Page 94 of Shield

I roll my eyes, watching them from the kitchen as I stir the pastina on the stove.

My cousin, Sophie, calls the soup “Italian penicillin” and taught me and Emily how to make our Nonna’s recipe years ago. I’ve made it a practice to always keep some on hand, just in case.

If anyone could use a little nutritional healing, it’s Tommy. When the soup is ready, I set it up on a tray with a spoon and napkin and head back toward Tommy as his phone buzzes.

Tommy jerks to attention, his eyes wide, as he reads the incoming text.

“Fuck yeah,” he mutters under his breath, furiously typing back a response. He stands abruptly and barrels toward the door.

He runs right into me, and I step back, trying to hold the tray steady as the soup sloshes over the bowl.

“Sorry, Siena.” Tommy glances down at the tray and seems to process that I’m bringing it to him. “Shit, thank you for going to the trouble, but I really have to—”

“It’s okay,” I say, nodding. “You’re fine. Be safe.”

Tommy drops a quick kiss on the top of my head and rushes toward the door.

“Jesus, no goodbye? Tommy?” Vin edges over to me and grabs the spoon, swiping a mouthful of soup before I can stop him. His eyes half close, and he groans. “Holy shit. So good.”

“Tommy, you good?” Matti calls out.

“I’ll let you know,” Tommy yells back, the door shutting behind him.

I glare at Vin and head back to the kitchen, leaving himholding the spoon.

“I don’t mind stepping in for my brother, if you’re just going to put that back, princess. That is fucking amazing.”

“I’d rather throw it out,” I say sweetly, striding to the sink.

“Rude!” Vin shakes his head as he flops into Tommy’s seat on the couch.

I narrow my eyes at him from the sink, and he scowls back. Maintaining eye contact, I hold up the bowl of pastine, then tip it, letting the soup pour slowly into the sink and down the drain.

“What the fuck!” Vin throws up his hands and turns to Matti. “I liked it better when you were single.”

“I liked it better when you were at your own damn house,” Matti replies, not looking up from his phone.

Vin scowls. “So I bring over hundreds of thousands of dollars, and this is the thanks I get.”

“Speaking of, where’s the rest?” Matti asks, smiling at me as he takes my hand and helps me settle on the couch next to him.

He lifts his chin toward my tea, still steaming on the coffee table. I make a face but pick it up and sip.

Vin grins. “I wondered when you were going to ask me that.”

“And?”

“It’s invested.” Vin smirks, leaning forward and resting his forearms on his spread knees. His eyes sparkle as he baits Matti, and I sigh.

Matti looks over at him. “Really.”

“Yep.” Vin’s tone turns serious, his expression hard. “Men, buildings, guns.”

“I hope you’re moving slowly. Big moves get attention, andif Aurelio catches wind of anything—”

Vin raises his hand to stop Matti. “I’m being smart. Going slow. Different distributors, different realtors, different recruiters. All small purchases, all easily justifiable if asked.”

Matti nods. “Good.” He wraps his arm around me and pulls me tightly to him when I settle back on the couch. Tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear thoughtfully, he says, “I’m glad this is happening.”

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