Page 102 of Attraction (Mobsters + Billionaires 3)
“Hello.”
I turn, sending him a little wave. “Hey, Hop.”
Hop’s eyes widen. “Youreye!”He approaches me cautiously, gesturing to my injuries. “I thought maybe I was overreacting this time.”
“You didn’t overreact in the slightest,” Liam says, lifting his chin toward Ciaran’s body.
“Never doubt your Spidey sense, Hop,” Luca says, kissing my temple.
Hop takes in Ciaran’s body with a frank neutrality that chills my bones. After a moment, his eyes widen and he turns to Liam, cupping his jaw. “Hey, are you okay? That’s your old man, right?”
Liam pulls away, a curious look on his face. He brings his hand to his jaw as if trying to capture the warmth of Hopper’s touch. “Yeah. I was just telling Luca and Ford that he wasn’t a good man.”
Hopper pulls him into a surprisingly gentle hug, and Liam stands there with his arms to his sides. After a moment, he returns the hug, resting his forehead on Hopper’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” Hopper says. “I’m also sorry that your grandfather’s condition has gotten worse. But you won’t be alone. I promise.”
Liam steps back, wiping tears from his eyes. “Why am I not surprised you know that?”
“Because you’re very good at what you do, and you know that I’m even better,” Hopper says, smiling kindly.
It’s…weird. Sweet, but weird.
Liam shakes his head, and Luca steps forward. “Agent, you need to get out of here now. You can’t be part of this.”
Liam spares another glance for the cooling body on the tile floor, then pushes his mask into my hands. “Here. This will be softer on your eye.”
“Thank you.”
Rubbing his hand across his forehead, he continues, “I…that night changed the course of my life. My career. I was concluding my case with the Stefano family—unsatisfactorily, by the way—when I recognized you at the gala at the Natural History Museum earlier this year. I was glad to see you happy and successful.”
That was the night I met Luca for the first time.
I’m still vacillating between numb and shaken, but his words settle me. Liam and I peer into each other’s eyes for a beat, then he quietly slips out the door.
“You really should lock up when you’re going to kill someone,” Hopper says, flipping the latch.
“You are right as always, Hop,” Luca says, sending me an aborted grin. “But I need to tend to the cuts on Ford’s face. Can I trust you to take care of this?” he asks, gesturing with his chin over at the senior O’Shea.
“Of course, boss. I’ll get some people on it right away.”
Hop bends down and picks up Luca’s mask, handing it to him.
“Um, Hop?”
“Yeah?”
“What’s the deal with the grandfather? I know he has a heart condition, but I assumed it wasn’t that bad.”
“Based on the prescriptions in his grandfather’s room, he’s dying.”
Luca lowers his head. “I’m sorry to hear it.”
“That’s why I bring him flowers.”
I exchange a glance with Luca as I touch my hand to my chest.
“You’re a good man, Hop,” Luca says, kissing Hopper’s cheek. “Thank you for taking care of this.”
