Page 74 of Revenge on the Mafia

NICO

Ten minutes and thirty seconds. What the fuck were they doing?

I stopped pacing the hallway when I caught Enzo leaning against the wall. He pulled out a cigarette. “You look…” He paused, giving me a discerning look and searching for a word. “Bothered.”

I forced myself to relax. Rolled my shoulder and drew in a subtle breath. His cigarette dangled dangerously between his lips before he reached for his Zippo.

I considered letting him smoke. His house. His rules. But I’d already stepped forward and pulled it off him. He scowled at his cigarette under my foot, trampled into his marble floor. I didn’t want to touch the thing and then touch Anna next. And I was going to touch her next. My gaze swung automatically to the room she’d disappeared into. Eight feet away from me, behind a solid oak door.

Only one word screamed in my head. Mine.

“Why are you letting her nab and jab at you?”

I hated that my hand went to my neck. Of course, he’d notice the small indent she’d left there. That seemed so long ago, I’d forgotten about it.

When I swung my gaze back to his, I returned it with a question of my own. “Why are you still paying rent to your wife?”

He shrugged. “I have to live somewhere.”

“You own twelve properties. Eight of them in this city.”

“I like this house.”

“You paid for it.”

He tugged at his tie. “I’m transferring my assets.”

I shook my head. I knew all about his assets and the transfers he’d done to make Daria feel safe. At that time, I’d even called it a mistake. If he knew all of mine, he’d have a field day with them.

We fell silent. My attention was on the closed door. What was she doing?

“What’s your excuse?”

I curled my hands into my pockets. Mine. I gave his skirting a kick with the tip of my shoe. “I’m training her.”

To kill me.

Enzo’s gaze burned the side of my face. I kept it focused on the damn door. I’d give it another three minutes, and then I was going in.

“You’re changing.”

I cracked my neck. “Aging does that. You should know.”

“You’ve stopped chasing after bullets.”

I turned to him. Cocked my head.

I’ve only ever chased one thing.

“As if each one of them had your name on it.”

Oh. That.

He went back to scrutinizing me. I avoided his gaze. The door swung open, and Daria walked out. I glared at her, but she only gave a weak smile and slipped away.

“I can’t figure out if it’s because you’ve given up trying to kill yourself or you’re saving the honor for someone else.”

I swallowed. Fuck. I hated that he’d figured it out. Two by one. Four-millimeter thickness. I needed to set my plans in motion. I had to protect her after I was gone.