Page 54 of Lukas

“I know you will.”

He brushed a lock of hair back from her cheek, giving her a rueful smile. “Anything else bothering you beside almost getting lit on fire?”

She opened her mouth, then closed it. “No, nothing I can’t handle. You’ve got a lot on your plate right now—I don’t want to add to it. I’ll be fine.”

“I’ve always got time to help you, princess.”

“No, this I need to handle on my own.”

He wanted to push it. Didn’t like that she had secrets—maybe important ones—that she was keeping from him. but now wasn’t the time.

“Secrets get naughty girls punished, you know.” He grinned at her, but it faded when he saw tears in her eyes.

“I know.”

His phone rang with a call from Bruno. Lukas took it, planning to revisit this conversation immediately after getting the update. Whatever was bothering Reina needed to be addressed. But by the time he got back to her, she was asleep.