Page 118 of Dangerous King
More heat rushes to my face, and he pulls me in to kiss my forehead, "You worry about spending the money, I worry about it coming in, alright?"
As generous as his words are, they bring up the memory of him standing in the doorway, looking so far away and so not like the smiling, laughing man at my side.
"Enrico?"
"Yes, Piccolina?"
"If there were something wrong, you would tell me, right?"
If I weren't scrutinizing him so hard, I would have missed the light flicker going through his eyes. Heisworried about something. "I'm going to be your wife. That means that you can tell me whatever is bothering you."
For a second, I think he's going to laugh at me, but his face turns serious. "You don't want to know what's bothering me, Cat, trust me."
"I do," I insist. "A mafia family held me for fourteen years. I know more about this world than you'd think. And I want to be there for you."
His eyes search mine, just like mine are his; he must realize that I'm dead serious. His lips curve up, "How did I get this lucky?"
"Oh, I think I'm the lucky one," I contradict. "But I'm serious, if you want me to be happy, you'll share your worries with me."
He nods, "We'll talk later? I need to speak to my father."
I'm not sure where my stubbornness is coming from, but something in my gut tells me that I should be there when he talks to Fabrizio. "I want to come."
Again, he studies me for a long moment before nodding. "I suppose this concerns you too, so," he holds out his hand.
I take it and nervously follow him to Rizio's office, wondering if this time I might have bitten off a bit more than I can chew. But I meant it. I want to be part of Enrico's life, and if that means I have to learn more about their shady business dealings, then I will.
"Well, if that isn't a pleasant surprise," Rizio rises from the chair behind his desk to embrace me like a long-lost daughter. I missed my father long enough to feel comforted in his embrace. Even though my father is here now, he feels more like a stranger to me than Enrico's Father. Papa hasn't gone out of his way yet to spend time with me, and honestly, I haven't sought him out, either. Although I'd be hard pressed to say why.
"To what do I owe this honor?" Rizio puts his arm around me and leads me to a large leather sofa. "Drink?"
"Edoardo is against the marriage." Enrico's words are like a bomb going off in the middle of the room.
"Excuse me?" Rizio turns to Enrico, frowning.
"I just came from a meeting with him, where he told me that he will not give his blessing, and that he will call you to disown me if I do go ahead with it. Oh, and that Roberto wants his hostage back and the mayor of Sicily reinstated."
Had I not already been sitting down, I would have sunk to the sofa. The world spins around me. I should have known that this happiness wouldn't last. That it would be snatched away from me. Tears form in my eyes.
"That is out of the question," Rizio thunders, walking over to the little bar area, filling two glasses with Scotch. Giving me a questioning look, but numbly, I shake my head. I rise on wobbly legs, "I'll go."
"No," both men say at the same time, turning to me with identical stone-cold expressions.
"You can't go against the Don…" My voice falters.
"Let me worry about that," Enrico pulls me in for an embrace, while Rizio holds the two glasses in his hands. He drinks one down, hesitates, then downs the other, before refilling them both.
"No, don't you see? It was never meant to be." I can't stop the sob coming up. "Your entire family could… he's your Don… you have to…"
"Here, sit," Enrico guides me back into a sitting position and holds out his hand to his father, who puts a new, filled glass of Scotch into it. He then raises it to my lips. "Drink."
Enrico and his family make scotch look effortless, part of the daily routine. Me? I've only just graduated from white wine. Whiskey still feels like another reminder that I'm playing catch-up in a world that's ten years older than me. But I take it. It burns like hellfire going down my throat, but then it spreads a welcome warmth from my stomach throughout my body, killing some of the numbness that was creeping into my flesh.
"In my office, now," Rizio orders through his phone.
Seconds later, as if they'd been waiting outside, Dante, Mattheo, and Tommaso enter. They take one look at us and close the door.
"What's up?" Dante asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
