My eyes fell between us, wondering if he’d finally let me taste him.
He held my cheeks before bowing his head to mine. “But not now. I need to tell my brothers what I just learned. My mother’s cousin confirmed Thomas was the one who hired those idiotas.”
“And you’re only just now telling me that?” I stepped back in surprise, and he released his hold on me.
“Thought it’d ruin the moment,” he answered, and yeah, he was right about that. Thomas losing his marbles and hiring some “third party” to attack Enzo was for sure a mood killer.
“I’m so sorry he did that.” I turned, feeling red all over again, but he snatched my wrist, drawing me back to him.
“Never apologize for that man.” His eyes thinned as he studied me, and there were more words he wanted to say, I could feel it, but he chose to keep them trapped behind his lips.
“So glad Chiara is away from him and with my parents.”
“I would’ve devised an extraction plan to get her if things hadn’t worked out the way they did.” There wasn’t any humor in his tone, and that actually made me feel better.
“Does this mean we can lose the extra security here?”
“We’re still not out of the woods, not with the cleaner out there and his clients more than likely knowing their names are at risk.” He admitted what I’d been worried he’d say.
“Then you should go to your brothers.” I nodded, noting the time on the wall clock. It was six, and surely he wanted to talk to his brothers before his father arrived for dinner.
He laced our fingers together. “Will you be okay?”
“Much better now.” I smiled, but he shook his head.
“You need to stop lying to me.” He tightened his hold of my hand.
“And you’re Mr. Honest, are you?” I challenged.
He let go of me and murmured, “Work in progress, remember?”
TWENTY
Maria
“Hey.” I stopped outside the open doorway at the sight of Isabella in the room. And then my stomach dropped when I realized it was their new library, which meant it’d been Bianca’s old bedroom.
“Can you believe it’s my first time coming in here since Mom changed it?” Isabella reached for one of the books on the shelves. Great Expectations.
“Your parents mostly stay at their place near Central Park, right?” I nervously entered the room, unsure if I belonged there and a bit worried if I’d be able to handle being surrounded by what felt like Bianca’s presence and not cry.
“Yeah, Dad still works nonstop at the office even though he should retire and let Constantine take over.” She slid the book back in place and faced me.
“And you never wanted to work at the office?”
“Mergers and all that jazz doesn’t exactly excite me.” She freed her hair from the bun, only to pile her dark locks back up again, reining her hair in with a pink scrunchie. “Can I ask you how Enzo’s doing? He looks off. Like he was trying to act normal and joke around, but it felt like he was doing it to hide something. Trying too hard.”
Shit. I’d already been peppered with questions by her mom, and I’d nearly failed. I didn’t want to fumble my way through another conversation full of lies.
She held up a hand and shook her head. “Don’t worry. You don’t need to betray him and spill whatever secrets he’s carrying around. I wouldn’t ask you to do that.” She went over to the french doors and pushed them open, and I joined her on the balcony.
It was breezy out, and the sky was still overcast, but no rain, at least. “Where’s Pablo? I’d love to meet him.”
“Pablo is meditating in the pool house. He says he needs some space to remove the toxic energy he felt from my brothers.” She faced me, setting her back to the railing. She was the only sibling who lacked any kind of accent, since she was born in New York. But her tone of voice still had this beautiful quality to it I admired. She’d make a great audiobook narrator. “They really hate him.”
“I don’t think they’ll like any guy their sister brings home.” I stood alongside her, peering out at the choppy water. “A brother thing, I imagine.”
“My therapist says I always pick men I know my family won’t approve of because I want my brothers to love me as much as they loved Bianca, and dating the wrong men will get their attention and—” She cupped her mouth, and I had to replay the words she’d confessed to ensure I’d heard them right. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to say that,” she added once she’d lowered her hand.