Page 71 of Charity's Redemption

“What is it?” The last thing I wanted was to take a prescription painkiller and be off my rocker while I went out today. Kandy taught me a valuable lesson about hypervigilance. I grew complacent in my parking spot. I didn’t even think to watch my back while I watched Zoe.

“It’s Tylenol.”

“Hey, my car… and my phone.” I groaned as I recalled them sitting in the parking garage with everything open to whomever wanted to take it.

I popped the pills into my mouth.

“Don’t worry about it. Vito picked it up for you.”

“Everything was still there?”

“Just as they left it, I guess.”

He dug into his pocket and dropped the brand new phone with a cracked screen in front of me. “Goddammit.” I tipped my head back with an exaggerated groan. “I just fucking bought that thing.”

“I’ll get you a new one.”

“No. That’s okay.” My stomach rumbled as I opened the fridge door, pulling a pained cramp with it.

“It’s not a big deal. I’ll have my guy pick one up.”

“Thanks.” I leaned around the fridge door and glanced at him. “Do you have any bagels? I have a hankering.”

“A hankering?” he pinched his brows together and smirked, causing my clenched stomach to flip on itself with butterflies. “What are you, Dutch?”

“What?”

“Never mind. The bagels are in the bread bin and the cream cheese is in the drawer in the fridge.”

I opened the one to my right, not finding the good stuff. “How did you find my stuff, anyway?”

“We asked you while you were napping.”

“Not that one, the other one.” He moved me out of the way. “Here, let me do it. Take a seat.”

“Whoa, careful there. Someone might think you’ve grown soft on me.”

“Because I don’t want you rifling through my fridge? I don’t think so.” He plopped the bagels and cream cheese container on the counter in front of me while I settled into my seat on the barstool. “Besides, nothing grows soft while I’m around you.”

I rolled my lips to bite back the smile as my cheeks burned. “Dirty talk, Luca? I like it.”

He pulled a butter knife from the drawer beside him, grabbed down a plate from the cupboard, and then popped the top on the cream cheese. “Why don’t you tell me your plans?”

I leaned over the counter to sneak a bit of the cream cheese when Nico walked in and distracted me, causing me to earn a whack on the hand with the butter knife. I reeled my hand back and glared at Luca.

“Ow. What was that for?”

“Keep your hands out.”

Nico placed his briefcase on the stool at the far end of the island, then walked towards me and placed a kiss on my head. “Abuse so early in the morning?”

“He’s mean to me, isn’t he?” I touched the hand he placed on my shoulder as he walked by, then followed him with my gaze. “I’m beginning to think it’s his love language.”

“Luca doesn’t have a love language.”

“Luca is standing right here,” he said, causing me to laugh.

“Besides, I wouldn’t let you put your fingers in my jars either.”

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