Page 65 of Dark Mafia Vows

“Okay.” I nod, my throat tightening. “I know.”

I hesitate for a second before meeting his gaze again. “And you too, Enzo. Promise me you’ll put yourself out there more. You can’t hide forever. I’m not going to be around the house much anymore, and I don’t wantyouto be lonely, either. Just…think about it, okay?”

“I don’t have the time for that right now,” he says with a sigh, exasperation creeping into his voice. “With the company getting back on track, I’ve got a lot on my plate.”

I raise my eyebrows, not buying it. “And when business keeps doing well? You’ll just get busier and busier, making more excuses.”

“I just can’t commit to anything serious right now?—”

“Then when will you commit? When you’re forty? Fifty?” I challenge, cutting him off. “You’ve never even introduced me to a single woman you’ve been serious about. Don’t you think it’s time?”

He shakes his head, a small, reluctant smile playing at his lips. “Fine. I’ll think about it,” he concedes, though there’s a teasing lilt to his voice. “But I’m not promising anything.”

I chuckle softly, satisfied for now and making a mental note to keep reminding him of it. But as I finish shaping the dough, I can’t help but feel the shadow of our earlier conversation lingering in the air—what he didn’t say, what he’s still hiding.

Whatever happened between him and Dario…I need to know.

As I finish rolling the dough and arranging them on the baking pan, I put the pan in the preheated oven before returning back to sit by the island. In a few minutes, delicious warmth surrounds us, and the smell of chocolate chips fills the air.

As soon as I finish rolling the dough and arrange the cookies on the baking pan, I slide it into the preheated oven. A few minutes later, warmth envelops us, the rich smell of chocolate chips filling the air.

But the earlier lightness fades as I glance at the time on my phone and realize Lorenzo may have to leave soon for work. The question I’d asked earlier gnaws at me until I can no longer hold it in.

“So… why did you guys stop talking in the first place? What exactly happened? Every time I ask, you brush it off. I want to know, Enzo.” My voice drops, almost pleading.

Before he can protest, I add, “You owe it to me, considering I’m in this situation because of this beef.”

Lorenzo’s expression shifts, and another sigh escapes his lips. “You really want to know, don’t you?”

“Absolutely. I’m in a forced marriage with him for crying out loud,” I press, my tone serious. “I need to understand.”

A flicker of hesitation crosses his eyes, and he glances away, as if weighing his words. “Well, everything started on that camping trip when you were just four...”

Thick footsteps echo in the space as Dario strides in, his expression unreadable. The atmosphere shifts instantly, the earlier ease I felt evaporating like steam.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be, Lorenzo?” Dario snaps, his voice slicing through the air.

I bristle at his tone while Lorenzo exchanges a tense glance with me.” I was just catching up with my sister,” he replies.

“You’ll have more than enough time for that later. Right now, you need to be at work. I’m not investing so much in your company for you to slack off--”

“Dario!” I interject, stepping forward. “He was just--”

“It’s fine, Ginny.” Lorenzo cuts me off with a tight smile, the warmth draining from his demeanor. “I was already about to leave anyway.”

I’m fuming, barely able to contain my anger as Lorenzo presses a kiss against my forehead.

“I’ll see you later,” Lorenzo whispers with a small smile before grabbing his briefcase and walking away.

The moment he leaves, I turn to Dario, my cheeks flushed as my frustration bubbles over.

“Why are you such a jerk?” I scream, my voice trembling. “Just when I thought you were starting to show some humanity, you revert back to this!”

Dario’s expression hardens as he glances at his wristwatch, not even sparing me a glance. “I’m not in the mood to argue with you,” he says coldly, brushing past me as if I’m invisible.

Anger and resentment clog my throat, and I can’t hold back. “Asshole,” I shout, the words echoing in the now tense silence of the kitchen.

The moment he leaves, my chest feels heavy. Intertwined with my anger is a gnawing suspicion. Dario must have eavesdropped on our conversation, interrupting before Lorenzo could reveal the truth. A tight knot twists in my stomach, and I can’t help but wonder just how bad the story really is.

---