to me, when they could have any woman they wanted?

My chest tightened when Luca finally spotted me. He smirked as he slid out of the booth.

For a moment the nerves kept me still. Then I walked towards them. By the time I reached them Luca was out of the booth.

Luca hand rested on my back, as he leaned closer. “I’d kiss you, but too many eyes. Unless you want me to.”

I smiled instead, because if I spoke it would give too much away.

He waited until I was settled before sliding in beside me. And then Bastion mirrored him. Boxing me in. I was in the middle. Exactly where they wanted me.

It shouldn’t make my blood rush as hot as it did.

The restaurant was low-lit, marble polished to a shine, every table haloed by candlelight. A place meant for quiet wealth. A place where smoking wasn’t allowed, which was why Bastion lit his cigarette first thing.

“Busy day, baby?” he asked.

“There’s no smoking in here,” I murmured.

He exhaled smoke anyway. Luca leaned close to my ear. “It’s fine, sweetie. We won’t get in trouble.” His chin tipped toward the far wall. I followed, and saw it. Etched into the marble near the kitchen door.

Obsidian Development Group

Of course it was theirs.

“Couldn’t have someone else owning our girl’s favorite restaurant.” Bastion said, so casually as if what he said was common knowledge.

My throat tightened. Not at the words, but at how easily he saidour. And worse—how I didn’t correct him.

The waiter appeared, laying three glasses of wine, one lighter, mine and then the plates. Exactly what I would have ordered. Except I hadn’t.

“You already ordered for me?” I asked.

Bastion didn’t look even a little sorry. “You hate menus.”

“I hate being controlled.”

“And yet,” Luca said, smirking as he gestured to the food, “we got it right.”

I wanted to be angry. But they weren’t wrong. Itwasperfect. Still, I lifted my fork with a steady hand. “You could’ve let me pretend I had a choice.”

Bastion flicked ash into the tray. “You did. When you said yes to dinner.”

Luca’s hand slid over mine, thumb dragging once across my knuckles, steadying.

“Don’t shake,” he murmured. “You’re allowed to be nervous.”

“I’m not.”

I was. I was incredibly nervous and it was stupid.

Bastion’s low laugh told me he didn’t believe it. “Lying already, baby? We just sat down.”

I took a sip of my drinking, hiding my reaction barely. “So,” I picked my fork up, “What do you even do all day?”

Luca leaned back slightly, as if debating whether to indulge me. “This morning I flagged three security risks in Villain. Two syndicates. After that, I handled logistics for the Obsidian Crown deal. Moved capital through Glasshouse. Laundering updates.”

“That’s…” I shook my head. “I don’t even know what that means.”