Page 5 of Enzo
“How’s work going? Doc driving you crazy yet?” he teases.
I huff and roll my eyes. “He needs a keeper according to James. But it’s going well. No one has tried to die lately. Well, Tennant almost tore Hollis’s throat out, but that was a sex thing.”
Papa laughs. “I miss being around those two.” He sighs. “Don’t get old, kid, it sucks.”
Before I can respond my phone rings, and I pull it out of my pocket, sighing when I see Doc’s name.There goes having dinner ready on time tonight.
“Hey, Doc, what happened?” I’m already pushing away from the table as I answer the phone.
“James should be sending you the coordinates any second but… we need you on scene. Roman’s car was hit, and it’s bad from what I know.”
My stomach drops, and only my years of training and working in high-stress situations keep me level-headed as I practically sprint from the table to the entryway.
“I’m at my dad’s. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Good. Be careful. I don’t need to get a call about you next.”
“Always am. See you soon.”
Doc hangs up and I shove my feet into my shoes, fumbling with my phone at the same time.
“Gotta go, Papa. Something’s going on with Roman. Love you!”
“Love you too. Be safe. And call if you need anything.”
“I will!” I call over my shoulder as I yank open the front door and jog over to my van.
As I start the car, I let out a slow breath, focusing on getting my racing heart under control. Adrenaline is driving me right now and I need to be careful. I have to trust in Enzo and the other guards to keep each other safe. Right now, the heir to the Amato Family is the most important thing for us all.
Any and all personal feelings don’t matter in situations like this. Doesn’t mean I won’t worry, it just means for now my priorities need to be different.
There’ll be plenty of time to focus my attention on my boyfriend later. Right now, the future of our Family is what matters.
Kail’s family are a bunch of crazies, and the best sort of entertainment. When my phone had buzzed a number of times in succession, I’d pulled it out to make sure I wasn’t missing anything Amato related, and the glimpse I got of the texts has me grinning now as I put it back in my pocket.
When Roman and Leandro leave their last class of the day, I dutifully follow in their wake along with the other guards. We get a few stares, as we always do, but the boys are immune to their peers, and we’re attuned to anything that could be a threat. Not that any of us are really worried; the threat levels are never zero, but they’re lower on campus. Plus, Boston is at Leandro’s side, and she’s a formidable opponent and one of the best guards on the team.
The boys split up, as Leandro has tutoring on campus—even though he’s the last person who would ever need help with schoolwork. The boy is scary smart. Whatever he’s doing with the poor tutor, I just hope he leaves him a little sane.
Roman isquiet on the drive, but that’s not unusual when he’s alone. It’s a big difference from when he was a chatty, bratty teenager, and while some of it could be chalked up to him growing up, I know a lot of it has to do with Tennant and Hollis. I’ve been on Roman’s guard since the day he was born, and I know the boy inside and out. Over the last year and a half I’ve seen the change in him—how having his lovers has steadied him and helped him find his voice.
Roman has never been a quiet person, but the weight of expectations has always settled heavy on his slim shoulders. He’s unapologetically himself, but with that comes the fear he’ll let his father down. It’s bullshit. Everyone who’s ever met Roman and Cristian knows the man dotes on his son and could never be anything but proud, but somehow Roman doesn’t see that.
Having Tennant and Hollis in his life has helped him grow into his own, the two giving him a soft place to land and…a firm hand when he gets too in his head. Or when he’s being a little shit and disregards safety protocols.
“Fucking hell,” Luigi mutters as he jerks the wheel to one side, making the car swerve.
“What—” Roman starts to say, at the same time I see what Luigi saw.
Too bad we’re all too late.
Metal and glass fly everywhere as we’re hit head on.
The front of our SUV crumples, and searing pain makes my vision blackout for a moment as the dash collapses with the forceand falls onto my legs. Glass embeds itself into my skin, but the cuts are inconsequential compared to the fact that by the time the car stops moving I realize I can’t move.
“Roman!” I bark, praying he’s okay. When he doesn’t answer straight away, my heart leaps into my throat and I try to look into the back seat, though the searing pain throughout my body tells me why that’s abad idea.
“Roman!” I call his name a few more times.
