Page 48 of Omega in Hiding

Just hearing Paolo’s name makes my chest ache. I want so bad to ask about him. I want to know if he’s okay. I want to know if they’re at war with the Murphy and the O’Sullivan Clans, but it’s not my place to ask. Enzo would probably be only too happy to tell me that too.

I grimace. “I know how to shoot, but I’m not lying when I say I hate violence.”

“Okay.” He purses his lips. “I still say that was a shitty way to quit.”

“I’m sorry.” I reallyamsorry, but I did what I felt was right. I knew if I stayed, it was only a matter of time before they found out who I was. But I can’t explain any of that to Enzo. He might just take care of me on the spot if he knows I’m related to the Murphy Clan. “Is everyone doing okay?”

“Sure. Everyone is fine.” He laughs. “I mean, we’re at war with the Irish, but if it wasn’t them it would probably just be someone else.”

“Probably.” So they’re officially at war with the Irish now. Hearing that vindicates my decision to run. It was good that I left.

“Well.” Enzo sticks a toothpick between his teeth. “Got any messages you’d like to send to anyone, Connor?”

Something about his tone makes me think he means Paolo. That day at the park, Enzo had seemed aware of the attraction between Paolo and I. He’d given us space to talk privately. I want to send some little message back with him to Paolo, but I have no idea what to say. The muscles of my throat work as I try to force out words, but I can’t seem to figure out the right words. Finally, I manage, “Can you just tell… them… I’m sorry about how I left, and that I miss… them?”

Enzo gets a knowing look. “Sure, kid. I’ll tellthem.” He turns and leaves the café without a glance back.

I watch him go, feeling lightheaded and vaguely panicked. He’s my only connection to Paolo. I have the strongest compulsion to run after him and ask him to take me back to Los Demonios. I want to see Paolo again. I desperately want that. Seeing Enzo brought back a rush of feelings I’m not prepared to deal with. But Paolo isn’t going to be in my life anymore, and I have toacceptthat. I just have to. My nausea from earlier returns, and I brace myself on the nearest wall.

“Calm down,” I whisper, sweat breaking out on my face. “Everything is fine.” But I don’t feel fine. There’s a roaring in my ears and I just feel so weak and hopeless. It’s like my entire body is reaching out for Paolo.

I hear Sully’s voice, but it sounds far away, and my legs are beginning to buckle. Someone grabs hold of me as I begin to fall.

Then everything goes black.

Chapter Twelve

Paolo

I’m sitting in Dario’s study with my feet up on the desk, and an unlit cigar in my mouth. I’m doing my best to play the part of the tough Mafia boss, but in truth, I have a pounding headache, and I just want to go take a shower and maybe get a manicure later. Instead, I’m stuck on the phone trying to cajole one of the guys into doing his job.

“Tony, how many times do I have to tell you, the crane operator put the container where it’s going to be inspected Saturday. That was the best he could do,” I say. “That means you need to get the cars out of that container before tomorrow. So do it already.”

“Boss,” Tony’s whiny voice comes over the line. “I’ve been working seven days a week for a month. I promised my girl I’d take her dancing Friday. Can’t we push unloading the cars until next week?”

“No. The longer the cargo sits on the dock, the riskier it becomes that the port police will discover it.”

“Get the guy you bribed to move it to another spot. It’ll be fine.”

“You’re not listening, this has to happen Friday, as intomorrow. I’m not bribing the crane operator twice just to push shit off a week because you want to take your girl dancing. Are you nuts? How about I take the original bribe amount out of your pay just because you’re pissing me off?”

“No need for that.” He sighs. “Hey, I got an idea. How about we get Luigi to handle the Friday shipment?”

“He’s in New York.”

“There must be someone else.”

“Nope. Dario said he wants you to handle it.” Irritation bubbles up inside of me at the fact he’s not listening. This is why I loathe helping to run the ports. There are too many lazy-ass guys like Tony who just want the money without the work. The only plus is since I started helping Alessio, Valentino has been nagging me less. I’ll take the win.

“Aww, come on, man. Why can’t Luigi do it?”

I sigh, trying to control my annoyance. If I was Valentino, Tony wouldn’t be pushing back. The guys like to test me a lot. It’s aggravating as hell, but I can’t lose my temper. I have to keep my cool and act like a boss. “Luigi is in New York. I told you that already.”

“How about Franco?” Tony asks. “Surely Franco could handle the Friday off load?”

“Sorry, Tony. It’s you this time.”

“But I’ve done so many of these lately. Come on, man, give me a break.”

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