fourteen
After Kayden and I have showered, we both coincidentally dress in black jeans, boots, and T-shirts. I’m not sure what that says about his mood, considering our amazing morning, but I’m shifting gears, moving from pink slippers to Warrior Princess, should I need to be her. And, I just want to be sure Blake Walker takes me seriously. He needs to hear what I say to him. He needs to protect Sara.
By noon we’ve joined Marabella in the kitchen and she is all about stuffing our faces with pancakes, and filling our cups with delicious frothy coffee.
“I need to hit the gym. I can’t keep eating like this.” I look at Kayden. “Maybe we should come up with a routine. We go in the morning before we do anything else?”
He sips his coffee, his gaze warm, a wayward strand of light hair brushing his brow. “A routine would be good.”
“A routine for Kayden,” Marabella says, hands on her robust hips, and ironically, her dress a pale ballerina slipper pink.
“We could continue exactly as we did this morning,” he offers, mischief in his voice.
“Did you work out this morning?” Marabella asks innocently, making my cheeks heat.
“We did,” Kayden replies, winking at me. “A perfect way to start the day.” His phone rings next to his plate and he grabs it, pushing his seat back. “Carlo.”
I nod and he walks out of the room, which hits me as interesting. He never talks business in front of Marabella, so what are the lines he’s drawn with her? What does she know and not know?
“Anything else before I leave?” Marabella asks. “I can swing by and clean up later.”
“I’ll do it,” I say, eager to regain some privacy. “You’ve done enough.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. Thank you for breakfast.”
“Okay. If you don’t get time, I’ll be here tomorrow.” She tilts her head. “You feel good?”
“Yes, good as new now. Well, except for a few holes in my memory.”
“Did you talk to Nathan about that thing with the journal?”
“I did. He says these things are normal with amnesia. I’m improving, and that’s what’s important.”
“That’s good.” She starts to turn away. “One thing. Giada really wants both of us to go shopping with her for her new place.”
“When?”
“Friday.”
Two days from now. I’m not sure I feel good about anyone going shopping this week, and Kayden and I need to talk about protecting Giada and Marabella. “I should know tomorrow if I can make it happen.”
“It will make Giada so very happy. I won’t tell her until we’re certain, though.”
“Sounds good,” I say, watching her disappear, fairly certain we have to get her and Giada on lockdown for now.
I stand and carry the plates to the sink, taking care of the mess by the time Kayden returns.
“Carlo seems to have a solid handle on dealing with the aftermath of Alessandro’s demise,” he says, joining me on my side of the island and leaning against it. “We’re going to sit down in the next few days and hammer it all out.”
“What about Niccolo’s second-in-command?” I ask, leaning against the counter directly across from him.
“The drug goes in his drink tonight, and he shouldn’t wake up tomorrow.”
I hug myself. “That’s good,” I say, though the word good chokes in my throat.
“Ella—”