Page 29 of Enzo

It took about an hour for the doctor to look me over. I don’t know how many stitches he put in my body. I honestly lost count.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get to you sooner,” Enzo says as he gently places me on the bed before climbing in next to me.

“I have to tell you something. And I know you’re going to hate me after you find out. But you need to know.”

“What?”

“I’m… I’m a… My job… I’m an FBI agent,” I admit. “I’m not a college student.”

Enzo doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t appear surprised and he doesn’t look angry. More impassive than anything.

“Say something.”

“I’ve known who you were all along, piccolo ladro.” He smiles at me.

“You knew? Why would you bring me here? Why would you…? We did things, Enzo, last night,” I whisper like someone might hear me.

“At first, I wanted to beat you at your own game. And then, well… I guess it stopped being a game the minute I touched you.”Enzo leans over and kisses my forehead. “Out of curiosity, what did you find out about my family anyway?”

“Nothing,” I tell him. “I didn’t even try. I’m a failure. I came here to find dirt, something we could use, and I lost sight of the mission.”

“Told you I’m easy to fall for.” He smirks.

“Where do we go from here? This can’t work.Wecan’t work.”

“How much do you love your job?” Enzo asks.

“I like helping people. I love putting men like Frank away so they can never hurt anyone else again.”

“What if there was another way to rid the streets of men like Esposito?” Enzo says. “What if I told you that even the bad guys can be good guys sometimes?”

“A week ago, I would have laughed in your face before clicking the cuffs in place. Now, I’m questioning everything I thought I knew,” I tell him honestly.

“I want to make this work. I want to find a way to make us work. I mean, you are my wife after all, and we don’t really do divorce in my family.” Enzo grins.

“You need to stop telling people that. We are not married.”

“That’s a technicality. We will be. We’re destined, piccolo ladro,” he says, and against my better judgement, I believe him.

“Why do you call me a thief?” I ask him.

“Because with one look, you stole my heart,” he explains, and I think I finally know what it feels like to swoon.

Epilogue

I’m standing outside Kayleigh’s shitty apartment. It’s taken me four weeks to convince her to move in with me. She gave her notice at work two weeks ago. She wanted to wait until she was no longer an agent before making this step. Though I’m not sure why that mattered, seeing as she’s been on medical leave for the last month and had no intentions of going back.

I know it wasn’t an easy decision for her to make, and it’s one I let her do all on her own. It was her career. One she put her blood, sweat, and tears into. That’s not something anyone can walk away from easily. I also needed it to be her choice. I don’t want her waking up in fifty years hating me.

That said, for the first time, Lorenzo’s words ring true to me. I love my family, and I’ll do anything for them. But the love I have for this woman is different. And if she had asked me to walk away from the life, I would have. Without hesitation.

I offered to do it. Just once, I offered to leave it all behind and Kayleigh went ballistic on me. Telling me how I couldn’t walk away from my family for her. She then informed me that it wouldn’t matter, because I’d always be a Valentino.

The door swings open, and the object of my obsession stands there. “You look… Wow, piccolo ladro, that dress is… Fuck, is it too late to change our plans?” I ask her. She’s wearing a black dress. It’s knee-length and completely covers all of her assets. But, damn, she looks fuckable.

“It’s the most boring thing in my closet, Enzo. But if you want to change your mind and stay here, I’m game,” Kayleigh says while taking a step backwards into her apartment.

“Nice try. Let’s go. It’s about time you met the family. Don’t look so terrified. They’re going to love you,” I tell her.

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