Page 105 of Deceitful Oath

I hang up, pretending to feel irritated when I actually feel lighter than I have in weeks. Lux sidles up beside me, snuggling into my side against the car hood.

“Who was that?”

“Just Enzo,” I sigh, guiding her to the door. She claps her hands happily, grinning up at me.

“Is he coming for dinner again?” she asks, already excited to see her human golden retriever.

“God, I hope not.”

Back at the townhouse, I force Lux to put her feet up and rest while I make dinner. I mull her question over again as I toss the chicken into the oil.

“Make some extra for Enzo!” she calls from the living room and I shake my head.

Say I did retire, how would that work?

I’d have to find a replacement, although my uncles could share the duty in the interim. Uncle Joe has told me multiple times that he’s too old and doesn’t want the responsibility, but Rocco?Rocco would lead the Romano family.

I start chopping vegetables for the salad, barely focusing on my hands as ideas spin around in my mind. Would Rocco be the best choice?Probably not.He’s too careful, too stodgy and set in his ways.

This family needs someone younger, someone who can lead with an iron fist but also understand the evolving dynamics of families spearheaded by a new generation.

“Honey, I’m home!” Enzo sings, bursting in through the back door. I almost leap out of my skin, bringing the knife down too early and nicking my finger.

“Screw you,” I mutter, wrapping a dish towel around it to staunch the bleeding. Enzo wanders over, peering at my hand and gasps in mock horror.

“Oh no,” he laughs. “Big bad mafia boy went to see a pink farmhouse and now he’s scared of a papercut? Whatever shall we do?”

“Enzo, stop teasing him,” Lux chides, walking into the kitchen. “I have to stop him from killing you on a daily basis.”

I watch my two favorite oddballs interact as Lux chatters about our house shopping trip this afternoon. Enzo teases her about being a country mouse and I tune them out, smiling as I finish up dinner. We sit down at the informal kitchen table, skipping the opulent dining room as usual.

“Oh, did you get me that…thing I mentioned this afternoon?” I ask casually, spearing a tomato onto my fork. Lux’s ears perk up, sensing a surprise is in the works.That girl loves surprises more than anything in the world.

“Sure did,” Enzo says, and we go back to quietly eating our meal. Lux’s eyes dart wildly between us as we sit in silence, refusing to look at her.

Enzo kicks me under the table. I glance at him and immediately regret it. He’s turning pink trying to hold in his laughter—almost the same shade of pink as the farmhouse.

“Sure gonna be a nice surprise for someone’s little old lady,” he drawls with a country accent and I choke back a laugh.

“Stop it, it’s not fair,” Lux finally announces. “No secrets in this tripod. Tell me!”

“Mafia stuff,” I mutter.

“It’s nothing,” he grumbles.

We both speak at the same time and burst out laughing again. Lux is vibrating with curiosity now, glaring at us for keeping secrets from her. Her eyebrows are pulled down to give her an angry look and her arms are folded across her chest.

“You’re cute when you’re angry, you know that?” I smile, winking at her.

“Can we please put her out of her misery?” Enzo pleads. “She’s my best friend.”

“I thought I was your best friend?” I act shocked by the announcement.

“You wouldn’t even let me call you on your personal phone until two weeks ago,” he scoffs. “I’m telling her.”

“Fine,” I wave my arm gallantly. “Show her what you managed to get.”

Enzo pulls up the listing for the farmhouse on his phone and slides it to her. She stares down at it, confused.

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