Page 125 of Where the Wicked Reign

Realization flashed in her eyes. “You didn’t just want to bring me in for my knowledge regardingLuster.”

“Exactly.”

“Nicely done.”

“I thought so.”

“What’s the verdict? Are you ready to make a decision?”

Before she could answer, Milo strode into the room carrying two coffee mugs in hand. He gave one to me. “Chocolate milk. The powdered kind you like the best.”

I eyed Caterina, and she lifted a shoulder. “I get the urge once in a while.”

“That’s why you were so understanding about my odd breakfast habits.”

“Notodd.Child-like,” Milo said.

I rolled my eyes and took a sip from the mug. “I don’t give a crap. I like what I like and I make no apologies for it. You know that, baby.”

He smiled. “I do.” Then he handed the other mug to Caterina. “Coffee,bellezza.”

She took it and had a sip. “Perfect. Thank you.”

He gave her histeddy bear eyes, as I called it, which he usually only gave to me.

It was strange seeing it being directed at somebody else.

I’d been worried about losing him lately, so I’d figured the very concept of it would have put me ill at ease or come off in a negative way. But it wasn’t doing that at all. It was actually comforting because of the way in which we’d all come together last night. It felt like we’d solidified something, that we’d kind of cemented our connection with Caterina, but also with each other, like the bond had shifted, but also strengthened in a way it hadn’t been able to do before without the addition of this little gem of a woman now brought into our fold. And it was also so rare for Milo to get this way about anyone, especially an outsider to us. It was a big deal for him.

And he was clearly feeling that this morning.

He’d been very attentive to her, doting on her.

He’d even treated and bandaged her thigh while she’d been asleep so she wouldn’t wake up uncomfortable. Hell, he’d even dressed her. When we’d passed out last night, we’d all been buck naked, but I’d woken up to find her in a pair of black satin pajama shorts and a matching tank. I was betting that the blanket had been his doing, too. Nico would have considered us wrapped tightly around her enough warmth. He didn’t really like the restriction of blankets and the times I’d been at their place in the morning, I’d found him sleeping on top of the covers most of the time.

Milo was fully dressed in his clothes from last night—his go-to tank and jeans, his jacket hanging off the coatrack by the door now. Nico was just in his dress pants, his jacket hung up, along with his shirt. And I was just chilling in my cobalt-blue boxers and my dress shirt open and hanging off my shoulders.

Milo looked out through the balcony, grimacing as he took in Nico, still on the phone and pacing. “That doesn’t bode well.”

“My thoughts exactly,” I agreed.

He sighed heavily, then gestured between us, asking, “So, how are the two of you getting on with all that?”

“I was just about to get Cat’s answer.” I eyed her pointedly as she took a sip from her coffee. “Darlin’?”

She put the mug down on the coffee table, then told me, “I really appreciate you offering me this.” She gestured at the mantlepiece opposite the wraparound couch, her award now situated on the center shelf. “And you recovering that for me was really sweet. It all means a lot.”

I liked her words, but her tone was another thing. “But?” I pressed, sensing a major one was coming.

She blew out a breath. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

I frowned. “Like what? You already have a partner you’re working with as part of your planned expansion efforts? If that’s so, youcanhave more than one, you know? Especially for different projects.”

“No. It’s not that.” She typed rapidly on her laptop. “I didn’t want to tell anyone this, because I was determined to blow past the competition. Especially my father, who will be all over it as soon as it’s made public knowledge and actually announced.” She smiled sadly. “But now there’s also you. And offering me what you are, I have to tell you about it.”

She handed her laptop to me and as I placed it down in front of me on the coffee table, she told me, “Have a look at this.”

I sifted through the wealth of documents she’d brought up, including an insanely in-depth cost-benefit analysis, architectural plans, drafted proposals.

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