Page 53 of Lukas

The device quickly burned through its fuel, going out, but he dragged Reina towards the back door. Another could be flying through the window at any time.

“Are you okay?” He pulled her the first few feet, but she quickly started crawling with him.

“Yes. What happened? Was there an accident in the kitchen? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, but that was definitely no accident.”

The restaurant staff were now in the dining area, shouting to each other in Chinese, attempting to put the last of the fire out with an extinguisher. Lukas helped Reina to her feet and kept an arm around her as he headed towards the back door.

Bruno burst through a moment later, gun in hand. Reina looked back and forth between them, brown eyes wide.

“Molotov cocktail through the window,” he told his security team member. “We need to get her out of here, right damn now.”

“You too, boss.”

Lukas gave a short shake of the head. “I want to know what the hell happened.”

Bruno was firm. “Not right now. We need to secure this location first. You’re too exposed right now. I’ve got a car in the alley.”

He could feel his teeth grinding but made an effort to keep his temper in check since more of the color in Reina’s face was leaching with every second that passed. He gave a curt nod and began walking with Bruno, his arm still around Reina. “Get everyone down here. Make sure one of our people inside the police department are assigned to this so we know what’s going on. I want real-time updates.”

“Will do, boss.”

They’d walked to the restaurant since it was only a couple of blocks away, so the ride back didn’t take very long.

“How did Bruno get there so quickly?” Reina asked after they were escorted into the elevator from the underground parking garage.

Lukas pulled her to him again, kissing the top her head. “I always have a security detail on me. Just like you’re going to.” And after what had just happened, they’d be watching her a damn sight closer. “Admittedly, we’ve never had anything happen this close to the neighborhood before. Attacking me a block from my own house takes balls.”

A shudder ran through her.

He pulled her closer, wrapping his fingers in her long brown hair. He should offer to let her go. She might have always known about La Cosa Nostra, known he was mob, but until a few minutes ago, she’d never actually experienced the violence that sometimes went along with that.

“Scared, princess? Is this more than you bargained for?”

He had no idea what he was going to do if she said yes. That she wanted out. That she couldn’t be a part of his life.

“Is it always like this?” Her words came out muffled against his chest. The elevator arrived at the penthouse floor and they stepped out and into his condo.

“Yes and no. Incendiary weapons being thrown through restaurant windows at me? No, that’s a first. But people who want to hurt me? Yes, that is part of my life. Will be part of your life.”

She stopped in the middle of his living room, looking so little and lost in his sweatpants and t-shirt. “Your world is a little scary.”

His gut clenched. He swore to himself that if she wanted out, he would let her go. Right now. Because after today, he would never be able to.

He didn’t touch her, although his fingers itched with the need. “My world can be scary, princess. But there’s nothing I won’t do to keep you safe in it, I promise you that. If you want out, you’re going to have to tell me now, because I’m not going to have the strength to let you go a few months from now. Hell, I don’t even know if I’ll have it a few minutes from now.”

She closed the distance between them. “I don’t want to go. I just can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you.”

“Nothing’s going to happen to either of us.” He yanked her to his chest, relief flooding his system. “Except possibly having heart attacks from all the mind-blowing sex we’re going to have. That’s the real danger.”

She laughed softly as he led her over to the couch and sat with her in his lap. “I think that sort of danger is the type I can handle.”

True to his word, Bruno provided updates as he had them, via text. Lukas kept Reina in his lap as he called his brothers, explaining what happened, discussing who could be behind it. He kept hoping she would relax, but she didn’t seem to be able to. Probably not unusual, given the circumstances. She was still stiff in his lap, even as a huge yawn fell from her mouth.

“Time for you to go to bed, princess.” Unable to let her go, he picked her up and carried her in there himself. He placed her under the covers, which she drew up to her chin, her features still pinched.

“Don’t worry. We’ll figure out who’s behind this.”

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