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“Just how senior? Should we be buying wreaths for Nicoletta or Carlotta to hang on their son’s casket?”
My nails dig into the back of Enzo’s hand that I’m holding.
“Stronzo.”
Enzo mutters the word while he glares at Bogdan. I look up at him because I don’t know what that means. He mouthsasshole. I have to agree. That was a dick move for Bogdan to say that in front of my parents and me. This is getting way too deep into the inner politics of these rivals, and my parents shouldn’t hear it as outsiders, and I shouldn’t hear it as a woman. Prehistoric as fuck, but I’m more than happy to leave this to the men. But I’m terrified now that Enzo’s the target.
Sean rolls his eyes as he crosses his arms. I remember he tended to be the quiet one, but when he spoke, people listened.
“He’s not going after any of the don’s family. He knows that would disrupt the balance we have right now. After losing two members of our family, we’re the ones who should consider evening the score. But we’re not. Peace is profitable, and Enrique knows that. It’d be all out war if he touched one of Salvatore’s precious angels. But he’s going for someone who matters. We don’t want Michelle to be caught in the middle when this goes down. Her family and ours go all the way back to Ireland five generations ago. Consider this our wedding gift.”
The O’Rourkes stand, and I assume that means the meeting is over. Dillan shakes Salvatore’s hand, but he sneers at Maks. He offers me a smile and a courteous nod to my parents. Then they’re gone. Once the door closes behind the mobsters, Maks and his family stand, and so do Enzo and I. He tries to stare down Enzo as he walks over to us. He gives me a hug, and I know he’s doing it to be nice to me while antagonizing Enzo.
“Laura doesn’t know the details, but she knows I’m here because something happened to you. Call her, please. She’s worried.”
“I will. Should I do it tonight?”
“If you could do it before I get home, that would be great.”
“You live four streets over.”
Maks cocks an eyebrow as if to say, “see.” I nod before looking up at Enzo. Maks goes to say something to Salvatore and Massimo, and I pull out my phone.
“I don’t want to just leave my parents here, but I also don’t want Laura panicking. She’ll come over here if she knows Maks saw me but didn’t volunteer to bring her with him.”
“Go in the kitchen.”
I want him to come with me. My fear of being alone is irrational, but it hits me like a ton of bricks. I shift my weight from one foot to the other. Enzo looks over at Marco and tilts his head toward the kitchen before he leads me into the other room.
My call doesn’t last long since Laura knows better than to ask what happened during the meeting, and I know I can’t tell her. Maks will share whatever he believes his wife needs to know. But she and I both feel better after talking. We return to the living room, and we find Sylvia offering my parents one of the guest rooms since they obviously can’t go back to our — their — home. My exhaustion wraps around me like a weighted blanket trying to smother me. I suddenly feel like I can barely stand up and keep my eyes open.
“Do you want me to run you that bath,piccolina?”
“I don’t know if I can stay awake long enough.”
“You can soak while I meet with my family. I’ll wake you if you fall asleep.”
“Meeting? Now?”
Enzo looks over my head, and I know the men are headed down the hallway to Salvatore’s study.
“I may need to go out tonight.”
I read the look in his eyes.
“And you don’t know when you’ll be back. Can I ask if this is about Simms or about the Diazes?”
Enzo is tightlipped. He just looks at me, and I know I won’t get anything out of him. I sigh and nod. He presses a kiss to my lips then my forehead.
“I love you. I’ll try not to be long. I won’t leave without seeing you. Okay?”
“Okay. I love you, too.”
I watch him walk down the hallway before I follow Sylvia and my parents upstairs. I don’t want to talk to anyone. I just want to disappear. When I stop at Enzo’s door, both of my parents look back in surprise. It’s the room he uses when he’s here, and I’ve been in it before. I just assumed it was the one I would use too. Sylvia’s chin dips just enough for me to see. Mom and Dad want to know how I know which room to go to already.
“I’ll see you in a bit.”
I open the door, but Mom walks over to me and engulfs me in a hug that nearly crushes me. I feel her trembling, and know everything just caught up with her, too.
