31. Woke up as gangsters
THIRTY-ONE
WOKE UP AS GANGSTERS
Lake
Since Alessio slays in bed and has the stamina of a god, we do it until the wee hours of the morning. But Alessio’s up and about within hours of falling asleep, and I hear him whistling in the bathroom while the water runs in the sink, and, presumably, he shaves. Presumably, because I can’t get out of bed like he does. I just can’t.
And I don’t.
It’s eleven in the morning when I finally feel like I might’ve gotten enough sleep to function for the day. I’d like to enjoy exploring Paris. I remember I promised Leo we wouldn’t study while we’re here, but I’m still a governess who will get her first paycheck next week, so I have a responsibility to earn it and teach Leo something about this city or country that he doesn’t already know.
This will be a challenge, seeing as how I’ll learn along with him. This makes me the worst governess in the world. This and the fact that I’m sleeping with his uncle.
Let’s not forget, I’m also spying on his uncle.
This line of thinking jars my memories of Hades and the woman across from me who wouldn’t look away, even after I did. She must have known I was uncomfortable, yet she kept staring as if playing some sort of game. I’ll blink first every time and not care, so I wasn’t sure if that got her rocks off or not. When I think about the screwdriver in my purse, I roll over and sniff Alessio’s pillow. It smells just like him.
I use the restroom and freshen up in the bathroom, then check my phone for updates on my uncle. The doctor says his vitals are looking better than yesterday, so he’s optimistic about his progress. He does mention that with brain injuries, it’s difficult to tell when a patient might wake up, but again, the doctor sounds hopeful.
Sometimes, all we can do is hope. Sometimes, that’s all anyone needs to get through the day.
I follow the smell of croissants outside. Alessio sits on the terrace, his feet resting on the railing as he looks over an unusual map spread out between his hands. An unlit cigar hangs between his lips.
Leo wears a long black robe and Alessio’s black shades, and he’s holding a praline stick between his teeth. In his best grown-man voice, he says, “Mornin’, Lake.”
“Good morning.” I try to remove Alessio’s cigar, but he evades my attempts.
“Woke up as gangsters, did we?” I lean over the croissant tray and grab the one I think is salty, then rest an elbow on the railing. I bite into the croissant, and the crispy, sweet pastry melts against my tongue. My eyes roll back. “Divine.” I chew, flakes of pastry falling on my chin. “This is what I live for. Eating holy croissant in Paris.” I take another bite and throw my head back as I chew. “Mmhm.”
Alessio sits up and folds the map. “Get away from the railing.”
It’s not like I would throw myself off it, but okay. I look around for another chair, but the small table for two is just that. A small round metal table for two.
Alessio taps his thigh.
I glance pointedly at his nephew.
Alessio rolls his eyes. It’s such a childlike thing for him to do that I laugh. The pastry goes down the wrong pipe, and I start coughing. Alessio’s quick to pour me a water from a pitcher.
I take a sip, and as soon as I’m done, he grabs the middle of the robe he untied last night and pulls me to sit into his lap. There, he pats my back while Leo looks between us.
“Leo,” Alessio says, “I’m dating your governess.”
Leo’s eyes are on me, seeking confirmation, and I’m sure my cheeks are red from the heat that’s flaming them. “It’s true.”
Leo appears curious. “Do you guys kiss on the mouth?”
“Yes,” Alessio answers.
I can tell Alessio wants to say more, but I elbow him in the belly. “Leo, did you have breakfast?”
Leo nods. “Can we go for a walk today? I want to show you the square and tell you about Napoleon.”
“How about the Sun King. Do you like him?”
Leo nods. “Mmhm. But I haven’t been to Versailles yet.”
Alessio picks up the map again.
“What kind of map is it?” I ask, having never seen such drawings.
“It’s an aeronautical map.”
“Like a flight map?”
“Mmhm. I’m a pilot.”
Just when you think a billionaire who screws like a God and spends three million dollars on your clothes and jewelry for a single date night couldn’t get any hotter, he tells you he’s a pilot.
Now I picture Alessio in a uniform, and it occurs to me I’m a lost cause. Nothing stands in the way of me diving headfirst for this man. Nothing at all.
“Are you planning another trip?”
“You could say that.”
When he’s ominous like this, it means it’s a business trip. I probably shouldn’t ask any more questions since I might be forced to betray what he tells me.
“I need to teach my enemies a lesson.”
I swallow. “In what?”
“Power,” Leo answers.
I whip my head toward the boy, then look back at Alessio. Leo can’t possibly know about Alessio’s dealings. Even I wish I never knew.
Alessio studies the map. “That’s correct, Leo. Because our enemies should be what?”
“Annihilated,” the boy says with relish.
“Oh my God, Alessio, don’t teach him such things.”
“Why not?” Alessio looks up from the map.
“Because it’s…violent.”
“I’m raising an heir to a large fortune, and my heir must be an eagle. An eagle is a carnivorous predator who survives by flying above the vultures that will most certainly want to take apart what I’ve left to Leo when I’m dead. Leo can’t be a pigeon. If he’s the prey, he won’t survive.”
“It was a dove that alerted Noah of the land,” I say. Doves are prey to predators.
Alessio blinks. “Touché.”
I think I just won an argument with Alessio. Score one, Lake. I didn’t like how he mentioned death and dying in front of Leo, but maybe that’s also a part of raising an eagle. I change the subject. “Hey, Leo, how about we have a late lunch somewhere in the park? Then get on a tour bus and drive around Paris. We can see all the major sites, and you can tell me about them.” Leo looks at Alessio, and I worry I’ve overstepped somehow, but I’m not sure how. “Is that okay with you, Alessio?”
“Leo’s been to Paris before,” Alessio says in a way that means he isn’t okay with what I suggested.
I chew my lip. “We can just have lunch in a park.”
“I would prefer that you stay in the room.”
“Please, Uncle. Please. Lake’s never been. I want to show her stuff.”
I swear to God, this boy is special in the most wonderful way.
“No park.”
“The square, then?” Leo suggests. “You can watch us from the terrace. Look.” Leo points. “Café Trottoir serves paninis, and you can see us from up here.”
Alessio smirks. “You planned this, Leo?”
Leo looks sheepish. “Lake did.”
I open my mouth, then close it. I didn’t account for Alessio’s vigilance when I suggested the park. It makes sense that he would want to watch over his nephew, but wanting to keep him within sight is different.
Alessio checks his watch. “Can you wait until three? Then I could join you.”
Leo pumps his fist.
I’m containing my excitement. “Wait, are you asking, or is it a rhetorical question?”
Alessio pecks my cheek. “Asking. Sort of. If you leave before me, I’ll have to stalk you, which would irritate me.”
“I think we’ve established that I can’t say no well.”
“You’re getting better at it.”
“Am I?” In the bedroom, I hear a phone ring. I think it’s mine.