Page 7 of Love Him Like Water

“Yeah yeah yeah,” he said, shaking his head. “You want me to go get some food? Been a long-ass day.”

“Yeah,” I said, nodding, then watching him walk off before turning back to the SUV to notice Lore hadn’t even climbed out of the car yet.

With a sigh, I walked toward the car, pulling open the door.

“Come on, mouse,” I said, waiting for her to climb out before leading her into the building.

The silence on the way up was painful.

I had no fucking idea what to say to this woman who would now be in my apartment all the time.

Women tended to fall into two categories for me.

Ones I wanted to fuck, so I charmed them.

And the ones I worked with—being the only crime family I knew of in the entire United States that allowed female capos—in which case, I talked to them about work shit.

Lore fell into an in-between that I didn’t know how to navigate.

A woman who would be an intimate part of my life, but one I didn’t need to flirt with. We were already married.

And she sure as shit was nothing like the female capos in my organization. Women with ice in their veins and venom on their lips. I damn sure couldn’t talk to Lore the way I’d speak to them.

So I said nothing as we moved into the apartment, making a beeline for the bar, in desperate need of a drink. Or ten.

It had been a stressful fucking day.

I heard the quiet click of Lore’s heels, stopping just a few feet inside of the door. Likely having no goddamn idea what to do, where to go.

A fish out of water.

I was saved, though, by the door opening behind her, making her gasp, before Elian called out in his usual, rough voice, “I’m here, boss.”

I nodded at that as I lifted my glass, and threw back the liquid fire.

Refilled.

And threw that back as well.

By the time I filled the third glass, I could hear Elian speaking to Lore.

Ever my right-hand man.

I knew he had this shit covered.

So I walked through the apartment, and closed myself in my office, needing a moment of peace and quiet to get my thoughts together.

By the time I emerged, Lore was gone.

And the apartment was full of my men, food, booze, and music.

A wedding party, it seemed.

Minus the bride.

Who never reemerged.

I tried to tell myself that was probably for the best.

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