Page 34 of Fallen Rook

Kid: You love it.

I didn’t. Not even a little bit.

It was bad enough that my behavior in his vicinity was jarring to say the least—chaotic was a better word, albeit one I wouldn’t be caught using, dead or alive—but even our text exchanges were all over the place. My recruitment phase of turning Enzo into my informant was off to a catastrophic start.

The kid couldn’t stick to one damn rule, and even though he made me lose my mind one faculty at a time, he was the most fun I’d had since…

Ever.

He was right. I hadn’t smiled since what happened with Matt. I’d decided to live my life meticulously, efficiently, and without distraction. Nothing ever amused me anymore…

Until Enzo.

And that was a big fucking red flag waving right in my face.

This was fine, though. Perfect, actually. I didn’t like fun. Fun was pointless. Smiling was a chore. Clearly, he posed no threat to my perfectly constructed existence. Everything he had to offer, I didn’t want to buy. This was strictly business. I needed to meet up with him to squeeze information on his family business. And luckily for me, Enzo was very forthcoming when I made him come.

Kid: So?

Me: So what?

Kid: Is that a good outfit for our next hookup?

Me: Enzo, you were naked.

Kid: Nothing escapes you, huh? No wonder the FBI recruited you.

He was such a smartass. The exact opposite of the one and only boyfriend I’d had. Matt was serious, levelheaded, morally unshakable, and an old soul; it was the fact Enzo and Matt were such polar opposites that assured me I could never fall for the mobster.

Me: I’ll try to see you on Friday.

Kid: Friday?! It’s Tuesday now!!!

Me: Nothing escapes you, huh? No wonder you are the Camorra’s enforcer.

Kid: First of all, this is untrue and we are not speaking of this unless we’re in the room with, like, sixteen of my lawyers. Second…

Kid: I NEED RELIEF.

Kid: COME BACK HERE RIGHT NOW.

I left him on read and smiled like an idiot the entire drive home.

Chapter Twelve

Enzo

“Which one for a night out?” Katya thrust two hangers in front of her phone screen as we FaceTimed. My back was pressed against my headboard, eyes flitting over the skimpy red dress, then the summery pink one with the tiny yellow smileys.

“Do you want to get fucked or be romanced under the stars?”

Katya let out a giggle. “I don’t know, both?”

I snorted, shaking my head. “Can’t have both. You have to choose.”

“Fine. Fucked.”

“Lucky guy.”