“It’s very simple,” Rafe said mildly and without preamble, leaning back in the massive black leather chair he was currently occupying. “I intercepted Nero before he could take the information to the board, and I have already spoken with Dad myself.”
Lorenzo stared down at the computer screen. It was currently displaying the interior of Rafe’s office, his middle brother staring blandly back at him.
Rafe had always been a particularly difficult person to read, especially because he never let any sign of his true emotions show. His expression was inevitably relaxed, laid-back, and charming. As the face of DS Corp. and heading its PR arm, he was the consummate politician, always calm, always smooth, and always with the perfect sound bite. Yet sometimes his silver-blue eyes glittered with an edge that was scalpel sharp and very, very dangerous.
They were glittering now.
“I don’t care what you do with the information,” Lorenzo said, just as mild, because he actually didn’t care. He didn’t even know why Rafe was bothering to call him about this. “I know you’re pissed Nero and I exposed Dad’s embezzling, but the truth was always going to come out.”
His brother gave him a neutral smile and lifted a shoulder. “You mistake me. I’m not pissed you exposed our father. In fact, I’m pleased because it saved me the trouble.”
Lorenzo frowned. “Care to explain what you mean by that?”
Rafe put his elbows on the desk and interlaced his fingers. “Not really. I only wanted to assure you that I have no intention of planning any revenge or making any move against you or Nero.”
Revenge? That was not Lorenzo’s first thought he had to say.
“Well, thank God for that,” Lorenzo said coolly. “I was worried there for a second.”
“You should be, brother mine. Because Dad has agreed to step down and has given control of DS Corp. to me.” Rafe’s smile widened, the cold scalpel edge glittering brightly in his eyes. “And I have no intention of giving it up.” Then he reached out toward the camera and the screen went dead.
Lorenzo stared at it for a second longer, debating whether this news mattered to him or not. Then, deciding it didn’t, he pushed shut the laptop, left the living room, and took the stairs two at a time to the terrace.
Outside, the stars were already out, burning like the tea lights glimmering in the holders scattered about.
But nothing was as bright as the woman lolling against the pillows of the daybed, her pale, naked form only just visible between the curtains he’d hung around said daybed for privacy’s sake. In the past few weeks, he and Kira had used it often.
Ducking back through the curtains, he pulled off the shorts he’d been wearing to save Rafe’s blushes, and got back onto the daybed, sliding down beside Kira and tugging her back into his arms, where she belonged.
“What did he want?” Kira asked.
“To tell me that the information we collected on Dad is now his and that apparently he’s spoken to Dad already and the old bastard has agreed to step down.”
“So what does that mean?” Kira folded her hands on his chest and looked at him. “Are you the big boss now?”
“No,” he replied slowly. “Rafe is.”
Kira’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh? But aren’t you the eldest? The heir?”
“I was.” Reaching out, he grabbed one pale curl and wound it around his finger, relishing the softness of it against his skin. “But I guess I’m not anymore.”
Her forehead creased. “Wow. But aren’t you upset about that? I mean, you don’t look upset . . .”
He thought about it, though not for very long because he already knew his answer. “No. I’m not upset. It was never about the company for me, not really. It was more about taking Dad down than anything else, and now that’s been accomplished . . .”
“Are you going to find something else then?”
He shook his head, rubbing the lock of hair around his finger with his thumb. “I don’t think so. I like the job and besides, someone’s going to have to keep an eye on that sneaky bastard Rafe. It may as well be me.”
“You are very good at keeping an eye on people,” she agreed, giving him a wicked look from beneath her lashes. “Oh, by the way, the center said yes.”
He grinned, pulling the lock of hair again gently. One of the community centers she’d been courting had shown a great deal of interest in her kids’ classes, and she’d been expecting a decision from them today. “That’s fantastic. Then again, they’d be crazy to refuse.”
She blushed. “Well, you never know.”
“I do,” he said firmly. “I always know.”
“Such arrogance, Mr. de Santis.” Her blue eyes were glowing. “Next you’ll be telling me you’re never wrong.”
Goddamn she was lovely, and he never got tired of looking at her. Never got tired of being with her, period. Which reminded him . . .
“I got you something,” he murmured, shifting on the daybed and reaching for the small box he’d hidden under the pillows earlier, wanting to surprise her.
She blinked, looking down at the box he was holding out. “Lorenzo . . .”
“You know it’s not an engagement ring. You’ve already got one of those.”
Color washed over her skin. “Yes, I know. But still. You don’t need to get me anything else.”
“Of course, I do.” He held out the box. “Go on. Open it.”
Kira sat up and took the box from him, shaking her head. But she opened it up anyway and he watched as her eyes went wide, giving him one startled glance before looking back down at the box again.
Pleasure lit her face and wonder, too, as she reached down and brought out the necklace he’d brought her.
The small, platinum paper crane swung and turned on the fine chain it was attached to.
Her eyes were glowing a deep, intense blue and she didn’t speak, but he didn’t need her to. The memory and love he saw in her face told him everything he needed to know.
And much, much later, when candles had guttered out and the stars were burning more brightly in the sky, and they were resting in each other’s arms, their heartbeats slowing finally and their breathing calming, Kira looked up at him, her eyes dark, the color of the sky above them. “Smile at me,” she whispered, the paper crane lying gleaming in the hollow of her throat.
So he did. The smile that was hers and hers alone.
Just like his heart.