Page 55 of Enforcer

“I don’t know any other life. I try to be optimistic, even through dark times. What about you? Are your folks still together?”

There it is, the question I wanted to avoid answering. I knew he would bat it back at me, so I don’t know why I asked him in the first place.

“No. They’re still alive, but they’re not together. It was a messy divorce when I was young. It got nasty.”

I hang my head, toying my finger over the rim of my beer bottle.

I can still hear the screaming all these years later.

His hand comes down on my left thigh, squeezing a bit. “That also makes so much sense.”

I laugh awkwardly. “Oh yeah? How?”

“Because of the massive walls you’ve erected to keep yourself safe—to remain single and unattainable to men.”

I swallow. Somehow, he’s figured me out.

I know how, too. I let him get too close for too long, and he’s looked through the window, keeping him out of my soul and glimpsing what’s beyond. I hadn’t meant to, it’s only he’s so fucking magnetic.

“That easy to read, huh?” I toss back at him.

He scoffs. “You? I fucking wish. If you were easy to read, I’d have you wanting to marry me already, tesoro. You’re the most difficult pain in the ass woman I’ve ever met in my life.”

I smile. “Then why are you bothering?”

“Because you’re worth bothering with, Alyssa. You’re worth every moment I have to wait for you to let the walls come down.”

I swallow, unable to think of a single smart-ass thing to say. So I don’t.

“Come on, let’s get more comfortable,” he says, opening the door and sliding out.

I do the same, following him around to the back of the car as he opens the back door.

He lays the back seat down, tossing pillows up toward the back of the front seats and laying down a comforter.

“Hop in.”

“Did you do all this?” I ask.

“Not technically. I had Pauly get some things for us and set them in here, but it was my idea. Why?”

As I get in, it strikes me that even though this isn’t a date, it’s the best date I’ve ever been on.

“No reason. It’s just sweet, is all.”

He gets in behind me, grunting as he weasels his massive body in and shuts the door behind him. The car is still running, the air conditioning filling the space with a low hum and cool breeze.

“Did you always want to be in this life?” I ask him, knowing it’s not my turn.

“It’s the only life I know. Did I ever wonder what else is out there? No, not really. I’ve seen some fucked up things, don’t get me wrong. But I’ve also seen a lot of amazing things and been a part of some of them.”

“Shouldn’t we be paying attention to the building?” I ask when he tugs me into him.

I shift onto my side and lay my head on his chest.

“Well, I wasn’t sincere when I said it was just me and you on this stakeout.”

“Hmm? Are we not alone?”

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