Fire and Sweets (Book 3 of Wolves of Milano)

25. Plans

It’s been two days since her night trip with Elio. She got a text from Massimo telling her the girls will testify and that’s it. No calls, no messages, no visits from the police. Liam is a man of his word, he somehow managed to keep her identity a secret. She is glad for that, because her problems are piling up and she could use a break from everything. One huge thing that is no longer her problem is a relief. If only all the rest could be solved this easily.

Bangs, grunts and talking from downstairs makes her curious, so she goes to investigate what’s going on. Was she so lost in her thoughts that she missed all these people coming in? She usually hears the door. She stops at the bottom of the stairs and frowns. Is her mother moving the kitchen? Is this really the time to redo the house?

“Morning, sunshine.” Her mother smiles at her. “We got the all clear from the health inspector. I got an industrial fridge on loan, so we’ll move a few things from the kitchen to the dining room to make the space we need.”

“Oh! So that’s all the banging I’ve been hearing?” Kara smiles. Her idea was successful! They can save one part of the business.

“Yes. But it also means we can’t use the main kitchen for private purposes. We have to do with a kitchen nook in the dining room.” Marra tells her. 

“That’s fine.” Kara chuckles. “It means we still have a job.”

“Would you help Fernando navigate the catering site? He’s not used to the computer system and our planning schedule.” Marra asks her and leans in really close: “He needs to learn, so he can replace you when you go.”

“Did you tell him that?” Kara inquires.

“He wasn’t happy, but he understands I can’t afford a secretary till we get the insurance settled.” Marra winks. The playful nature of her mother is showing again. Is she happy? Did she make the next step in her private relationship with Fernando? As stepfathers go, he is the best candidate for the job. They already love him. Kara can’t help but smile when she walks in her mother’s home office. Fernando is at the computer, frowning and silently cursing. The mess of papers around him is even worse than when she does this. Oh, he’ll be perfect.

“Hey! I heard we’re back in business.” Kara smiles at Fernando.

“Yeah.” Fernando chuckles. “Office work is not what I expected. How do you make any sense of this?”

“Scoot over, let me show you.” She tells him. This will be a good thing to get her mind off of other things. So she gets busy creating a schedule with Fernando, shows him the time plan and how to read the catering calendar. When she explains her mothers colour scheme to him, he finally understands the charts.

“Why didn’t she just tell me about the colour scheme? I could make sense out of all this a long time ago.” He grunts.

“I don’t think she thinks the same way. If I knew that’s all it takes, I would start with the colour scheme two hours ago.” Kara tells him.

“We’ll get there. We still have some time, right?” He looks at her and she knows just by his expression that he knows.

“Yes. I hope so.” She nods. “I hope my Uncle doesn’t force mother’s hand. I’d hate to just disappear without a goodbye.”

“I’ll miss you, kiddo.” Fernando hugs her close. Not something he used to do, but she never spent any time with him outside of work. She’s starting to realize he is a completely different person when he’s not in Chef mode.

“I’ll miss you, too.” She whispers.

“Will you help us get the show started when the guys finish cleaning the kitchen?” He asks her at lunch. Marra magically made a hearty stew and two sides on the little kitchenette two burner stove. Her mother can cook just about anywhere.

“Sure. It will be a tight squeeze, but we can manage.” Kara nods. “We have to separate the kitchen into small work areas, so we’re not in each other’s way all the time.”

“We could do that. This one will be easy. We have finger foods and sweets, so the stove is all yours. I have the prep work and then we can finish things with a flourish on site. I was thinking of liquid oxygen for a more spectacular effect.” Fernando explains.

“I never saw that done. Can you do it? Do we have the equipment?” Marra asks. She was quietly listening, but Kara thinks she likes the idea.

“I have everything at home. I was experimenting with it a few years back. It’s just not something that ever went with the concept at Rialto.” Fernando tells her. “We can easily do it on a catering job and it looks great to the clients.”

“Wonderful. We need something new.” Marra smiles.

Her mother has a good sense for business and the people she employs. She kept the best kitchen staff when she needed to make the decision who to keep and who to let go. Both her assistants stayed, mainly because Kara will leave soon, but mostly because they are great and versatile. Both Andrea and Lotte can serve as sous chefs as well. And most importantly: Fernando likes them both. He never had a problem working with them. She is a bit sad for the prep girls and runners and she hopes they can get good jobs with the recommendations from Marra and Fernando. 

But she understands her mother’s reasons. In the kitchen they have here, there is just no need for all the people. There is no space for them here. This kitchen is half the size of what they had at Rialto. Maybe even smaller than the walk-in cooler and freezer area? They will have to plan every detail of preparation work and where to store the produce and finished sweets. The industrial fridge her mother got will help immensely, but storage will still be a challenge when they tackle a catering job for more than fifty people. They will just have to think outside the tiny box they have to work with.

“Hey, Kara.” Elio whispers to her. How did the guy sneak up on her? 

“Any news?” She asks him. 

“Yeah. Come out to the garden with me.” He nods.

“I can do that. I was just planning the layout of the kitchen.” She answers.

“What happened in there? I can hardly recognize it.” Elio inquires.

“We moved the catering part here. Save a few jobs and income.” Kara tells him. 

“Oh. Your mother was talking about it, I just didn’t know she could get it done so fast.” He says. “That’s not why I’m here.”

“What part of our mess do we have to solve today?” She wonders.

“Your Uncle. He trashed the yard in anger. He failed miserably with Rialto and took his anger out on the nicely manicured yard that your Aunt loves so much. You all have to be really careful. I worry what he might do next.” Elio explains to her.

“Damn! Does mom know?” Kara exclaims.

“Yeah.” Elio nods. “But the good thing is that every imported wolf went home. She successfully ruined that part of his plans. The negotiations are on hold for now.”

“Perfect. I still don’t know how to make my case without endangering anyone. I hate it. It’s ruining my happiness.” Kara responds. 

“Sorry. I can’t help you there. I can plan your getaway, I can help you escape, but I have no idea how to solve this in a way that everyone ends up happy.” He shrugs.

“Thank you. It’s my problem, not yours.” Kara scoffs. “But I’m glad to have you as my friend.”

“As your friend…” Elio winks at her. “I’m your shadow for today. So you’re safe to go see Mattias.”

“Gods! You’re perfect.” Kara laughs. “Just what I need.”

Elio goes even one step further and drives her to the hotel. The perfect shadow to have. She has no idea what he’ll do in the meantime, but she is just too happy to worry. She gets to spend some time with Mattias. She missed him terribly over the last few days. Talking over the phone is not enough anymore. She wants physical contact, she wants to see him, she wants to be with him. The bond is getting stronger, and soon she won’t be able to leave his side. Would it be safe for him to leave the hotel and stay with her? They could get the guest room ready for Devana, so he could bring his guardian with him. 

“Surprise!” Kara exclaims as he opens his door.

“Oh my God! Come inside.” Mattias pulls her into his embrace while he slams the door shut.

“Missed you too much.” Kara tells him. She climbs on his lap and pushes him back on the sofa, kissing him for dear life.

“Missed you, too.” He murmurs as he kisses down the side of her neck. The feelings coursing through her are corresponding with the goose bumps his kisses raise on her skin. She feels like home in his embrace. She never wants to let go again. She feels safe, loved, and wanted. 

“Would you move to our house for a few days? Devana can come, too.” Kara asks him later.

“What would your mother say? You haven’t introduced us yet.” Mattias looks at her in surprise.

“We can solve that easily, she’s at home.” Kara smiles. “Just tell me what you think?”

“I think we have to ask Devana.” He tells her. “This hotel allows for anonymity, that’s why she picked it.”

“Do you know where she is?” She inquires.

“Two rooms down the hall.” Mattias smiles. “Let's go ask her. It’s a different kind of vacation, but she might go for it.”

They walk hand in hand over to Devana’s room. Kara hopes with all her heart that the goddess will agree to her plan. She needs good news today. She knows Devana likes her, but does she like her enough to indulge her with this? Only one way to find out, ask. Why is she nervous? She’s high on endorphins from her make out session with Mattias. Devana is not even scary as far as gods go. She never had any reason to fear her, so why now?

“Oh. My favourite wolves.” Devana smiles at them. “What have you cooked up now?”

“I have an idea, if you could indulge me?” Kara tells her.

“Sure, darling. Whatever you need.” Devana steps aside to let them in her room. It looks the same as the one Mattias stays in, Kara thinks. This hotel is as boring as it looks.

“I hoped you two would come live with us for a few days. I hate to be away from Mattias and he would be safer if you come along.” Kara explains her idea to the goddess. “You would get a room of your own. Maybe even better furnished than this one.”

“Intriguing.” Devana smiles. The goddess paces up and down the room for a few minutes. Kara can relate to that, she walks while thinking, too. What will she say? Will she make them both deliriously happy or will she crush all their hopes? How fond of them is she really? Does she need to think it over, or is she just keeping them in suspense? 

“I’m in. When do we go?” Devana smiles at them.

“Now, if you want to. Elio is downstairs and this time he even has a car.” Kara responds. She got her wish! She gets to spend more time with Mattias.