Page 62 of Not Mine to Keep

Enzo:Right, sorry to remind you of her.

He didn’t need to apologize, because I hadn’t thought about “her” or her house in Westchester with her husband, three kids, and two dogs. Not lately, at least.

Enzo:How about a pillow wall between you at night? Maria said that’s a thing that happens in books.

His wife was an avid reader, and I could already see the stories she’d be writing in her head about what would happen with my situation. I was getting enough shit from Izzy, and I didn’t need more.

Me:Thanks for the “advice.”

Enzo:Anytime. Also, Constantine wants to take the big jet home. We need to strategize and coordinate plans moving forward, and you can’tfly with us since you’ll have babysitters tagging along. You can have the little jet. Plus, we’ll be in talks with Sebastian and the others while flying. Don’t need Armani’s men knowing about our plans for Rocco.

Rocco.How’d I let the memory of his involvement in all this slip free from my head?

Me:Any updates from The League? They still have eyes on Rocco?

Enzo:You might be focused on your wife right now, but don’t you think if I had news on Rocco, I would’ve brought it up sooner??

Enzo:He’s still at the compound.

Me:Right. Okay then.

Me:Any potential fallout from what we did in Rome?

Enzo:No, I don’t think anyone who takes over for the Esposito family will come after us now that we’re (you’re) in bed with Armani’s family, and they’re now “in bed” with The League. But we should still add some extra security back in NY.

Me:I was planning on it. I don’t trust these two idioti coming back with us to be my wife’s only protection.

Enzo:“Your wife”?

Shit.I rested my phone on my thigh and felt the need to remove the wedding band. Maybe it was screwing with my thoughts in some weird way. I set it on the nightstand by the bed and texted him.

Me:Just trying to get used to playing the role. I’m going to need to sell this marriage idea to the board when I get home. When they find out who I married ...

Enzo:Pops already has a meeting set up with them tomorrow when we land.

Me:Of course he does. See you in the morning. Meet you at the airport at 0800 before Armani can change his mind.

Enzo:Roger that. Later. Get some sleep ... or not

I ignored his parting jab, then pulled up my favorited contacts to message one of my assistants. I had quite a few tasks I’d need handled before returning to New York tomorrow. I’d let my main admin know I was in Italy the other day, but he had no clue I was now married. Ofcourse, word was bound to get out soon. My dad was probably trying to get ahead of the story by having a meeting after we landed tomorrow, and with the time difference, it was doable.

Before I could text my assistant, Callie opened the door. She was in cotton pajamas that had funny little dancing bananas on them, and my shoulders collapsed. I nearly dropped the phone, because how’d she still take my breath away with her hair in a messy bun and wearing pajamas like that? Barely an inch of visible skin in sight, too.

She pouted. I hated when she did that since it was cute. And I kept finding myself now “falling” for cute. “Don’t laugh. I tried to choose the least sexy thing to pack for this trip since I was coming here.”

“Not a bad idea. But ...”You’re still sexy.I set the phone on the nightstand, opting to wait to text a hundred last-minute requests to my assistant until after she fell asleep. I shifted my legs on the bed and slipped beneath the covers, doing my best not to put too much pressure on my achy back.

She joined me in the bed, surprising me by turning toward me instead of away.

“The lights are still on,” I pointed out.

“Maybe they should stay on?”

“Afraid something will bite you in the dark?”

“Something? No.” She lifted a brow. “Someone, you mean?”

“I don’t bite.”Unless you ask me to.And dammit, please don’t. I just might do it.“We’ll, uh, get through this.” Those words were for me, not her.

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