Page 96 of Tristano

“I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

Killian steps outside, followed by another man. Conor and I push off the car and stand straight.

“That’s Rothestein. He’s a good man if not a little crazy.”

I watch as Killian shakes the other man’s hand before walking down the stairs.

“Aren’t you all? A little crazy, I mean.”

Conor chuckles as he opens the door. “Get in, smart-ass.”

I do as he says with a smile on my face.

* * *

I’m reclinedin my chair with my feet up on my desk. My eyes are dry as the exhaustion settles in, and I can barely keep them open. I’ve tried running around the office, doing jumping jacks, and drinking enough caffeine to fuel an entire submarine.

Getting old fucking sucks. I’m only twenty-five, and it feels like pulling an all-nighter is no longer in my wheelhouse of qualifications.

I rest my head on my fist and close my eyes.

Just five minutes.

I don’t know how long I’ve been out when I feel a hand come down on my shoulder, making me jump.

“It’s just me,” Serena says quietly.

I sit up straight and rub my eyes. “What are you doing here?”

She shrugs when I look at her.

“Didn’t you go home?”

“I did.” She licks her lips. “But I couldn’t sleep without you there.”

I groan, feeling guilty as fuck. “I’m sorry,anima gemella. I didn’t even think of that.”

“It’s okay.” She looks around the room. “Did everyone go home?”

“Yeah. I kicked them out at about midnight. They have kids at home, I can man this while they take care of their families.”

“That’s sweet of you.” Serena’s eyes drop from my face to my chest and back. She raises a brow. “What happened to your shirt?”

I look down and chuckle. I completely forgot that I took off my dress shirt earlier and just put my sports jacket back on.

“You don’t like this look?” I tease as I run my hand down my chest and over my abs, resting it on my belt.

“You know I do.” Serena blushes. “Now are you going to stop teasing me and tell me what happened?”

I pull her into my lap and wrap my arms around her waist. Without prompting, Serena leans down and kisses me.

“I spilled hot coffee on myself earlier, so I took it off,” I tell her when I pull away from her lips.

“If you would have texted me, I would have brought you a clean set of clothes.”

“That’s okay. I texted my dry cleaner down the street. They are just going to drop off my dry cleaning here instead of the house tomorrow.”

“That’s some kind of service.”