Chapter 7
916 Words
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE RULES OF VICTOR LEONARDO
Lina discovered three things during her first week in Victor Leonardo’s house.
One, the house was ridiculously large.
Two, Victor apparently owned enough black suits to dress a small army.
Three, his security team had absolutely no sense of humor.
She discovered the third one at breakfast.
Lina walked into the dining room wearing an oversized T-shirt, mismatched socks, and the expression of a woman who had been personally betrayed by morning.
Victor was already there, reading something on his tablet.
He looked up.
His eyes traveled briefly from her messy hair to her socks.
“Interesting.”
“Say one more word about my socks and you're eating breakfast alone.”
Victor lowered his gaze to his coffee.
“I said nothing.”
“Your face did.”
His mouth twitched.
Lina dropped into the chair opposite him and stole a piece of toast from his plate.
Victor watched her.
“That's mine.”
“Not anymore.”
“Good morning to you too.”
“Good morning.”
She bit into the toast.
Outside the enormous windows, two men in black suits stood near the driveway.
Lina pointed at them.
“Do they ever go home?”
Victor glanced outside.
“They're working.”
“They've been standing there since yesterday.”
“Probably because yesterday I also had security.”
Lina slowly lowered her toast.
“Victor.”
“Hmm?”
“Do I have security?”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
He considered it.
“Enough.”
“That is not a number.”
Victor set down his tablet.
“Four around the house. Two with the car. Sometimes more when I'm traveling.”
Lina stared.
“Sometimes more?”
“You're married to me.”
“And?”
“And people know you're important to me.”
The words caught her off guard.
Victor seemed to realize it too because his expression changed slightly.
Lina looked down at her toast.
“That's annoyingly sweet.”
“I'll try to be less sweet.”
“Please don't. It was painful enough.”
Victor laughed quietly.
Lina smiled despite herself.
Then she noticed a small card beside his tablet.
She picked it up.
“What’s this?”
“Your new security contact.”
“My what?”
“If you ever need help, call that number. It connects directly to my security team.”
Lina read it.
“That's actually useful.”
Victor nodded.
“There’s also an emergency button in your car.”
She looked up.
“Okay, James Bond.”
“I'm serious.”
“So am I. Do I get a cool little earpiece?”
“No.”
“A helicopter?”
“No.”
“A secret identity?”
Victor stared at her.
“Lina.”
She grinned.
“Fine.”
Victor leaned back.
“You don't have to change your life because of me. Go out. See your friends. Go shopping. Do whatever you want.”
Lina blinked.
That wasn't what she'd expected.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Then why do I need security?”
“Because I have enemies. That's my problem, not yours. But if you're with me, I'd rather you have someone nearby if something goes wrong.”
Lina studied him.
It was probably the most reasonable thing he'd said since she'd moved in.
She nodded slowly.
“Okay.”
Victor picked up his coffee.
“Thank you.”
“But I'm choosing their uniforms.”
“No.”
“Then I'm firing them.”
“You can't fire my security team.”
“Watch me.”
Victor's mouth curved.
Lina pointed her toast at him.
“And I want to meet them.”
“Why?”
“Because if strangers are going to follow me around all day, I want to know their names.”
Victor thought about it.
“Fair.”
“And they don't get to report every little thing I do to you.”
His eyebrow lifted.
“Define little thing.”
“Everything.”
“That's vague.”
“Exactly.”
Victor sighed.
“Fine.”
Lina smiled triumphantly.
“See? Marriage is about compromise.”
“We've been married for barely a week.”
“And you're already learning.”
Victor shook his head.
Lina reached for another piece of toast.
Then stopped.
“Wait.”
Victor looked up.
“What?”
She narrowed her eyes.
“You said you're going away tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Two days.”
Lina relaxed.
“Okay.”
Victor watched her for a moment.
“Why?”
“Because I was planning to throw a party.”
His expression changed.
“Lina.”
She burst out laughing.
“I'm joking!”
Victor stared at her.
She laughed harder.
“Your face!”
“You're impossible.”
“And you're dramatic.”
Victor stood, picked up his tablet, and walked toward the door.
Lina called after him.
“Don't forget your security briefing!”
He stopped.
Slowly turned.
She gave him an innocent smile.
“I'm learning your world.”
Victor looked at her for another second.
Then he smiled.
“That's what worries me.”
And Lina didn't notice the way his expression changed when he turned away.
Because for the first time since she'd arrived, Victor wasn't worried about her discovering his secrets.
He was worried about what would happen when she finally did.
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