Page 56 of Vincenzo
I wait a few seconds before responding. “Not really.”
Teo’s eyes narrow and his lips tighten into a straight line. “Come on, Enzo. Be real with me.”
I let out a sigh. “Fine. I guess … Possibly.”
“Do you feel the need to figure out what the fuck is going on with her and her uncle so you can protect her?”
Fucking shit.
“Maybe.”
Teo shakes his head and laughs. “Yeah, been there, Enzo. You were there when I needed to pull my head out of my ass with Lux, so I’m going to be here for you now.”
“I don’t need to pull my head out of my as?—”
“Go to Miami.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Take the jet and fly down to Miami.”
My laugh vibrates through me and I shake my head. “I’m not going to Miami.”
“Yes, you are.”
“No, I’m not, Teo,” I say, exhausted with this conversation. I can’t have real feelings for Amalia. It’s impossible.
“So you’re just going to let her die?”
“She’sLa Sicaria. She can take care of herself.”
He gives me a few short nods. “Alright, I see how it is.”
Silence fills the air between us, which has me breaking in no time. “What do you mean?”
“Stay scared. Keep telling yourself you’re not feeling what you’re feeling, and see how far that gets you.”
“Okay,dad,” I say, rolling my eyes. He’s really starting to get under my skin now.
“Well, someone has to be. It’s not like you’re making the best decisions for yourself.”
“Who the fuck are you to tell me I’m not making the best decisions for myself? I’ve been doing a pretty damn good job of it so far, thank you very much, big brother.”
“Then admit it!” he yells.
“Admit what?” My tone matches his. “You want me to say I have feelings for Amalia?Fine.I have fucking feelings for her. Knowing she’s no longer where I can keep an eye on her is driving me fucking insane. Knowing she’s probably gone back to Miami and put herself in danger is driving me fuckinginsane.” I’m so breathless after my admission that I throw myself back in my seat.
My leg bounces while Teo and I sit in silence. He continues to watch me from across his desk, studying me. Trying to figure out what all of this means, andshit. I don’t even fucking know what this means.
This time, my brother breaks before I do. “I get it, Enzo. Caring for Lux has changed my fucking life. If I ever lost her, I’d lose my-fucking-self.”
He pauses, glancing at a picture he has of them on his desk, and a smile breaks at the corner of his mouth. “But I’d chance that over never having her in my life.”
He turns his attention back to me. “Do you think Amalia’s a threat to us?”
“No.” From everything I’ve learned, I was completely wrong about her. She’s not some terrible human being who set out to harm my family. She’s just a girl who was raised in the cartel,lost her parents at a young age, and is just trying to make her way through this crazy fucking thing we call life.
“Then are you really going to make her figure out what the hell is going on with her family by herself? You think you’ll be able to live with yourself if you find out she’s dead tomorrow?”
