Today was the big day, and I could barely keep my eyes open.
It was Friday, April16th. The day I’d prepped for, for such a long time, and first of all, I looked like crap, my hair was a literal mess, and I had bags and dark circles under my eyes.
I looked nothing like the clean-cut, sophisticated restauranteur I normally presented to the world.
It was a good thing that Kelly was here. At least she looked chipper and bright. As she should. Today was a big celebration for her too. We’d been official business partners for a year, although we’d worked together forever, and we did good.
I just wasn’t able to celebrate the way I wanted.
I flipped over the pancake I was making so the other side could get done.
Kelly walked in with a bright smile on her face, cheeks red.
I knew she was happy I was here, but that look was for something else.
“Do they all talk like that? Calling women dolls?” The red on her cheeks brightened.
“Yes, they kind of do. What happened now?”
“Oh nothing,” she answered with a smitten look on her face.
She totally had a crush on Luc. And if she tried to deny it, I would call her out on it right in front of him.
She was also loving the attention she was getting from Donny far too much.
They were all here. At this time of morning.
Luc, Maurice, Donny, Louis, and Saul were on the inside. There were a few guys I didn’t know on the outside. Not directly outside. Just around the restaurant, protecting the place.
They all acted like something was going to happen, and it made me antsy.
It was eight. The restaurant had opened for breakfast at seven thirty, and the place was already packed. I would have hated for anything to happen here. I prayed nothing would.
It was ironic since the last time I was here, I nearly got kidnapped again.
“And must they all look hot? You didn’t tell me mafia guys were all hot. Even Saul is a looker, until he opens his mouth.”
Outside, they sat at a table in the corner where they could watch the place. I was just going to stay here until after lunchtime. Kelly was here for the day, open until close.
“Kelly, are you having indecorous thoughts before you’ve even walked down the aisle? Should I remind you that you’re engaged? Also, Luc is married, with a child.”
She rolled her eyes at me and looked embarrassed. “I’m not having indecorous thoughts. Just making an observation. I’m engaged, not dead. My eyes register these things, and fact is fact. The man is hot. Ariel’s having a field day.”
I smiled. It was a weak smile, but one nonetheless. My shoulders slumped, and the weakness I’d previously felt washed over me.
Claudius had really upset me last night.
He’d walked away from me and never answered, never said anything. Despite the fact that he must have known how worried I was.
“Hey.” Kelly reached out and touched my shoulder. “Chin up. This is a big day for us. Do not let anything get you down. Who knows where we’ll be next year? Ava, I see us in Europe. Maybe Paris or even Italy. We could take over the world with our amazing food.”
“That does sound good,” I agreed.
I’d dreamed big, but she’d clearly dreamed bigger. I was in, whatever she choose. I was definitely in.
“I’ll cook the next order.” She grinned.
“Is it for our new friends?”
“Luc wants a Spanish omelette.”
“Okay, Kelly.” I finished off the pancake, added some chocolate and hazelnut spread to the top, then banoffee syrup.
We’d promised our customers that we’d be serving them today. The day started with my father’s all-time favorites, and a lot of his old customers were already here. My parents were coming for lunch. Today was when I’d been hoping to talk to them about Claudius. Now, I wasn’t so sure there was anything to talk about.
He didn’t want me. Last night told me that. He was kick starting the process of shunning me once again.
I hated him right now for it, and at the same time, I loved him and missed him so much my soul ached.
Pushing the thought aside, I prepared a food tray with my order of pancakes and freshly squeezed grapefruit, and made my way out to the restaurant floor. It was even busier than just half an hour ago.
Nearly all the tables were filled, and two of my waitresses were coming through the door. Just in time.
I went over to Mr. Portobelle and served him the pancakes. He was one of Pa’s oldest friends. He was here with his wife. They beamed up at me when I came up to them.
“Oh, Ava, look at you. We’re so proud of you. The place is heavin’.” Mrs. Portobelle laughed. She had a thick New York accent I’d always loved.
“Your parents are going to be very proud of what you’ve done with the place.”
“Thank you. I truly appreciate that. I hope I made the pancakes like Pa.”
Mr. Portobelle cut into the end of the pancake, dipped it in the sauce that had drizzled to the side of his plate, then placed it in his mouth. His salt and pepper brows wiggled with delight, and he started to laugh. “Please do not tell your father I said this, but damn, sweet girl, yours is better than his.”
“Oh my gosh, that’s quite a compliment. Thank you. I’m so honored.” I nodded.
It was an honor. People knew my father’s cooking far and wide. So, that was definitely quite the compliment.
“My turn.” Mrs. Portobelle smiled. From as far back as I could remember, she’d always shared a plate with her husband.
“Enjoy. Call for me if you need anything else.” I smiled at them.
I was making my way back to the kitchen when Luc stopped me.
“Hey, Doll, you okay?” he asked, giving me that concerned look he’d sported since last night.
“I’m here. Thanks for coming with me.” I had to admit, I felt safer knowing he was here. Of course, if Claudius were here too, I would have actually been happy.
“Boss’ orders. I’m not to leave your side. Not that I wouldn’t have come along anyway.” He chuckled.
“He said that?” It was stupid of me to hang on to hope, but here I was.
Luc instantly looked thrown a little off guard. “He did say that.”
“Has he called since we’ve been here?”
Now he looked worse. The caution in his expression told me he’d spoken to Claudius.
“He has, hasn’t he?” I added. “It’s okay. It’s not fair to put you in the middle. I know you must have been busy, and if you weren’t busy, you could be with Amelia or Raphael. You didn’t have to be here.”
To my surprise, he rested his hand on my shoulders and beamed down at me with his bright blue eyes. Bright like the blue eye Claudius had. They looked a lot alike. Sometimes, if not for the differences in the way they wore their hair, the temperament, and the unusual eye color Claudius had, they could have passed for twins.
I should know since I’d had a twin once.
“I’m fairly certain that when we first met, I said my brother could be a prick sometimes. Who in the world would come to a restaurant this fancy and order a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? And Jesus, what a terrible pick-up line.” He did that sneer thing Claudius did, and I laughed. “It was, Ava, come on. I guess it worked though. Anyway, you and I both know that Claudius is of a different category, and when he gets like this, all hyped up and whatever, few can reach him. So, let him ride it out. Let him ride it out and do what he needs to. Capisce?”
“Capisce.”
He released me.
We both looked around at the door at the same time when the little bell jingled.
It was Alex. One of The Four.
I thought he was just here to join the crew, but the tension on Luc’s face told me otherwise.
His expression just switched, morphed into instant anger with his jaw set and eyes bearing down on Alex like he’d kill him.
Alex walked up to us.
“You know, Lucian, you can’t look at me like that and not want a fight.” Alex looked Luc over.
And Jesus, I didn’t even register that Luc had moved until his hands were at Alex’s throat and he’d hoisted him up in the air.
People were looking over in horror, but I was watching them.
“Mind your words, boy. Consider this a reminder of who you’re talking to. What the fuck do you want?”
My hands… they started to tremble. I’d never seen Luc like that.
I thought between him and Claudius, he was the more even-tempered brother. Right now, the lines between their differences in temperament didn’t seem all that different.
What did Alex do?
What had he done to deserve this sort of treatment?
Alex grabbed at Luc’s hand, but Luc had him in some grip that weakened him. Didn’t matter that the two were the same height and practically the same built.
Luc’s guys came over seeing the commotion. They looked like him. Ready for battle. Ready for battle while Alex gasped for breath.
“Luc, please let him go.” I tugged on the sleeve of his shirt.
He glanced at me, then back to Alex, and released him.
Alex gave him a bewildered look. “I’m not the enemy here. I’m not. You know me. You know me, Lucian.” He stared Luc down.
“Everyone has a price, Alex.”
“Not me. I have nothing left.” Alex adjusted his collar, revealing the cross on his neck.
Who had he lost?
He said he had nothing left. Maybe I was a complete naïve in this, but I didn’t see any ill-will in him.
“I heard on the underground that Goliath’s in town. Thought you should know.”
My already racing heart started to gallop, making my chest tighten.
Goliath… back in town. Just hearing the name made my skin crawl and the hair on my arms lift.
My legs… shook. Weak and trembling.
Just like I knew Luc had spoken to Claudius earlier, I somehow knew that Luc already knew about Goliath.
That was what last night had been about. That was what had brought Claudius to the house at that late hour. He was talking about giving me normal and Luc staying by my side.
This was why.
Alex backed away and left us. Walking out the door.
I looked at Luc, feeling lightheaded.
Adrenaline took over, and I moved to go, to run to wherever I needed to, to find Claudius. But Luc caught me.
“Ava, no.”
“Something could happen to him.” I winced, drawing more attention to our little circle.
Luc put his arm around me and ushered me down to the corridor. There was no one there.
“Ava, you can’t just run out to wherever. There’s nothing you can do.”
“You… you have to go. Please. He needs you.”
Luc gave me a pained look. “Ava, my brother and I take promises very seriously. Our word is our word. That’s why we know that we can trust each other. I gave him my word that I would take care of the most important thing in this world to him. So, I’m here.”
Heat flushed to my cheeks, making my skin tingle. I didn’t know why it should surprise me.
Why would it?
“Me?” I wasn’t being big headed in thinking that the most important thing in this world to Claudius was me. I knew it.
He nodded and gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
I tried to swallow, but cold fingers of fear gripped me, and I couldn’t get past the lump in my throat.
What if Claudius got himself killed?
It could happen.