Page 65 of Enforcer

“This was the best night ever,” Brynne adds.

“It was,” Antonio says, and I can’t help but laugh all over again.

“You two are the worst fucking guards ever!” Tears are rolling down my cheeks as I try to contain my giggles. I know my makeup is ruined, but I had so much fun tonight as reality bled away; I don’t give a shit.

“I agree on that front,” Pauly says, eyeing me in the rearview mirror.

“Sorry we kept you out so late, Pauly,” I tell him, trying to straighten my face.

Brynne pokes me from below. “Why do you look constipated?”

I break, and Pauly rolls his eyes in the mirror, flicking them back to the road as the SUV erupts in laughter again.

“Drunken idiots,” Pauly murmurs.

When we get to Slate’s apartment building, Pauly tells us to stay put, and he escorts her upstairs after she and I hug for what Pauly deemed anabsurdamount of time.

I’m listening to Lorenzo and Antonio snore because once their food hit their bellies, they were out like two broken lights.

I know I shouldn’t, but I pull my phone out of my purse and unlock it. I have a longstanding rule not to use my phone while inebriated. I’ve done well all these years, too.

There are messages from Dante, and I don’t hesitate to open them.

I hope you’re having fun.

These men are boring compared to you.

Tesoro, it’s three in the morning; where are you?

Why are the men not answering their phones?

Do I need to send a firing squad to find you? So help me, little menace, I’ll do it.

Even though I shouldn’t, I grin at all his worry. No one’s ever cared where I was before besides Brynne. Usually, she’s beside me, though, so she doesn’t have to wonder where I am.

I try to type a reply message but can’t get my fingers to click the right buttons, which I take as a sign that I shouldn’t do it. I close my phone and rest my head back on the headrest as Pauly slides into the driver’s seat.

“Did she get inside okay?” I ask him.

He smiles in the rearview. “She did. Slate was waiting for her, and she’ll be looked after.”

I fake a smile. “I know. From here on out, she’ll be looked after.”

“He’s a good man,” Pauly says as if he surmised that my smile was a bit sad.

“I know he is. She’s lucky to have found him. They’re lucky to have found one another,” I correct. “I’ll just miss her. Not that she’s going anywhere…” I’m rambling, so I shut up and sigh.

Looking out the window, I watch the world move as Pauly heads for Dante’s apartment.

“I know what you mean, Ms. Alyssa.”

I don’t find his eyes in the mirror again because I know my own would water if I did. I don’t want to ruin this perfect night with tears. I’m so happy for Brynne, but I know I’ll be a bit more lonely without her beside me all the time.

Though, I’ll be beside her during the working hours, so there’s that.

Something aches deep within when a best friend gets married. It’s like they’ve found a new best friend, and you’re being replaced, even though that’s not logical.

I shake away from the thoughts as Pauly pulls into the parking garage.

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