Page 79 of Enforcer's Obsession

I nodded, satisfied but not happy.

Well, not entirely happy.

I could still remember how Hope had squealed with delight when I told her she could go back to work, with some conditions. I hated the thought of it, and didn’t want her to be more than an arm’s length away. But to see how happy she was, feeling so pleased at being the reason for one of her smiles, was too tantalizing to resist.

To my surprise, she hadn’t even balked at the conditions.

“Maybe I’ll just drive you directly there,” I said.

We were approaching her apartment, and the thought of leaving her there, even under the watchful eye of my men, felt wrong.

“No. These are your rules remember. You said we go to my apartment, and I take the bus to work like normal. Then do the same on the way home. And it’s a good idea. I’ve already done things far out of character, so it’s best to keep things normal and not raise suspicion,” she said.

She was right, just like I’d been right when I had said those words to her, but still, knowing I was right, and hating that I was right were two different things. But the Genovese weren’t the only thing to consider. Don Carlo had enemies, and the fewer people who knew about my connection to Hope, let alone what she meant to me, the better it was for her and the more easily I could protect her.

I pulled to a stop about two blocks away from her building, not wanting to get too close and attract the wrong kind of attention.

“You have the phone?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she said.

“I’m number one, Enzo’s number two, and Sebastian is number three. Don’t hesitate to call. Somebody will always be watching,” I said.

She smiled. “That sounds really fucking creepy, Nico.”

I knew her humor was driven by her happiness, but I didn’t crack a smile.

“You remember why, don’t you?” I said.

Her smile dimmed, but ever so slightly. “I know it’s dangerous, and I’ll do what it takes to make sure I’m okay. And thank you,” she said, her eyes darkening with sincerity.

“Thank me for what?” I said.

My voice was rough, but I was surprised.

“I know this goes against some of you more…overbearing instincts. So I appreciate it,” she said.

My heart felt like it had been a death grip, but I paid the feeling no heed.

“Go,” I said. “The men are around.”

I wanted to kiss her, drive her back to my house, do anything to make sure she was fine.

I did nothing.

She flashed me another quick smile, and then got out, walking toward the bus stop near her apartment without a glance back.

The way she should have been.

I hadn’t dare tell her, but she had been different since we run into her shitty stepfather.

She seemed unburdened.

And she didn’t even blink when I told her what I’d done to him.

Whatever hold he’d had on her was gone. And knowing that, at least in that small way, I had allowed her to live the life she deserved was a fact that I cherished.

Rather than linger, or even worse, replace Sebastian so I could keep watch on her, I drove.

---