Page 21 of His Enforcer

I sleep fitfully, waking up far too early and heading down to the gym before the sun is even up. I do my usual run on the treadmill and weightlifting before making breakfast and heading to work. As I approach the main house, I see Tatum on the swing outside, a cup of coffee in his hand, a blanket wrapped around his shoulders.

“Hey, Viktor,” he says with a grin, his cheeks flushed from the cold morning air.

“Hey,” I reply as he blows the steam away from his mug.

“You’re up early,” Tatum says.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

“Same. Had a nightmare and didn’t want to wake Anthony. So here I am.”

I stare down at his hand, the one missing a finger, and school my features. “Trauma doesn’t let you sleep, unfortunately.”

“It doesn’t. But oh well. Anthony is worth it. I’d lose another finger if it means I get to be with him.”

“I’d rather you kept all your appendages.”

“Same,” he replies with a laugh. Just as he says that, Teddy appears, standing sentry right next to him. He’s rarely away from his side, taking Tatum’s abduction earlier this year very personally. He won’t let it happen again.

Without a word, he hands something to Tatum, who just sighs. “You’re too good to me, Teddy.”

He doesn’t respond, just blushes as Tatum puts the warm scone up to his mouth and takes a bite.

“Oh god. Delicious. Did you make this?” He meets Teddy’s gaze and then grins. “Of course you did. It’s fabulous. I bet you went to culinary school in like France or something. You’re full of secrets.”

Teddy’s blush deepens, and Tatum offers me a piece.

“No, you eat it. I’ll grab one in the kitchen.”

Tatum and I chat for a few more minutes before I move inside. Agatha is bustling around the kitchen, getting everything ready forthe start of the day. We may have a fully stocked kitchen, but Agatha insists on making meals if we want them.

And even though I made myself breakfast already, the smell of those scones is making my stomach rumble.

“Oh, Viktor. Good morning. Did you eat?”

“I had breakfast, but you know I can always fit more of your baked goods in here.”

I pat my stomach, and Agatha grins at me, handing me a plate of fresh scones.

“You definitely should. Put more meat on those bones. Here. Teddy made them, but have at it. You get them when they’re fresh, before anyone else. Early bird eats the worm.”

“Think it’sgetsthe worm, but still works.”

“That it does.”

I swipe one off the plate and take a bite, flavor exploding across my tongue. Vanilla and chocolate. Damn, Teddy is a good baker. In another life, maybe he’d have gone into business for himself. Fuck knows, he’d probably do really well.

I swallow it down and then lean under the kitchen faucet for some water.

Agatha swats at me as I do, telling me to use a cup, but I don’t want to dirty one. This works just fine.

From the kitchen, I move to Anthony’s office, ready for a debrief to start the day. Usually, he tells his men what he wants to accomplish that day, starting with Luca and me.

And as soon as I step inside, I see Luca on the couch, in his favorite spot, his eyes meeting mine with a devious twinkle.

Ignoring him, I stand opposite him.

“We’re just waiting for Bane to arrive,” Anthony says. “He’s never on time.”

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