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“What about you?” she asks, leaning on the counter. “You ask me all these questions. I obviously know you’re an enforcer. Have you always been groomed to be one?”
“It was natural,” I reply. “My siblings all had goals in life. Kervyn’s biggest goal as Pakhan was securing an heir, which he did. Now, he wants to extend his family further. My brother Danil is power-hungry and always wants to be a step ahead. Luka wants to have fun, although since becoming a father, he’s cut down on the raucous fun and just has mild fun.”
“So that’s what they wanted. What did you want?” she asks, checking the fries.
I swallow and shrug. “I was just there to support what my brothers wanted. I knew I had a role in the family, and once Kervyn told me what it was, I honed my skills to suit it. Making sure that no one would fuck with our family. People hear my name and quiver, not to brag.”
“I know what you mean. I have heard what you’re capable of.”
“You’ve heard what I’ve let survivors talk about. The ones who didn’t survive would tell you a worse story if they could speak.” I smirk arrogantly.
She scoops the fries out of the pot, and the oil splashes her hand.
“Ow! Motherfucker!” she cries out.
I get up quickly and lead her to the kitchen sink, where I run her hand under cold water. “Does that sting?”
“It was a big dollop of oil. I wouldn’t complain normally. Ouch,” she whimpers. I see the bright red spot on her hand and nod. “Are you done cooking? I can put some burn shield on it.”
“Burn shield?” she asks.
“This liquid helps with burns. I’ll go get it.”
I leave and get the first aid kit out of the bathroom. I come back out, and she’s where I left her. I’m certain she’s not going to try to run again, at least not right now, and that makes me happy.
I hesitate to admit it, but I’m enjoying having her around.
I take out the sachet of burn shield and pour it onto her burn.
“It’s cold,” she says, surprised.
“I’d hope so. Here.” I take out a small bandage and wrap it around her hand. “That’ll give it a chance to absorb.”
She looks up at me with a small smile. “Thank you.”
I move to dish up the food while she sits down. “So what do you do when you’re not enforcing the law of the family?” she asks.
“I own several laundromats with my cousins as a front for money laundering, but that’s about it,” I say quietly. The butchers is a hobby—something to do when I need to blow off steam and frustration.”
“Why don’t you just have sex like everyone else?” she teases me.
“Because most girls are afraid of me.” I look up at her as I set her plate in front of her. “Ketchup for your fries?”
“Please.” She picks up her cutlery and tucks into her steak, groaning softly. “These came out beautiful.”
I set down the ketchup and come to sit next to her.
I cut into my steak and pop a piece in my mouth. It feels like it melts in my mouth. “God, this is good.”
“See, I told you to trust me,” she says as she puts ketchup on her fries.
“You should be cooking every night. I might make you.” I grin.
“I don’t mind, not really. Though your food has been good too.” We fall into a comfortable silence as we eat our food, and once done, I take the dishes to the kitchen sink to start washing up.
Elena cleans the countertop and the island where we eat and then explores the pantry. “You have wine!” She brings out a bottle of red wine.
“I keep a bottle or two to cook with, but if you want to have some fun now, we can’t be drinking,” I say as I rinse off the dishes and set them on the drying rack to dry.
