Page 95 of Heritage of Fire

“I’ve never met anyone who could eat a slice in two bites. I remember being impressed at the pizza shop when we went.” She takes another bite of her breadstick, then reaches for her water. Her IV snags on the side rails of the hospital bed.

“Whoa, here, I got it.” I grab her cup and bring it to her. She closes her lips over the straw to suck, and I gulp.

“Thank you,” she says, eyes growing glassy again. “I’d be alone here if it weren’t for you—if even here at all.”

Shit. Guilt swarms me. The idea Luna has ever felt alone, or that she has this compulsive need to thank me for being kind and decent, means I’ve messed up somewhere.

I grab her hand. “Luna, I?—”

“What’s your favorite color?”

I blink, confused at the sudden shift in topic. But her smile, the hope in her eyes—maybe she needs this. Something easy and carefree.

“Blue,” I answer. “And yours is purple.”

It’s her turn to blink. “How do you know that?”

There isn’t much color in Luna’s wardrobe. She mostly wears neutrals, but there’s one thing consistently purple that she always brings into the warehouse.

“All the flowers you put in the mason jars are always purple.”

She smiles at me. And, hell, does it make my heart skip.

“Well, aren’tyouobservant, Nikolai Balakin.” The way she says my full name …

“You have no idea the things Iobserve, Luna Balakin.” I let my gaze trail dramatically down her hospital gown.

She laughs, her breadstick falling to the bed sheets, and I grin.

Luna falls asleep shortly after we eat, and I leave a note on her napkin saying I’ll be back tomorrow to pick her up.

Staying was my first plan, but I’m in desperate need of a shower. Salt from our swim in the ocean still clings to my hair, and there are a few things I want to do before Luna comes home to the warehouse.

“I’ll be out of the office for a few days. Send me whatever work you need done,” I say to Luka on my drive home.

“Of course, brother. Take all the time you need.” He lets out a small chuckle, which is scary enough, but the fact he’s laughing at me?

“What?” I bark.

“Nothing, Nikolai. I’m glad you’re taking the time. I’m serious. I’m sending extra security your way, too.”

That reminds me …

“I want Lev gone.” It’s a bold demand.

“I don’t have another man to assign to Luna.”

“Clone Frank.”

Luka chuckles again, and it’s starting to piss me off. There’s no way in hell I’m going to let the man who tried to keep her company inour apartmentstay on as her guard.

“Luka, if he comes back to the warehouse, I willendhim.”

I don’t have the same privileges as Luka, regardless of our relationship. I can’t just go and kill someone because they disrespected me. And, technically, Lev works for Luka. And, even though I outrank him, he’s still a Bratva brother. However, if he comes back, Iwillkill him.

I’m sure Luka can hear the contempt in my voice. He goes silent, and I hear Kate murmur something in the background. He clears his throat. “Understood, Nik, he’s gone. I’ll make him clean up after our latest interrogation when I’m done. Teach him a lesson about what happens when he goes after something that isn’t his.”

Chapter 36

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