Page 19 of Enzo
Doc, the dramatic asshole, gags. “I knew you were too good to be true,” he says as he heads to the fridge.
Soren rolls his eyes and takes a seat at the counter next to Enzo. “How are you doing?”
He shrugs. “Okay. I’m up and about at least. Until my surgery, that is.” There’s bitterness in his tone.
“What about you?” he asks. “Doc driving you crazy yet?”
“Hey!” Doc protests as he slides a bottle of water over to Soren. “I’m an angel.”
We all laugh, because that is the biggest lie in the world.
“Bullshit,” James says. “You’re about as innocent as Roman is.”
Enzo snorts. “Which means not at all.” He sighs. “I miss that kid. Benji sends me updates, but it’s not the same.”
Reaching over, I pat his shoulder, my heart aching for the sadness in his voice. “I know. Maybe you should ask the Boss if Roman could visit? I think it’d be good for both of you.”
Enzo shakes his head. “No, I don’t want him to see me like this. You know how he is, he’ll feel guilty. I can’t put that on him, he has enough going on.”
“Think about it. I think it’d be good for the both of you.”
He reaches up and covers my hand with his. “Yeah, okay.”
James breaks through the awkward silence when he announces, “Dinner’s ready.” He sets bowls of soup and sandwiches on the counter. “Go sit down, Doc.”
“Rather stand, thanks,” Doc replies with a rather mischievous grin.
Soren snorts and a smirk crosses his lips as he pulls his food closer. “I can get a pillow for you if you want, Doc.”
“Fuck off,” Doc snarks, before biting aggressively into a sandwich.
“You sure that’s what you want, Soren?” James waves to indicate Doc, who somehow manages to pout and chew at the same time.
Soren laughs. “Yes, I think it is.”
“You think?” Doc screeches dramatically. “Do I have to drop my pants and show everyone how much thought you put into it?”
Soren gives a nonchalant shrug as he bites the corner of his sandwich. “Sure.”
James smacks Doc’s hand when Doc drops it to his waistband, fully prepared to bare his ass to us all. “You better fucking not. People are eating, you fucking drama queen.”
Doc rolls his eyes. “Whatever.”
Thankfully, James knows how to handle Doc, and expertly steers the conversation away from what Doc and Soren have been getting up to, to more mundane things.
It’s nice, having dinner with my love and our friends, and getting to know Soren. As much as I love having the freedom to take care of Enzo, I feel bad for missing out on welcoming Soren into the Family. As Doc’s number one, it should be my job to make sure Soren is settling in and getting used to the job, but I trust Rose. Not only is she part of the small, trusted team Doc has built, but she’s my best friend, and knows as much as I doabout the ins and outs of everything. Like me, she grew up with her family already associated with the Amato Family.
While Soren may be part of the Bratva, there are stark differences between the two organizations. Thankfully we don’t have to deal with too much of the bullshit, except for when the Boss or one of his inner circle is hurt and in Doc’s medical office. But Doc handles it when that happens, more than equipped to put them in their place.
The ringing of Doc’s phone breaks into the quiet contentment we’ve fallen into. When he pulls it out and checks the screen, he spits the food in his mouth out onto a plate, and my stomach sinks because there’s only one person who would make him race to answer that quickly.
“Gross,” James mutters, as he looks at Doc’s half-chewed offering.
Doc ignores him as he holds the phone to his ear. “What’s going on?” he asks in a brisk tone.
His expression darkens and I sigh, pushing my dishes away from me. “Be there soon. Call me if you have any updates.”
Doc meets my eyes as he says, “I need you and Soren to go to the main house and prep the room for an emergency. Something happened to Georgio De Luca.”
