Page 79 of Savage Empire
“Marginally.”
He chuckles, turning back to me. “So how come the new wheels? I thought you said you weren’t much of a car guy?”
“I’m not.” I lift a shoulder, nodding down at the Ferrari. “This one’s not for me.”
“No? Elio’s then?”
“Nope.”
Yordan’s brows dip down. “Armani?”
“A newer member of the family, actually.” I pull the keys from my pocket, tossing them in his direction.
Yordan catches them instinctively, hand shooting up to grab them from mid air. He gapes, staring down at the brand new keys. Spinning around, he sees that no one is standing directly behind him. Meaning my throw wasn’t meant for anyone else.
“Happy birthday,” I add, smirking as the realization sets in.
Jade starts a cheer, yelling out happy birthday too. She’s grinning ear to ear, happy to be involved in the set up. She wanted to test out her ability to act, and she did excellent.
“Happy early birthday, Yordan,” Ana tacks on, tucking her head under Cassio’s chin as the couple watches on.
A few more well wishes ring out, and Yordan breathes out shakily.
“This is for me? Are you serious?”
“All yours,” I confirm, head dipping in a short nod. “You’ll need to learn how to drive it though. Elio and Leon have volunteered.”
“Sure did,” Leon chimes, waltzing up to the two of us and clapping a hand on Yordan’s shoulder. “We had to. You’d give Mr. Grumpy here a full head of gray hair if he tried to do ithimself. Trust me, he taughtmeto drive and I think I nearly gave him a stroke or two.”
Or three.
“I can’t believe this,” Yordan says, voice thick with emotion. “How…why?”
“Why not?”
“How did you convince Rayna?”
Father and Leon both bark out a laugh, and his sister hides a smile. Of course that would be one of his questions when given a frivolous gift. He knows her better than anyone. For now.
“She’s warmed up to me recently,” I reply with a nonchalant shoulder lift. “It wasn’t too difficult at all, really.”
“Yeah, right.” He snorts. “You didn’t ask, did you?”
“No, no, he did not.” Rayna glares at me halfheartedly, attempting to appear like an angry mother.
Yordan cracks a grin. “But you’re not making me give it back, are you?”
“No,” she replies and huffs. “But you will drive responsibly in that death trap of a car, or you willregretit, Yordan Todorov.”
Leon chuckles. “Pretty sure she’ll turn your apartment into a prison real quick if you don’t listen to her, bud.”
“Don’t I know it.” Yordan groans. “I once rode my bike down the stairs and she took away my phone for a month. She wouldn’t let me leave the house either.”
“Brutal,” Matteo says with a chuckle.
“How dare I care about your safety,” she drawls, rolling her eyes.
In a flash, Yordan is wrapping me into a crushing hug, arms squeezing tightly around my back. “Thank you,” he mutters privately.
