Page 36 of SINS & Lies

His eyes, like molten gold, lock onto mine. “Do not push me, Bella.”

“Then don’t speak for me,” I snap back, shaking my head. “You can’t just boss people around like they work for you.”

He gestures to the retreating women, rushing away, with their little girls in tow, as if being chased by a ravenous wolf. “Apparently, I can.”

By the time Lola’s mom arrives, Enzo is in rare form. She hurries, out of breath as Enzo shakes his head. “You again. What did I tell you about being late?”

Lola’s mom gasps for breath, her excuses coming out in pants and puffs. “Sorry...late delivery...missed the bus...”

I quickly intervene. “Lola’s mom is an OB nurse.”

Her mom props Lola on her hip. “You know babies. They come when they come,” she offers.

Lola proudly brandishes her discovery from Enzo’s car. “Can I keep it?”

My eyes widen when I realize what she’s holding. A shiny flask. One which she’s waving around enough that we all hear the booze sloshing inside it.

Enzo puffs his cigar, smiling. “Finders keepers.”

Lola’s mom laughs nervously. “Give it back to the nice man,” she pleads, still trying to pry the flask from Lola’s tight, two-handed grip.

Oh, good. I’m not the only one who had no idea who he was.

With a puff of his cigar, Enzo holds out a fist. “I’ll trade you the flask for what’s in my hand.”

“What is it?” Little Lola asks, still clutching the flask tight, as if keeping it is actually an option.

“There’s only one way to find out.” He wiggles his fist.

I chime in. “I wonder what it is?” I ask to entice her.

Slowly, suspiciously, she hands over the flask, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

To my shock, he hands her the angel wing hood ornament from his Aston Martin. Her mother obviously has no idea what it is, but still instructs her daughter to thank the nice man.

“Thanks, Zo,” Lola says, clasping the charm to her chest with a smile that could light up the room.

“We’d better go or we’ll miss the bus,” her mother says, bidding us all an awkward farewell as they take off down the street.

I notice the empty space where chrome angel wings should be. “You didn’t have to do that. I could’ve grabbed some Gorilla Glue.”

“You think I’d let you within a foot of this car with Gorilla Glue? Maybe there’s a chewed up wad of gum lying around. Or, duct tape.”

“Maybe,” I tease. “You let three little girls wreak havoc on the interior.”

“Now, I’d like a full-grown woman to wreak havoc in it.” He puffs his cigar, motioning towards his car. “I have a proposition for you. Get in.”

“That doesn’t make me sound like a prostitute at all.”

Riled up, he mutters, “My life would be so much easier if you were.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He shakes his head. “Just get in.” When I hesitate, he adds, “unless you’d rather go wait for the bus with Lola’s mother. I believe the creep that loves drooling all over your legs is holding a seat for you.”

Bleh. I shut my eyes. “How is it that you know about that bozo?”

He holds open the front passenger door for me. My heart kicks up to a million miles a minute.

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