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“Sophisticated?”
“I don’t know. Just grumpy.”
“Oh, and you’re not grumpy?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “I just want to see where this takes us. After all these years, I still have deep feelings for him. I can’t be wrong.” I pressed a hand to my forehead. “I feel like I’m going crazy. I had hoped tonight I would know for sure.”
“Tonight wasn’t a complete bust.” He shrugged. “Maybe youshouldhelp him.”
“That’s what I thought.” I shifted my body toward him. “He was repulsed by that place. I bet he had a really good reason to go there.”
“Okay, captain.” Enzo gestured toward the empty street and the city lights. “What now?”
“Let’s go wait for him at his house. I don’t care if he doesn’t come home until morning. I’m not leaving until he tells me why he was at that club for the morally insane and what he was looking for.”
“Of course. His house. Why didn’t I think of it?” He shook his head, looking annoyed and amused at the same time. “Do you have an address?”
He hadn’t finished asking the question before I blurted it out to the driver.
“Of course you do.” He nodded to his driver.
Around three in the morning, the SUV pulled up to the curb. As soon as it did, the driver hopped out of the car and walked around to open the door for Enzo. Any other night, I would’ve asked him to let me go in on my own. But I figured I had pushed my luck enough for one night. I took the hand he offered and climbed out of the car.
Maybe Alfred had been worried sick about Luca, or he had a late bedtime, but as soon as we stepped onto the brownstone stoop, the door swung open.
“Good evening, Ms. Salvatore. Mr. Alfera.” He nodded to the both of us.
It was a bit unnerving that Luca’s butler, or whatever Alfred was, knew who we were. Did he learn our names before or after my first visit to the brownstone? Either way, it didn’t matter. His friendly demeanor meant he wouldn’t send us away without hearing us out first.
“Hello. We’re here to see Professor Gallo. Luca. I mean Mr. Gallo.” I had truly lost track of what Luca was to me.
“Come on in. Can I offer you something to drink?” He gestured toward the upstairs. Last time, I hadn’t made it past the parlor, which had an informal sitting area and a garden terrace.
“I’ll have wine.”
“I’m going to need something stronger.”
“How about a whiskey neat?” Luca appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Luca.” I darted up the steps and threw my arms around his neck. “They let you out. I was so scared.”
“They threw me in a cell for an hour, then kicked me out.” He hugged me back. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to make sure you were safe.” I turned to Enzo, who already had a drink in his hand. “Enzo brought me here.”
“I had no choice.” He raised his glass and took a swig. “She insisted.”
“She has questions.” I braced my hands on my hips. “I’m too freaked out to go to sleep. Now that I know you’re fine. I have to know. Why were you at that crazy place?”
“For reasons that have nothing to do with you.” Luca cocked his head to look me in the eye. “Go home, Donata.”
He gave me his usual, ‘I’m dead serious’ look, but his words lack conviction. I wasn’t the only one who noticed because in the next breath, Enzo set his empty tumbler on the table and headed for the stairs.
“I’ll leave you two alone. You obviously have things to talk about.” He smiled at me. “For goodness’ sake, Donata, stay out of trouble. It’s not sunrise yet.” He exchanged a look with Luca.
“She’s safe here.”
“Thank you.” I put my arms around Enzo’s waist. “For everything.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He waved and left me in a big house all alone with Luca.
