Page 138 of Fall Before Her Throne

I frowned, picking at some grime still under my nails. “We’re busy.”

“He insists.” His voice dropped low, and he whispered in my ear. “I’m sorry, baby. I think it’s important.”

“Do you want to talk to him?” I mouthed to Chiara.

She raised an eyebrow and shook her head. “Not particularly.”

“Fine,” I said as I took the phone and pressed it to my ear. Cas leaned against the counter next to me. “Enzo.”

“Leona Vero.” His deep voice came through the receiver clearly enough that I could catch the tension layered through it. If he were at his restaurant, Nonna’s, I imagined he’d be hunched over the countertops.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I heard a certain someone has returned to the city.”

Seriously? That fucking quick? Chiara’s face was stoic, but her eye twitched in annoyance. “However do you hear things so quickly, Enzo?”

“I told you before, I have my spies everywhere.” After a pause and a heavy breath, he continued. “Is it true?”

I tilted my head to the side while I considered how to answer. My fingers drummed on the countertop. I owed Enzo not only for his help with the Albanians, but because we were allies against the Camorra together. But I didn’t want to expose Chiara if she didn’t want him to know.

I pointed at the phone and then pointed to her. With a sigh, she shrugged. “Tell him whatever you want. Enzo’s not a threat.”

“She’s with me,” I replied to Enzo. “At my new, safe home. And before you ask, no, I will not tell you where it is.”

“We had an agreement.”

My back straightened. “Our agreement was that I’d pass along your message to her, which I have done. You knew that. And as of this moment, she has rejected your proposal and decided to stay with me.”

“No matter how safe you think you are, she is not safe with you,” he said tightly.

“And why is that?”

“Because Piero Greco wants you dead, and currently, he’s chosen to tolerate me.”

I scoffed. “So you think you could protect her? Better than me, her best friend?”

“Yes. One hundred percent, yes,” he retorted. “I want her in my territory. I can keep her safe here. Give her to me.”

“She is not property that I can give away, Enzo.” Anger heated my belly. Beside me, Cas ran his hands through his hair, bristling just like me.

“He already went after her once. He’ll keep coming after you both. At least here, I can keep her under the radar.”

“The answer is no.”

Chiara rolled her eyes and held out her hand. I stared at it.

“I’m not trying to own her, Leona. I’m trying to protect her.”

Chiara made a grabby movement and gave me an exasperated look. I reluctantly handed her the phone.

“Enzo, it’s me,” she said. She paused and then got a little agitated. “Look, I don’t know what you—” Her nostrils flared, and she blew out a breath. I leaned forward, desperate to hear the other side of the conversation, but she gave me a second of stink eye and leaned backwards. I huffed. “No, I know. I know. But what you and I have—had—you know what? I take it back. We never had anything. Don’t start with me, you were the one who—” My eyes widened, and I gestured widely, begging that she’d let me hear, but she shook her head tightly. “Only if you absolutely swear that nothing will happen.” Another pause. “Swear it.” A shorter one. “Fine. But she is my best friend, and I haven’t seen her in months. I want at least one fucking night.” Oh no. What had she agreed to? “Fine. Tomorrow. And just for the record, Enzo. I hate you.”

She ended the call with a dramatic boop and handed me back the phone.

“Uhh, what just happened?”

“Well, I am going to be staying with Enzo for a little bit.” She gave me a small, tight smile.