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“So… what do you think?”
“Enzo…”
“Please, Elle. You have no idea how many nights I have prayed countless times to like women. How much simpler and easier everything would be if I could just feel differently. But I know I can’t. This way, we can both live relatively happily. Living a good life together. We would have the perfect relationship! No arguments, bickering or jealousy.”
“But it’s not real, Enzo,” I said quietly. Alessio’s words of passion flashing in my brain. This. This is real. We are real. I want you and you want me.
Enzo slouched on the floor, resting his back against my wall as he lowered his head in his hands. I moved from the bed to sit next to him, taking a few more long gulps of wine.
“Look at us,” I smirked. “We’re the definition of a hot mess.”
“Speak for yourself,” he grumbled with a lopsided grin.
“You’ve been keeping this secret for a long time?” I asked softly as he took the bottle from my hands, bobbing his head.
“Since I was ten years old. When I was thirteen, my papi found out one of our soldiers was gay and killed him. No, he didn’t just kill him. He made an example of his death. He made me watch and told me; homosexuals would never be accepted in the brotherhood. So, I ignored my urges. I ignored my feelings. I slept with girls. Talked shit with the men about women. Tried to trick myself into being like everyone around me. But then I met Finn. And I couldn’t anymore.”
“And you’ve never told anyone? Not even Cami? You know she would support you.”
“I know. And that is why I never told her. It wasn’t safe for anyone to know when my papi was alive. And then after he died, I thought I would feel relief, but then it dawned on me. One minute, I was just an heir, the thought of being Aiani Boss always felt so distant and then in a split second…Bang! I was Boss at nineteen. I didn’t have a second to catch my breath, let alone think about coming out to the world. Becoming Boss at nineteen was scary enough without adding that to it too.”
“I understand. I’m not judging you at all, Enzo. Hell, who am I to judge anyone? I fell in love with our sworn enemy,” I chuckled, shaking my head.
“You really love him,” Enzo turned to look at me with understanding in his eyes. “But after everything that has happened and everything your brother lost because of Alessio; you know Gio will never let you be with him. And you can’t blame him for that.”
“I know. There is so much more to the story of me and Alessio than anyone knows, Enzo. But the problem is… no one is willing to listen,” I sighed, letting my head fall back against the wall as I closed my eyes. Alessio’s optimism and confidence earlier was infectious when it came to believing we would find a way to be together, but the reality was… he didn’t know Giovanni. Not like I did. Gio willing to accept an alliance was one thing, but if that alliance was marriage to me, he would never go for it.
“I’ll listen,” he replied as I allowed my head to flop to the side, leaning against Enzo’s shoulder as he lifted the bottle to his lips again.
“What a pair we make,” he smiled with so much pain that I knew was reflected in my eyes too. What a pair indeed.
Making Waves
“Moment of truth, no?” Lorenzo smirked at me, grabbing my shoulder firmly in his grip as if we were fucking friends. My body tensed as I glanced down at his hand with disdain and he removed it with an awkward cough to cover his embarrassment. Fabi fought back a chuckle, folding his arms across his chest as he leaned against the wall outside the North’s commission boardroom.
“Let me do the talking, Leone,” I commanded sternly as he nodded.
“But perhaps I should introduce you to the other Bosses? You know, seeing as how my representative now holds the head chair and we are allies in uniting the North and the South.”
I glanced at Fabi, who had now covered his mouth with his hand to hide his obvious amusement before he pulled himself together and said, “I don’t think Alessio needs an introduction, Leone. He is the most talked about man in Italy right now.”
I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the leccaculo. I might as well have some fun with this. “Alright, Leone. Introduce me. But you better make me sound fucking good.”
“Oh, I will,” he smiled enthusiastically. Cristo, it was like giving a puppy a new chew toy.
“Sorry, I’m late.”
We all turned on hearing Finn’s voice behind us as he stormed in wearing a very expensive, tailor-made suit. I grinned at him, nodding with approval at his new look. Quite the consigliere.
“What the fuck is he doing here? Isn’t he a Buccini soldier?” Lorenzo spat, glaring at Finn with distaste.
“Lorenzo. This is Finch Rosetti. My new consigliere. And yes, you may know him as a Buccini soldier, but he was undercover. He works for me.” I fought the laughter at the shock in Lorenzo’s eyes as the realisation struck him.
“You planted a spy in the Buccini family for years?”
“Si,” I huffed, losing my patience with this man. I wasn’t about to tell him what the real reason was for having Finn there so I let him believe what he liked.
“That is fucking genius. You have made Giovanni look like a complete fool. Brilliant,” Lorenzo chuckled as Finn’s smile dropped.
