Page 80 of Pistols and Plush Toys

“Yes. Is very good,” Nikolai said. “Maybe that, if you can make it?” Then he looked hopefully up at Elliot, showing his empty bowl. “Is more?”

A thrill went up Elliot’s spine. “There’s a whole pot of it,” he said, holding out his hand for Nikolai’s bowl. I can—”

“You sit and eat,” Nikolai said firmly, pushing out of his chair. “I’m not old man, is okay for me to get my own soup.”

It really wasn’t fair, Elliot thought a little wildly, as the man went over to spoon some more soup into his bowl, that Nikolai was both so kindandfunny.

He focused back on his own food instead of letting those thoughts turn over any further in his brain.

When Nikolai returned to his seat, he looked back at Elliot. “I’m think of more food.”

Elliot leaned forward, probably too eagerly. But he wanted to know. He wanted to know everything about the food that Nikolai enjoyed, so that Elliot could try to make it for him. “Yeah?”

“The last time I was in Florida we went to Cuban place. The salmon was very good and they had these… I forget the name but they are plantains, that are fried maybe?”

“Maduros,” Elliot said.

Nikolai nodded. “Yes. I like that.”

Elliot beamed at him. “What else?”

Chapter 16: Nikolai

Nikolai woke up hungry the next morning. He’d had a restless night, and didn’t feel like he’d gotten much sleep at all. He kept seeing Elliot in his dreams. Back in Vitale’s clutches, crying out as he washurt—

Nikolai wouldn’t let that happen.

As he went through his morning routine, his thoughts turned to the text conversation he’d had with Gerard and Meredith yesterday. The plan to lure Vitale back to the states. Gerard and Meredith were right; knowing the kind of man Vitale was, it had a high chance of working, and working quickly.

Nikolai still didn’t like it. Didn’t like any plan that involved Elliot in the line of fire. He’d—he’d already gone through so much.

But did Nikolai really want to drag this out? Vitale had already killed a woman, injured more. If Nikolai let him run rampant, there was no telling how many casualties there might be. Not to mention the bad business Vitale was trying to bring into Nikolai’s city.

Did Nikolai want to risknotgetting Vitale back in town quickly, to put him down?

He rinsed off his razor and reached for his toothbrush, glaring at his reflection. No. No, Nikolai didn’t want to just sit around to wait and see what Vitale would try next. He was already perfectly aware that for Vitale, Nikolai’s head was next on the chopping block. And if Nikolai fell, Elliot would be collateral too.

He couldn’t help but think about how excited Elliot had been at lunch yesterday. He’d wanted to learn about every one of Nikolai’s favorite meals. Nikolai had practically seen himcompiling a mental list. He’d never met anyone so into cooking, but seeing how it lit Elliot up, Nikolai was dedicated to giving him every opportunity to do so.

Nikolai couldn’t bear to see that light shattered. Elliot had come out of his shell enormously since he’d first been… brought to Nikolai. But he still jumped at shadows. Still had difficulty making eye contact. Still bit down on his lip to keep quiet.

Nikolai knew that such behaviors couldn’t be unlearned in such a short time, but if he had anything to say about it, Elliot would soon be free of Vitale’s shadow. They all would be.

Which meant getting Vitale back in town so that Nikolai could put a bullet in his skull.

Fuck.

He finished brushing his teeth and went to his closet, choosing a loose fitting pair of slacks and a long sleeve shirt. He went to the bureau that held his jewelry, sliding on a hublot before picking out a thick-chained necklace as well as one additional ring that he slipped onto his pinky with the regulars he wore. His shirt didn’t have holes for his favorite pair of cufflinks, so he slid one of his lockpick sets into his pants pocket.

Unlocking his phone, he went to check his calendar. What did he have to do today?

Some overdue tasks for his father’s businesses—make some rounds and have his face seen. Ugh. He didn’t expect it to be dangerous or strenuous, but it would be taxing. Anytime he had to handle his father’s businesses, it wore him down. None of them were nearly as rewarding as the jewelry work he did with Gerard and Meredith.

But it was a nonnegotiable part of all of this. If he put it off too long someone might make a phone call back home, and that was the last thing Nikolai needed right now.

When Nikolai stepped out of his room, he got a whiff of something savory in the air. His stomach rumbled again, and he headed quickly through the house toward the kitchen.

Nikolai paused in the doorway to the kitchen. Elliot was busy working and hadn’t noticed Nikolai approach. Nikolai let himself just take a moment to watch Elliot in his element.

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