“What’s Enzio got to do with this?” I asked.
“You’ll see.” He gave me another rough squeeze before he wrapped an arm around each of the sisters and started for his office.
Merda. This seemed iffy at best. Had I ruined my chances before I even started?
I went to find my cousin, wondering why the fuck Tino wanted him to be a part of the conversation. Tino was no idiot. Of course, he knew I was going to ask him to promise Nicky to me so I could date her, but my cousin, even though he was my capo, had nothing to do with it. Not until I’d arranged everything with Tino and had his blessing. Then Enzio would give me his. He’d never object to a union with the Bellomos.
Unless…
A terrible thought crossed my mind, but I shook it off. No, Tino couldn’t possibly think I’d do that.
CHAPTER 7
Domenico
“Is this some sort of payback?” Tino’s palms slammed against the top of his desk, and the thought I’d dismissed earlier turned out to be exactly what he was thinking.
“Che cazzo? Calma. What fucking payback?” Enzio asked, uncrossing his legs.
“Don’t play dumb. You know what I’m talking about. Leo and Claudia. Now, you send your cousin to do the same to my sister.”
I mumbled a curse. “Tino, c’mon. Are you serious?”
Nicky narrowed her eyes at me. “Is this true?”
“No! Fuck no! Nicky, I’d never…” I glanced at my capo. “Enzio, say something.”
“Tino,” Enzio started, “there hasn’t been a day that we’re not thankful that your son didn’t marry my Claudia. Yes, he broke off the engagement after she’d been betrothed to him for years, and we were angry at first, but you and I sorted this out a long time ago. Then the family found out howunwellhe was, and we’re grateful till today that he and Claudia didn’t end up together. Besides, she’s happily married now. What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Your cousin has had his eyes on Nicole since my wedding. She didn’t like it. I told him to back off. But Dom continues to make passes at her.Aggressivepasses in my own house.”
Merda. How much did his wife tell? Enough to break our alliance or have my balls chopped off?
Enzio shifted his gaze toward me. “Che cazzo hai fatto?”
“Nothing! He did nothing!” Nicky answered for me. My brows hooked. Was she scared for me or for herself? Probably the latter. She shouldn’t be, though. Tino wouldn’t punish her for something like that. Even if he would, I wouldn’t let him. I wouldn’t let anybody, whoever they were, hurt her in any way.
And once Tino was certain my intentions were honorable, all this would go away with just one word. A simple agreement that would make me a happy man.
Unless that was what terrified her.
Cocking a brow, I looked her in the eye. “It wasn’t nothing.”
Her teeth clenched, grinding a curse, but I continued before she’d spit it. “We had a conversation where I made my intentions clear in case she misinterpreted them the first time we talked.”
“Jesus Christ, what—”
“I really like you, Nicky,” I interrupted her. “I’m saying it in front of everyone. I’m not hiding anything.”
Her big blue eyes widened at me as she put her hands on the beautiful curves of her hips, color flooding her cheeks, giving her a sexy glow I’d love to see when I teased her with my body, too, and not just with my words. “Well…” Her lips twisted, but then she lifted her chin. “I don’t care what you like.Idon’t likeyou.”
I chuckled at what I knew was a lie. If she hadn’t cared, she would have dismissed the whole thing and wouldn’t have been angry or afraid. She wouldn’t have hesitated right now before she blurted out this bullshit. “Yes, you do.”
“I don’t!”
“Even if that’s true, it doesn’t matter. It’s enough thatIlike you.”
“What the hell? Enough for what?”
