Page 76 of City of Wind and Lies

"Of what? What happened, Wren?" he asks, concern etched into his features.

"Of losing you."

The thin line his lips are creased in eases, the corners lifting in the slightest as his eyes lighten. "What makes you think I'm going anywhere?"

"I don't know," I shrug. "Don't people like you get gunned down in the streets over the simplest of things?"

"This isn't a movie, Passerotta." His smile widens for a moment before it falters. "But I won't placate you and tell you there aren’t risks."

"What about me?" My voice comes out meeker than I intend for it to.

Bowie grips my chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting it up. His hazel eyes darken as they search mine and his voice rumbles, "I always protect what's mine."

Maybe I'm naïve or just plain ignorant, but the conviction in his words and the sincerity in his touch is enough for me in this moment.

His lips press against mine in a tender kiss as his fingers intertwine with my own, tugging me to walk with him toward the kitchen.

"Sounds like you two made up," Rocco muses, folding the newspaper in half and laying it on the counter when we enter.

Heat licks up my spine as I wonder just how much he heard. I was anything but quiet in the shower.

Steeling his gaze, Bowie flicks on the electric kettle and turns to Rocco. "Ever heard of knocking, cousin?"

"You said come for breakfast," he replies smoothly, his eyes darting to me as his fingers toy with the gold chain around his neck. "I didn't know you had company."

I place my hand on Bowie's bicep and offer Rocco an apologetic grin. "That's my bad. I didn't tell him I was coming over or staying the night."

Bowie's head snaps toward me. "Never apologize for coming home to me."

My stomach swoops. This man somehow always knows how to hit me in the damn feels.

Turning back toward his cousin, he speaks again in a more relaxed tone. "Time got away from me this morning."

Rocco arches a brow, a playful smirk painting his face as he raises his mug of coffee to his lips.

"I need to go into the office with Wren," Bowie mumbles as he swipes his phone open, studying it for a moment. "What about lunch or this afternoon?"

"Lunch is fine," Rocco nods. "I'll do my rounds, then swing by."

Pushing to his feet, he rounds the counter, clamping a hand on Bowie's shoulder before pausing next to me as I make my cup of tea. "Glad to have you here, Wren."

Warmth blooms in my chest as I smile back at him. “Thanks, Rocco.”

The drive to the office is only ten minutes, depending on the traffic, but all week, I've been using that little block of time to talk with Bowie in an attempt to better understand his lifestyle. I love hearing the pride in his voice as he talks about his upbringing and the empire he's built. Now that I've had some time to really wrap my mind around his position, it's easier to see where he's coming from. As Drea said, it's not just black and white. I've come to care for this man. I've met his monsters, and if living in the gray is what it takes to be with Bowie, I’ll take all fifty shades of it.

When we walked in on Monday, Cami was all bright smiles when she greeted us. And as the week went on, we quickly fell back into our usual lunches or coffee breaks together. I don't think Cami noticed, but her brother Dallas was always lurking nearby. That was one of the few 'conditions' Bowie had for me; a bodyguard. Apparently, it’s pretty standard issue for women involved with men in positions of power in La Famiglia, and Dallas had volunteered for the position after bringing me home. Even though he's only with me when Bowie can't be, I kinda like spending more time with him. It allows me to grill him about his intentions with my bestie.

We had a meeting with HR on Wednesday, and if Morgan had any qualms about the CEO dating and impregnating his direct report, she didn't let her face show it. We signed all of the consent forms, but we haven't made it public knowledge to the others at the company. Bowie didn't feel right about telling the 'strangers he pays' before telling his parents. So on Sunday, we'll go to a family dinner at their house out in Northbrook and tell them. He's assured me time and time again that they are going to be beside themselves with joy, but the thought of meeting his family still makes my stomach churn.

Luckily, I still have a couple of days to prepare myself for that.

"Knock, knock," Cami sing-songs as she raps her knuckles against my door frame.

Looking up from my laptop, I find her holding out a paper cup from the coffee cart in the downstairs lobby. "Thought you might like an afternoon pick me up."

"You are a damn angel, Cami," I coo, opening and closing my hands in a 'gimme' motion.

She smiles, stepping closer and handing me the Chai Latte. I take a greedy sip, relaxing back into my chair with a small sigh. "It's been a week."

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