Page 80 of Vicious Kingdom

“Yes, only the best baker in town.”And your brother’s guard dog.“My turn to ask a question. What are you doing here? This isn’t your usual haunt, Americano.”

Leo stilled at the old name. The hard edge in his voice softened. “Like you said, it’s the best bakery in the city.”

My heart pattered.

The ringing of my phone effectively killed the moment.

“The road is under water, we’re stuck!” Penelope wailed. “It could be a while.”

“I’ll wait.” I held Leo’s dark stare. “I have nowhere else to be.”

Penelope chirped a goodbye and another apology.

“You wait upstairs? You’ll be more comfortable,” Tony urged, coming to open the case and make me a box of treats.

“Antonio!” Leo barked, launching into a string of violent-sounding Italian.

But the baker set down the box, folded the lid to close, and glared at the businessman. “I’m the boss when boss isn’t here. I say she can go upstairs.”

Smiling, I hurried past the baker, taking my box of treats, and tripped lightly up the steps. My ankle throbbed in protest, but I ignored the ache. Cursing, Leo followed. His heavy tread made the stairs creak.

“You know,” I mused, flopping onto the worn sofa in the landing where Serena and I spent many hours. “One might ask how well you know the baker if you’re willing to yell at him like that.”

Leo scowled. “It’s none of your business.”

“Come on! I’m going to be your wife,” I protested.

The moment the words flew past my lips, we stopped short. The declaration spiraled in the air between us. It was as if we each held an end of a taut string, uncertain who would drop it first. I’d said it so casually, like a swift toss over my shoulder, when in reality it was a profound, defining fact.

“Let’s play a game,” Leo suggested. Going into Alessandro’s office, he produced a bottle.

Normal people would point out the fact that he was making himself at home, just as I was.

But we were avoiding the big, unspoken truth.

“What’s the game?” I sat up at the sight of the don’s good liquor.

“Truth or dare. You don’t want to tell, you drink. You don’t want to act, you drink twice.”

“Trying to get me drunk for any particular reason?” I hedged, but already my mind raced with the possibility. Maybe he would admit he was in the mob. Maybe with that secret free, we could grow closer.

Are you willing to tell him some of yours?A wide array of emotions spread through my chest, and I bent for the pastry box on the coffee table to hide the reaction that no doubt scrawled over my face.

“Ladies first.” Leo draped himself over the opposite end of the couch.

“Whose office is that?” I asked quickly, forgetting the rules.

“That’s not how you play,” he chuckled. “Since you gave away your question, I’ll take a dare.”

I had a good one of those too, but I wanted a little liquid courage before I dared him. “I dare you to tell me whose office that is.”

“Tony’s.” Leo rubbed his chin. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“What made you so sad a moment ago?”

My heart dropped to my stomach. I picked up the bottle and took a long pull.