Page 90 of Ruling Scar
“What mortal enemy?” Max asks.
“Leopold Stuart,” Roma answers.
He frowns. “He went to university with Lennie.”
Roma loses his nonchalance. “Wait, so this is all to do with Lennie?”
“Are you jealous?” Russet asks me.
“No.” Max leans forward in interest. Someone’s been hanging out with Uncle Dima too much. “Elijah, doesn’t get jealous. What’s going on?”
I give them the simple version, not that I share all the details. For instance, they don’t need to know that Leanora believes our deal is temporary. It’s not and she’ll slowly start to figure it out as will Leopold.
“You need to talk to Boris,” Max tells me.
“No.” I snap my fingers at Albert, trying to draw him away from Russet. The unloyal bastard doesn’t budge.
Roma scratches the back of his neck. “Seriously, Elijah, the dude is weird. I couldn’t tell if he wanted to make out with you or kill you the other night.”
“The twins are right then.” Russet squeezes Max’s arm. “Why not up her security detail? A barroom brawl’s not going to help.”
“Lucky I’m not planning on anymore barroom brawls.”
Max narrows his eyes on me. “What are you planning?”
I smile wide. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“But you and Lennie really like one another right?” Russet leans her head to the side. “Once Leo’s out of the way, you’re not planning on. . .”
“Leonora’s not going anywhere,” I confirm. Whether she likes it or not, she’s mine.
Russet shoots me a wary look. “God, she’s going to need all the help she can get.”
I should be offended. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Is she still hanging out at Fujimori’s?” Max asks.
“Yes, as a matter of fact I was there with her last night.”
“Why?” Roma asks with those beady little eyes that always come out when a certain restaurant is mentioned.
“Isolde’s birthday,” I explain, smiling cheerfully.
“So you’re already meeting all the friends,” Russet says.
“I’m sure they’re cautioning Lennie as we speak,” Max deadpans.
Russet swats him again and walks back to the kitchen. Her husband glares at me the whole time. “You’re one dumb motherfucker if you think Gia’s not going to go for your balls.”
Russet slides back into her seat, this time with a tray of cinnamon rolls that Roma helps himself to. She licks icing off her finger while messing with her phone.
“I want to be friends with Ren and Isolde,” she says, not looking up.
“Absolutely not,” Max tells her.
“They’re really nice,” she says.
I open my mouth, but Max’s glare cuts me off.
