Page 53 of Sexting the Don

"Absolutely," she agrees, gesturing toward a folder on the coffee table. "I’ve been doing just that while you were out. Found some potential spots for us to look at." She flips the folder open to reveal a neat stack of apartment listings.

I lean in, eager to switch gears in my brain from worry to action. As I browse through the listings, each one brings a new wave of excitement and a bit of relief. Moving out on our own terms, finding our own space … it feels like grabbing back some control.I point to a couple that catch my eye. "This one in Venice Beach has a nice balcony, and oh, look at the kitchen on this one!"

"Yeah, I thought you’d like that one," Mom chuckles, pleased with her handiwork.

I flip through the listings, my finger pausing on another one that catches my eye. "What about this one, Mom? It's in Silver Lake. It's not exactly Beverly Hills, but it has a doorman and decent security. Plus, it's in our budget."

Mom leans over to take a closer look. "Oh, that does look nice. And Silver Lake is a lovely area—artsy and vibrant. I also like that it has security."

"Yeah, it could be a good fit for us," I agree. "Let's go check it out tomorrow. I think we should move on it quickly if it looks as good in person."

Mom nods but gives me a quizzical look, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You're in quite a hurry, sweetie. Is everything all right with Enzo? You seem a bit on edge since coming back from the gym."

I hesitate, not wanting to unload everything on her just yet. The last thing I want is to worry her, especially with the newfound peace she's achieved here. "Everything’s fine. I just think it's time we found our own place, you know? Get a fresh start, just the two of us."

Her gaze softens as she reaches out to squeeze my hand. "All right, honey. If you think it’s best, I trust you. Let's go see that apartment tomorrow."

Encouraged, I pull out my phone and dial the number listed on the ad to set up a viewing.

After hanging up, I feel better, like I'm taking control of something amidst the chaos. But in the back of my mind, the threat of what I overheard in Enzo's office lurks, a dark cloud threatening our brief spell of calm.

"Got us an appointment for ten tomorrow morning, Mom. It'll be our little adventure," I say, forcing a smile.

"Looking forward to it, sweetie," Mom replies, her smile genuine though a bit puzzled by my sudden push to move.

Part of me can't help but feel guilty for keeping her in the dark. But until I know more—until I can be sure of our safety—I decide it's best to keep the full truth under wraps.

As we're chatting, there’s a knock at the door. My heart skips a beat, anxiety clutching at me as I suspect it's Enzo. In a rush, I lean toward Mom and whisper urgently, "Tell him I’m sick and went to bed early, okay?"

Mom looks puzzled, concern etching her features. "What’s wrong? I was planning on making spaghetti carbonara tonight as a thank you to Enzo. Why don’t you want to see him?"

I bite my lip, hesitating. "I promise, Mom, I'll tell you everything tomorrow. Just please tell him I'm not feeling well." Not waiting for her response, I quickly slip into the bedroom and gently close the door, my heart pounding as I press my ear against it to listen.

Through the thin door, I hear Mom greeting Enzo. Her voice is warm but carries a note of disappointment. "Hi, Enzo. Mandy’s turned in for the night, feeling a bit under the weather. I’m sorry about dinner."

There’s a slight pause before Enzo’s deep voice responds. "That’s all right, Florence. I hope she feels better soon. Actually, I’ll beout of touch most of tomorrow, but please tell her I’ll text."

A wave of relief washes over me. His being away works in our favor, giving us a chance to check out the apartment and possibly move quickly if it works out. It feels a bit underhanded, considering everything Enzo has done for us, but the need to protect Mom and me from potential danger overrides my guilt.

As I hear his footsteps fade away, I sit on the edge of the bed, a plan forming in my mind. Tomorrow could be our pathway to a new beginning, away from the complications and shadows that have started to crowd around Enzo’s world.

Chapter 24

Enzo

Hope you’re feeling better today. Let me know if you need anything.

It’s early evening, and I’m sitting in my car, the dim light of my phone illuminating the last message I sent Mandy.

I’ve been texting her throughout the day, trying not to seem overbearing, but there’s been total radio silence on her end. It’s unlike her not to respond, and I’m starting to worry that the bug she supposedly had last night might be something serious.

Or that there might be something else going on entirely.

I want to call Florence to check in and make sure everything is alright, but I realize I never got her number. An oversight I'm mentally kicking myself for now. A knot of tension tightens in my gut, the silence from their end gnawing at me with possibilities I don't want to consider.

The thought of Jimmy possibly getting his hands on them sends a cold shiver down my spine. I know my place is secure, practically a fortress, and there’s no way Jimmy could break in. But Mandy isn’t one to sit around, especially if she's feelingcaged or smothered.

She’s got that stubborn, independent streak—part of what drew me to her in the first place. If she decided to head out for a jog or do something to clear her head, she might have left the safety of my property to do so.

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