Page 33 of Corrupted By the Capo

“Huh?”

“I mean, if it was just that, it’d be one thing. But this…it’s so much more. He’s trying to wind his way into my heart. And there are no vacancies,” I said.

“Maybe there are,” she countered. “Maybe sometimes it walks up on you without you expecting it,” she said.

“So I should just go with this?” I said.

“You should do what makes you happy,” Hope responded.

I rolled my eyes at her.

“Hope, stop being so freaking diplomatic,” I said.

“Fine. What do you want, Molly?”

“Him,” I finally said.

“So there you go,” she said.

“Yeah but that’s stupid. I mean, the one time I think I want to try to build something, I choose Enzo of all people.”

“Who better?” she asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe somebody who is less…Enzo.”

Hope laughed.

“You get what I mean,” I said.

“I do, but Enzo would never hurt you,” she said.

“And if he did, I assume he’d have to deal with you?”

“You know it.”

I got a whiff of something. I think it was the freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.

“Um, can I have a minute?" I said.

My stomach lurched and I stood and hurried to the restrooms.

Enzo and Nico had taken the chance to catch up.

I’d never admit it to Enzo, but this was one aspect of Enzo and Nico’s life that I appreciated. This restaurant wasalwayspacked, so to have it to ourselves was special. Luxurious, in an insulated-from-the-world kind of way that I never experienced before. The expensive cutlery, the soft jazz flowing from the speakers, the heavy, expensive-looking custom furniture that had clearly been designed for the space. It even smelled expensive, like aged wood, furniture polish, a faint floral scent that was present but not cloying. It felt like I’d been let in on a secret world.

And I enjoyed it.

Shallow, sure, but the truth was the truth.

I ventured down the hall and into the bathroom. The space was dimly lit, bright enough to see but not so bright as to be overpowering. The fixtures on the faucets were shaped like mermaids. Not something I’d usually enjoy, but it worked in this space. I splashed by some water on my face and by some miracle managed not to throw up.

Still, I stayed put until my stomach settled, and when I exited the bathroom, I felt almost human again.

I started to walk back to the table, but heard voices. I smiled, recognizing the tenor of Enzo’s voice, even though I couldn’t make out his words.

As if I needed more proof that I was completely gone for this man.

How ridiculous that just hearing the sound of his voice made a stupid smile spread across my face.

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