Chapter 5
620 Words
CHAPTER FIVE
THE DINNER THAT WENT WRONG
By seven that evening, Lina had decided two things.
One, Victor Leonardo was hiding something.
Two, she was going to eat his expensive food while figuring out what it was.
She walked into the dining room wearing pajamas and found Victor already seated at the table.
He looked at her.
Then at her pajamas.
“Comfortable?”
“Very.”
“You're going out tonight.”
Lina glanced down at herself.
“Clearly.”
Victor's mouth twitched.
“There’s a restaurant downstairs.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“You didn't ask.”
Lina stared at him.
“You're really committed to being annoying.”
“I try.”
She dropped into the chair opposite him.
A few minutes later, food arrived.
Lina took one bite and immediately forgot she was supposed to be suspicious.
“Oh.”
Victor raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“This is ridiculously good.”
“I know.”
She pointed her fork at him.
“Don't ruin the moment.”
Victor actually laughed.
For a while, dinner was surprisingly normal.
They talked about nothing important. Lina complained about the weather. Victor complained that she stole food from his plate despite having her own.
It almost felt like home.
Almost.
Then Lina noticed the man standing outside the restaurant.
Black suit.
Earpiece.
Watching Victor.
She lowered her fork.
“Is that one of your security people?”
Victor glanced toward the window.
“Yes.”
“Why is he staring at us?”
“He's working.”
“He looks like he's waiting for someone to explode.”
Victor looked back at her.
“That's just his face.”
Lina snorted.
Then the man's phone rang.
He answered.
Victor's expression changed immediately.
He stood.
Lina frowned.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Victor.”
“I'll be right back.”
He walked toward the man.
Lina watched them speak in low voices.
Victor suddenly looked toward her.
Not angry.
Not controlling.
Just concerned.
That somehow made her more nervous.
He returned a minute later.
“What?”
Victor pulled out the chair beside her and sat.
“Someone saw you leaving the building earlier.”
Lina stared.
“Okay?”
“It's probably nothing.”
She put her fork down.
“You're terrible at making things sound like nothing.”
Victor smiled faintly.
“I'm working on it.”
Lina studied him.
“Am I in danger?”
Victor hesitated.
That was enough.
“Victor.”
“I don't know.”
Her stomach dropped.
But before she could respond, Victor reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
“We'll figure it out.”
Lina looked down at their joined hands.
Then back at him.
“You know, my father warned me that loving you would make my life complicated.”
Victor's expression softened.
“He was right about that.”
She blinked.
That wasn't what she'd expected.
“You're supposed to argue.”
“I could lie.”
Lina laughed despite herself.
Victor's thumb brushed lightly across her knuckles before he let go.
For the first time since leaving home, Lina wondered if perhaps she hadn't made the wrong choice.
Maybe her father was wrong about Victor.
Maybe Victor really was just a complicated man with a dangerous job.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
The color drained from his face.
Lina watched him answer.
“Speak.”
A pause.
Victor slowly stood.
“Don't touch anything.”
Lina's smile disappeared.
“Victor?”
He looked at her.
Whatever he'd just heard had changed everything.
“Someone broke into our house.”
And suddenly dinner wasn't so funny anymore.
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