Page 59 of The Prizes We Win
I still get to love them.
All of them.
40
Dante
Ipocket my phone as I make my way over to the bar cart and pour myself a glass of scotch. “Anyone want one?”
“Yes please,” they all say in unison.
I pour Luca and Sebastian a Merlot, and Joe a club soda with lime. Placing them all on a tray, I head over to where everyone is sitting on the sectional. It’s been a full forty-eight hours since we found Enzo, and the four of us have barely slept in three days. Only shutting our eyes for brief periods when we’re next to him.
It’s safe to say these drinks are much needed, non-alcoholic or not.
“Here you go, Mama,” I say as I hand Joe her drink. She smiles as she brings it to her lips, knowing I remembered not to give her alcohol. Luca and Seb each take their Merlots before I sit down on the couch next to my girl.
“Who were you talking to?” Luca asks.
“I just wanted to call Clara to check-in. I wanted to make sure she was okay and hasn’t seen anything suspicious.” Anyone who has paid any attention to us knows that we spend a great deal of time around her and care for her deeply. She’s one of our own, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without her.
I swear the woman has magical superpowers. I’ve never seen a person be able to juggle so many things at once… Luca included.
It’s why none of us thought twice of putting her in charge while we figure all this shit out.
“That was sweet of you.” Joe runs her hand along the back of my head and I find myself leaning into her touch.
“She good then?” Seb asks after taking a long sip of wine.
“She’s good. Reminded me she probably deserves another raise and a vacation when we come back.”
Luca chuckles. “I’m sure she did. She ask any questions about what’s going on?”
I shake my head. “No, but she told me to be safe before I hung up the phone. She’s not a stupid woman. She knows it’s serious.”
“Speaking of which”— Luca drapes his arm over Sebastian’s shoulders—“Do we have any idea where Andrei and Maxim may have gone?”
Sebastian sighs. “I’ve looked everywhere. They don’t have any other properties that I can dig up. The two of them have no more living immediate family members they could hide out with. I put a hold on all of their accounts, including the ones they hide under any aliases, which means they have no access to their own funds unless they have a stockpile of cash somewhere, which we all know is extremely plausible. So, unless we go door-to-door of every single Bratva member’s homes, I have no idea where they could be.”
He feels like this is all on his shoulders. I know he does, but despite how hard he tries, he and his computers can only do somuch. Reaching across the sectional, I squeeze his leg just above his knee. “We will help you find them, it isn’t all on you. Okay?”
Sebastian nods in agreement.
“Until we do though,” Luca adds, “nobody leaves here alone.” His eyes level with Joe. “Especially you.”
She rolls her eyes and I bump her with my shoulder. “Ugh fine. I know, I know. But I do need to go back to my apartment one of these days. I need some more of my things and I have to water my plants.”
A look of sadness crosses her face at the mention of her apartment. I know how much she loves it and how proud she is of the fact she got it all on her own. And since she met us she’s hardly been there at all. “Do you want to spend a few nights there?” I ask her warily.
Sebastian and Luca's eyes widen in panic, but I shoot them both a look, silently warning them to be quiet and let her think.
Joe plays with the rim of her glass as she answers. “No… and yes. I just”—she sighs in frustration—“I love my apartment. I’m so proud of it. And being there is like my own little sanctuary. It’s my home. But,” she looks up at the three of us. “I’m proud of what we’re building too. I feel safe here. Comfortable. Here feels like home.”
Unable to resist, I lean over and kiss her temple.
“What if we gave you your own space here?” Luca asks.
Joe pinches her face in confusion. “What, like my own room?”
