Page 84 of Twisted Knight

Dom brought my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “I’m planning on it.”

Matteo helped himself to a glass of scotch before going back around his desk. “Now that’s done, Domenico, I need to speak with you.” He turned to me. “Go wait in the lounge. Enzo can give you a drink.”

“Of course.” I knew better than to question his command, especially only minutes after swearing my allegiance to him.

Dom leaned down and gave me a quick kiss. “I won’t be long.”

“Take your time.”

Enzo stood up as soon as I exited the room.

“They have to chat for a while,” I said after closing the door behind me.

“Y-y-you w-ant something to drink?” he asked, coming toward me.

I shook my head with a smile, studying him. He had the black hair and eyes that were trademarks of the famiglia, but his skin was so pale, almost translucent, and despite being in his twenties, he didn’t look older than fifteen.

He was the kind of person we wanted to protect but who would refuse showing any more weakness…

“What do you say we play a game while we wait?” I asked him, pointing at the beautiful wooden chess board at the side of the room.

Enzo studied me for a couple of seconds before nodding. It had to be tiring to always be on your guard like that. Was it a Mafia thing, to always be on high alert?

“This is stunning.” I ran my hand on the board sculpted directly on the table.

He nodded again and it made me sad for him. He was clearly limiting his verbal communication because of his stuttering, and he didn’t know me well enough to trust me.

“White or black?”

He sat at the black side, silently replying to my question and allowing me to start.

“I’m not very good at this,” I admitted after playing for about five minutes. I grimaced and looked at all the pieces he’d already taken.

“I am good,” he simply replied, taking my tower. “Check.”

I twisted my mouth to the side. I was not very good for sure, but I never thought I was that bad either.

I moved a pawn, taking the one that made me check. “Jude really loves chess. He enjoys spending time with you.”

“J-Jude is d-d-different. He und-derstands.”

“Understands what?”

Enzo threw me a knowing look, as if he were onto me and he was not a fool. He looked down to the board again. “That y-you should n-n-never underestimate an adv-v-versary just b-because he l-l-looks weaker.” He let out a big sigh after struggling with this long sentence. “Checkmate.” He stood up. “I have w-w-ork now. G-g-good game.”

I watched him walk back to his desk.

Good game? The kid beat me in seven minutes flat.

He had a very sharp, quick mind. No wonder Matteo kept him close; he was brilliant.

I needed to know more about him; he was intriguing. Maybe I could ask Luca to invite him over when Jude would be back from his break.

Enzo was a challenge I wanted to conquer.

Chapter Eighteen

DOM

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