Page 28 of The Enforcer

“Of course I will,” he says, offering me his hand.

I groan loudly as he pulls me up from the wall. And even though I don’t want to encourage this kind of casual and familiar touching, I do appreciate his arm around my waist as I limp into something that looks like a gorgeous jungle.

“Are you kidding me?” I gasp. “This is beautiful.”

“You seem shocked,” Alfonso says.

“Obviously, I am. I thought you were going to take me to hide in some dark warehouse somewhere.”

He chuckles. “I don’t think Zahra would appreciate that,” he says. “And I wouldn’t like to fight with Giulio because I made her frown.”

I peer up at him. “Would he do that?”

“Hmm?” he asks, at this point practically dragging me toward the house ahead of us.

“Would Giulio fight you because of me?”

“Because of you via Zahra, yes.”

“He loves her that much?”

Alfonso smiles. “I don’t know that they have used those words, but yes,” he laughs. “He loves her that much. I’ve never seen him like this before. I quite like it, actually. It’s much easier to aggravate him.”

“So, you like playing with danger,” I say, and he freezes. “What?”

His formerly bright face has darkened into a scowl, and suddenly, I’m worried about the same arm around my waist that had been so comforting a few moments ago. I start to push away from him — I don’t think I have the strength to run, but I will absolutely try — and his hold tightens around me. Whatever the hell is happening in this moment is thankfully interrupted by someone yelling at us in Italian.

I watch as Alfonso’s face brightens again.

I turn to look toward the house and see a man that is absolutely related to Alfonso. He’s at least six feet away, and the light under the trellis is dim, deepening the early evening darkness, but I can see the family resemblance in the broad shoulders and thick waist.

Alfonso calls back to him, their Italian blending together musically, their excitement palpable. He begins to drag me forward again. I try to push away, but his hold is tighter than ever.

I don’t understand what they’re saying, but I know the moment their conversation turns to me. The other man’s eyes shift my way, and Alfonso manages to somehow hold me even closer as he says something in a warning tone. And that’s when I decide I’ve had enough.

I give a great shove and finally break Alfonso’s hold on me. I don’t even care if he let me loose so long as I am. Sure, I’m unsteady as hell on my feet, but that’s beside the point.

“English,” I tell Alfonso. “If you’re going to talk about me like I’m not here, the least you can do is speak in English, so I know just how much to hate you.”

A shocked smile spreads across his face, and the other man laughs, but when he begins to speak in Italian, Alfonso cuts him off. “You heard her. English,” he says, still looking at me.

There’s a teasing laughter in the other man’s voice. “I should have known this was the kind of woman you would bring home. Good. You need someone to keep you in line. When are you going to introduce us?” he asks.

Alfonso finally looks away. “Only when you promise not to flirt with her.”

He grins. “Oh, unfortunately, I cannot promise that.” He looks at me out of the corner of his eye and winks.

Yeah, they’re definitely related.

“Zoe,” Alfonso says, “this is one of my brothers, Nicola.”

“One of?”

“Yes, but he’s the worst, so if you manage not to kill him tonight, the other two will be much easier to handle.”

“If,” Nicola says. “Does mamma know you’re back?”

Alfonso shakes his head. “If I’d told her, she’d have met me at the pier.”

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