Perfect Enemies

21

“You are not changing the subject. You. Kane. Spill.” She led me across the hall to a large room that was a cross between a family room and a game room with a classy sectional sofa and entertainment center. Contemporary framed cityscapes dotted the walls, and a game table sat in the back corner —all decorated in the same style and color scheme as her bedroom. “Okay, okay. But this setup is crazy awesome, just so you know.” It didn’t make up for her s**t situation, but it was a tiny perk. I plopped down on the sofa next to her. “As for Kane, there’s not much to say. I happened to see him in the lobby. He told me he wasn’t into the movie, so I asked him about that. Usually guys love war stuff.” I shrugged. “That’s about it.” I debated whether to tell her about my cartel suspicions, but I was still not convinced I wasn’t just being paranoid. She already had so much crap to deal with. The last thing I wanted was to give her one more thing to worry about. “You sure? Because you two looked seriously into each other when I showed up.” “You know how he’s rubbed me the wrong way since the day he arrived. I just started to realize on Friday that I hadn’t given him a fair break, so I was trying to be civil and get to know him a little better.” Her eyes softened. “I’m so glad to hear that. I think he’s a decent guy.” She raised a hand to stop me before I could say anything. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not interested, but I also don’t think you should be so hard on him. That’s all.” “Fair enough. I’m willing to give him a chance. You and I have more important things to think about anyway.” I peered around the room, wondering about cameras and listening devices, then leaned in close to her ear. “I don’t want to forget to ask you if the word viper means anything to you.” “Like the snake or the car?” she whispered. “Well, I figure it means something more than that, but I have no idea what. I was hoping you could tell me.” I dropped my voice back to a whisper, pretending to rub my nose to cover my lips. “I saw it on a note in my dad’s office.” “Sorry, but it doesn’t ring any bells.” I frowned. “Nothing else to share at the moment, but I’ll keep at it.” “There’s time,” she whispered. “Come on, let’s watch a movie.” Her face split into an enormous grin that clamped down on my heart. She’d been so neglected in life that she was genuinely thrilled just to watch a movie with a friend—something I would have taken for granted before I met Rey. We spent three hours together watching a chick flick, talking about celebrities as we leafed through a gossip magazine, then painting each other’s toes the same pale blue for spring. They were mundane activities that I wouldn’t have given a second thought before. Seeing the world from Reyna’s perspective, the time together became a precious gift. I just hoped it wasn’t the last time we were able to hang out like two normal teenage girls. I left Reyna’s house buried in an avalanche of emotions so deep I almost didn’t notice the man walking on the opposite side of the street. He was bundled against the cold, but I would have recognized that tousled hair anywhere. “Are you stalking me?” I called out wryly, hoping he didn’t detect the genuine concern in my voice. Kane stopped and met my gaze, those maple eyes of his pinning me to the spot. “Maybe I should ask if you’re stalking me.” “Just walking home from a friend’s house.” I didn’t want to say I’d been at Reyna’s and give him her home address if he didn’t already know it. “What’s your excuse?” “Just out for a walk.” He mimicked my tone, stepping forward and slowly entering the street. “If that isn’t suspicious, I don’t know what is. It’s freezing out. Who voluntarily goes for a walk in this weather?” “It’s refreshing.” His lip quirked up in one corner. I shook my head and continued walking with him beside me. “Definitely a crazy stalker.” “Hey, you chose to walk home in the cold. You’re telling me no one could give you a ride?” I shot him a side glance and fed him the same explanation he’d given me about his temperamental moods. “It’s complicated.” He huffed out a laugh. “Touché. You live nearby?” “So, you’re not a very good stalker?” “Maybe I’m so good at what I do, I’ve gotten you to drop your defenses.” I studied him from the corner of my eye, wondering if he could be right. “Whatever, it’s cold as balls out here. Give me a better answer than it’s refreshing.” He blew out a foggy cloud of air. “Mom died when I was younger, and Dad is working overseas at the moment. Sometimes I just like to get away from my house.” His tone was matter-of-fact, but the reality behind his words reeked of loneliness. “That really sucks.” There wasn’t much more to be said. I couldn’t fix his situation, and no positive spin would change the truth. He was alone, stuck raising his younger brother. His situation was mildly better than Reyna’s, but not by much. Together, they made my mafia household look like the Huxtables. Assuming what he said was true. “It’s not as bad as it sounds. I just needed a breather.” “What is it your dad does that keeps him away from home?” “He practices international law for a big firm with offices in other countries. Depending on what case he’s working on, he has to bounce between offices. He used to work at the Houston office but transferred up here to be closer to the European team. What about you? What does your dad do?” He peered at me curiously. “He works for my uncle’s construction company, and it’s mostly out of his home office, so he’s always around.” That was the story I grew up believing. It wasn’t totally untrue, just not the whole picture. “Mom?” “She volunteers at the church mostly.” A low humming sound resonated from his chest. “So, parents are around, yet you had to walk from your friend’s house. In the cold. You say it’s complicated, but I’d say it sounds awfully intriguing.” I slowed to a stop, Kane doing the same. We eyed one another—my gray gaze warring with his golden stare. “You explain your complicated, and I’ll explain mine,” I dared him breathlessly. Kane sobered, his face growing harsh. He took a small step forward. “You are my complicated, Valentina Genovese.” The words hung in the air, accented by the pounding of my racing heart. “I want to know why. If there’s not someone else, then what’s so complicated?” I stepped closer, his magnetic pull drawing me in. He reached his hand around to cup the back of my neck, then paused, his face twisting in torment before he brought our lips together. Cold to warm. Firm to yielding. Opposite yet perfectly matched.