30. Luca #2
“You said you were hungry. That my father didn’t let you eat last night. So why wouldn’t I?”
“Oh,” she said, like she couldn’t believe it was that simple. “I should probably just have eggs.”
I made a face at her. “Or you can have eggs, bacon, mushrooms, potatoes, and toast. And then have seconds. Fuck not eating. You need food.”
She smiled softly. “Luca Guerra, are you actually a nice guy underneath all the scowls and sharp words?”
I stopped and looked at her. Because I needed her to not get the wrong idea about me.
“I’ve trafficked women, Nyah. Sold them at auctions to the highest bidders.
I’ve moved drugs and weapons, blackmailed, cheated, stolen.
” I cracked an egg into a bowl. “I’m not a good man.
Don’t mix up me wanting to cook a fucking meal for being a nice person. You’ll just be disappointed.”
The smile fell off her face, and her voice cooled off. “Oh. I see.”
I turned my back on her so she didn’t notice the way I couldn’t stand to see the disappointment on her face.
I busied myself pan frying mushrooms and seasoning potatoes. Aromas filled the air, making my tender stomach gurgle, this time with emptiness and hunger.
“Where did you learn to cook like this?” Nyah took a deep inhale of breath. “God, it smells amazing.”
I shrugged. “Some of it was Virginia. She used to let me help her in the kitchen when I was a kid, even though my father said I wasn’t to be doing menial work like that since it was for the hired help only. Mostly I picked up bits and pieces from the chefs at the restaurants we own.”
Nyah cocked her head to one side. “I didn’t realize you owned restaurants. Any around here?”
All the sizzling pans were under control, so I took a second to lean back against the countertop and crossed my arms over my chest. “You heard of Sinners in Providence?”
Her mouth dropped open. “Shut the fuck up. You own Sinners? You know there’s a sex maze in the back room?”
I laughed at her. “Yeah, I’m well aware. I built it.”
Her eyes widened more. “You did not?”
I sniggered. “I did. Me and Hayden Whitling. I gave him full ownership of the restaurant a while back though. I owed him a favor.”
She nodded but thankfully didn’t press me on why. “I’ve met Hayden. Lynx probably knows him too. Since they both live at the Slayers’ compound.”
It was my turn to be surprised. “Lynx lives at the Slayers’ clubhouse?”
She nodded and pointed at the stove. “You want to serve those up before they burn?”
I jolted and switched off the gas. I plated everything up and put one of them in front of her. “Eat.”
She picked up her knife and fork and cut off a bite-sized piece of potato.
Then paused with it hovering over her pretty lips.
“This isn’t some sort of test, is it? Where you report back to your father that I’m actually a gluttonous pig.
Because I’m about to wolf this down without stopping to breathe. ”
I rolled my eyes. “Just eat your fucking food, Nyah.”
But still, she paused. “Thank you.”
That word, and the true appreciation behind it, hung in the air between us for a second, before she shoved the first bite of food into her mouth and closed her eyes, moaning loudly. “What did you season this with?” Her mouth was full of food, but she didn’t seem to care. “So good!”
My dick kicked at the sounds she was making, and pride washed over me. I had forgotten my own plate of food. I was too busy watching her.
It was on the tip of my tongue to drop the whole Mafia prince act and tell her she was beautiful.
“Is that bacon?”
I dragged my attention off Nyah to the man standing in the doorway.
Nyah choked on her food. “Dax?”
Something passed between them. A look I couldn’t quite determine.
But it sent jealousy through my veins, thick and fast, and suddenly my good mood disappeared. “What are you doing here?”
He turned to me, surprise all over his face.
Like he hadn’t even noticed I was in the room, because he was too busy making eyes at her.
“Your old man gave me a room. Said to stay as long as I wanted.”
It was jealousy that had my tongue sharp again. “He gave it to you so you had somewhere to fuck the woman. She cleared out. Why didn’t you?”
He frowned at me. “What’s your problem? Don’t want to share your bacon with me? I’m sure Nyah won’t mind.” He leaned down and plucked a piece from Nyah’s plate.
She didn’t stop him.
Her breaths had turned rapid, and she shot worried glances between me and Dax.
He pulled out the chair next to Nyah’s. “Your dad didn’t have a problem with me still being here.
In fact, when I asked if I could stay awhile, since my place is getting fumigated, he slapped me on the back and said, ‘Son, you can stay as long as you like.’ I’m doing some sort of exhibition fights for him this morning, and then a bunch more of them over the next month or two.
He wants to take over my training. Said you have a nice gym here. ”
“We do,” I said stiffly. “Don’t you have a tattoo shop to run?”
He crunched on his bacon. “I’ll still be there during the day. My brothers can cover the shop on the nights I need to fight.”
“Great,” Nyah squeaked. She cleared her throat. “I mean, great that you’re getting these new opportunities. You were really good the other night, at the warehouse.”
He glanced at her. “Was I?”
That same tension I’d detected earlier was still there between them.
It was so fucking thick, it felt like it was clogging the room.
My suspicion and jealousy mixed until I couldn’t stand either of them.
I left my plate of food uneaten on the countertop and got out of the kitchen.
Because even if there was something going on with Dax and Nyah, at this point, there was nothing I could do about it. I couldn’t go to my father and tell him that she was being unfaithful.
Because I was sure I liked her enough that I could no longer live with the repercussions.