Page 44 of Psycho Saviors

"I've never seen food like this before," I admitted, my voice tinged with awe. "It's like edible art."

Julian raised an eyebrow. "That's precisely the point. These chefs are artists in their own right."

"I wanted to treat you, kitten, show you something you've never seen before, I imagine," Cristian said, her mouth curling at the edge, taking delight in my innocence. "We'll share them all before the main course. Then there's dessert as well."

I nodded, reaching for my fork with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty as the brothers did the same. The waiter rolled the cart away, and I took my first bite of the liquid-filled sphere, and my eyes widened in surprise as it burst in my mouth. The rich, earthy flavor of truffle flooded my senses, accompanied by the delicate consommé, whatever that was. It was unlike anything I'd ever tasted before.

"Oh, wow," I murmured, savoring the complex flavors.

Cristian chuckled, clearly pleased by my reaction. "Try this one next," he said, spearing a piece of the hamachi crudo and holding it out to me.

I hesitated for a moment, frowning slightly at the gesture. It felt oddly intimate, and I wasn't sure how to react to this sudden show of kindness from him. But the aroma wafting from the morsel was too tempting to resist, and I leaned forward, accepting the offering.

The delicate fish melted on my tongue, its subtle flavor enhanced by the bright citrus notes of the yuzu foam. The tobiko added a delightful pop of texture and brininess.

"It's incredible," I admitted, unable to hide my amazement.

We made our way through the appetizers, each dish more surprising than the last.

As we ate, I couldn't help but steal glances at Cristian. His behavior tonight was so different from what I'd come to expect. He was attentive, almost... caring? Part of me wanted to question this sudden change, to understand what had brought it on. Was it because we'd shared our darkest parts of one another? Because we'd connected, and he'd broken before me? Had that fostered some trust between us now? A larger part of me was afraid to shatter this moment of peace.

I'd rather enjoy this kinder version of Cristian while it lasted. Who knew how long it would last. For now, I decided to savor not just the exquisite food, but also this unexpected reprieve from the tension and fear that had defined so much of my time with him, but I'd make sure to remain careful.

As Cristian offered me another bite from his fork, I accepted without hesitation this time. My emotions were a tangled mess, but I pushed my confusion aside. Whatever his reasons, I was determined to make the most of this momentary kindness.

As the last of the appetizers disappeared from our plates, the waiters swooped in, whisking away the empty dishes. Before I could even catch my breath, another cart rolled up to our table.

The waiter lifted silver domes to reveal our main courses, and my mouth watered despite the array of food I'd just polished off. A perfectly cooked lobster, its shell a vibrant red, sat nestled on a bed of herbs. Beside it, a thick, juicy steak sizzled invitingly, its surface glistening with a rich glaze. The third dish was something I couldn't quite identify, but it looked equally exquisite - a colorful array of vegetables and what appeared to be some kind of fish, artfully arranged on the plate.

"We'll share these," Cristian stated as the waiter set the dishes out before us, placing the third dish before me.

As we began to sample each dish, I noticed Cristian's demeanor had shifted even further. His smile seemed almost permanent now, a stark contrast to the brooding, dangerous man I'd come to know. He cut a piece of the steak, holding it out to me on his fork.

"Try this, kitten. It's Wagyu beef, melts in your mouth," he urged.

I accepted it and, as promised, the meat was incredibly tender, seeming to dissolve on my tongue. I nodded my delight with it, and his grin widened. He continued to offer me bites from his own plate, and I found myself accepting each time, along with Julian, who at least offered me the pieces onto my plate rather than my mouth. The lobster was sweet and succulent, and the mystery fish dish burst with flavors.

As Cristian held out another forkful, I smirked. "You know, I can feed myself," I said with a hint of playful sarcasm, even as I accepted the bite.

He chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement. "I know, sweetheart. But where's the fun in that?"

I frowned, knowing it was pointless to delve into the subject any further. I sat back, the three of us slowing down on our meals as we began to fill up.

I took a sip of the champagne, the waiter rushing over to top up our glasses as soon as I set it down.

Julian cleared his throat after downing a mouthful of his own. "We did some digging on your parents, Scarlet."

I frowned at him, wondering why he was bringing this up right now. Was this the purpose of tonight? Where was he going with this?

"Your father," Julian continued, studying me carefully. "He died of an overdose two years ago."

I blinked, processing the information. A cocktail of emotions swirled within me - relief, anger, a twinge of sadness, although I stifled that instantly. He deserved no sadness from me, even if he was my father. The prick could rot in hell for everything he'd done.

"My mother?" I asked, morbid curiosity winning out. What had they uncovered about the people who'd put me through hell and set me on the path that had found me here?

"She's in prison. Breaking and entering, stabbing someone for drug money. Seems her drinking problem evolved into something nastier." Cristian's dark eyes watched me, waiting for me to react in some way to this news.

I laughed, a hollow sound that echoed in the empty restaurant. "Well, I'll be damned. This is news you thought I'd want over dinner?"

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