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“But I know everything about what it entails and you’ll pick it up in no time. You’re a smart man, Finn, and fucking loyal. And that is what I need. I trust you. Everyone likes you. And it will go a long way with the soldiers to see someone like you make it to the top. You’ll have their immediate respect. I want to change the way things are and I know you can help me. So, what do you say? Do you want the job or not, stronzo?”
I blinked rapidly, my mouth hanging open as I stared out of the window at the cars racing by. Slowly, I turned to look at him with a secret smile.
“What happened to Elio?”
“Shocking news,” he smirked. “His car spun out this morning and he didn’t make it. Something to do with faulty brakes.”
“What a tragic accident,” I smirked. “So really, you need me to take the job?”
“I am desperate.”
“Then I guess, I’ll step in,” I held out my hand towards him as he beamed back at me, grabbing it firmly.
“Just a pair of street rats running Italy’s mafia empire. How the hell did that happen?” He winked.
“La fortuna aiuta gli audaci, amico mio.”
The rest of the night went by in a blur and before I knew it, we were all climbing out of the cars to make our way inside the mansion. I had barely spoken to anyone when I returned to the party. My brain was too preoccupied to focus on anything other than all that just happened in that bathroom. I still had no idea how I was supposed to feel or what I was supposed to do with all that information. Alessio’s confession. That kiss. The undeniable fact that I still loved him and craved him like a fucking addiction. It still didn’t change the fact that everything was working against us. And then there was Finn’s secret. Enzo’s secret… It was all such a mess and too hard to process.
Hovering on the grand steps of the entrance to our home, I turned to watch Enzo joking with Max in the driveway as Cami hung off her husband’s arm. It was that moment after a good night where everyone was high on happiness and alcohol and didn’t quite want it to end but knew for the sake of everyone’s hangovers in the morning it was best it did. My eyes narrowed as I studied Enzo laughing heartily at something Max said before he teased his sister and she hit him in the arm with a pout. He acted exactly how you would expect a happily engaged man to act. No sign of the deep, life-changing secret that he was hiding within.
“Night Elle,” Liv kissed me on the cheek as she and Gio breezed past me to head inside. She was the only sober one out of the bunch and I am sure she was desperate for her bed. Though by the way Giovanni couldn’t keep his hands off her, I doubted she was going to get any sleep. At least he was distracted enough to not care that Finn had left the party early after I told him he hadn't felt well.
“Buona notte,” I replied, though my gaze drifted back to Enzo instantly. He must have sensed me watching him as he smiled and made his way towards me. I lifted my chin higher as I was hit with a sudden wave of determination. I had to know. I had to hear it from him to really believe that all he wanted out of this marriage was to hide his secret and produce an heir. And although I hated him right now, I couldn’t help but feel overprotectiveness for Finn. That Enzo would do this to him. And to me.
“Well, I would say our first public appearance as a couple went well,” he smiled, digging his hands into his jean pockets with a charming smile. I looked down at his hands. Now I come to think of it, he had never actually made any kind of physical move on me. Yeah, he flirted. But it had always been pretty tame and respectful. He had never tried to touch me or kiss me.
“You think?” I replied coldly, tilting my head to the side.
“Did you not?” His smile faltered a little and I licked my lips, holding his gaze. The anger of everything, all the secrets, all the betrayals, caused a plan to form in my head. I was sick of being used, lied to and deceived by everyone around me. I finally had the truth and yes, it fucking hurt, but now I wanted Enzo to know that I wasn’t the kind of girl that would take any of it lying down.
“Well, the night isn’t over yet?” I smirked, trying my best to give him a flirty smile. “Why don’t you come up to my room and we can carry on the party?”
His blue eyes dilated and for a brief second, he looked genuinely terrified. It was hard to keep a straight face.
“I’m not sure that is such a good idea, Elle,” his eyes darted over my shoulder as Max and Cami walked inside, leaving us alone.
“And why’s that? Don’t tell me you are saving yourself for marriage, Enzo?” I lifted my hand and ran my finger down the open collar of his chest. He gulped, his eyes growing wider in panic.
“Of course not. It’s just… I’m sure Giovanni wouldn’t be happy-”
“You are my fiancé. We are getting married in less than 48 hours. Gio wants this to happen. Come on,” I grabbed his hand and started to lead him through the house and upstairs to my bedroom. I didn’t once look back at him, but I could feel his instant nerves and hesitation in the air around us. I dragged him inside and closed the door as he stood there, paralysed, staring around the room. I rolled my eyes behind his back and walked over to the mini fridge, pulling out a bottle of wine and tilting it in the air at him with a confident grin.
The tight smile he returned to me told me all I needed to know. This was the last place he expected or even wanted to be tonight. In my bedroom. Not bothering with glasses, because I was past the point of caring, I took a swig from the bottle before holding it out to him. He took it and swallowed a few mouthfuls himself. I placed my hand over his on the bottle, allowing our touch to linger flirtatiously before I took it back. I was dying to see how far he was actually willing to take this. What was his grand plan here? He could barely look at me right now. How did he ever think this would work between us?
“So…” I smiled, “How many people have you slept with Enzo?”
He rested his hand on his hip, as his other one pushed back his floppy blonde hair from his face. “Elle, you are drunk. I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“You don’t think what is a good idea, fiancé?” I stepped in closer to him, forcing my body up against his as I placed my hand on his hard pec.
“I don’t want to take advantage of you,” he said carefully and I couldn’t help but scoff loudly before regaining my flirty expression. That was some statement. Wasn’t the whole idea of marrying me just for an heir and power taking advantage of me?
“You’re not. You are drunk too. So we can take advantage of each other,” I winked, running my hand down his chest to the top button of his shirt. His eyes flicked up to the ceiling before he squeezed them shut. His hand wrapped around mine to stop me from going any further.
“What’s wrong, Enzo? Do you not find me attractive?” I fluttered my eyelashes up at him as his eyes opened and he gazed down at me with alarm.
“Of course I do. You’re gorgeous, Elle. I just-” I held his gaze, silently begging for him to come clean so I wouldn’t have to force it out of him. He huffed, his expression changing slightly and turning a little darker. I frowned as he removed his hand from mine and weaved it into my hair. “You’re right. Why are we waiting, right?”
