Page 97 of Vincenzo
Armando looks at Enzo and says, “You need to get her out of here. Whatever it fucking takes. Get. Her. Out.”
Enzo nods, and before I know it, he has me hiked over his broad shoulder and is running toward the boat house.
“No!” I cry out. “What if Armando goes down for all of this, Enzo?”
He doesn’t answer me as he enters the code to the boat house. I lift my head and watch as Armando hurries toward the front of the house, surely to try and head off the police.
“Put me down, Enzo!”
He doesn’t answer me and grabs the keys to the boat and races through the trees and shrubbery toward the dock. I punch him on his back and flail my legs around, but it’s no use.
It’s not until he places me on the cushioned seat in Diego’s boat that he speaks. “I’m sorry I had to carry you out of there like that, but wehaveto go, Amalia.”
“How can you leave my cousin to pick upourmess? What is wrong with you?” I yell at him, anger bubbling in me at the possibility of Armando getting in trouble for what we’ve done. WhatI’vedone. This was allmydoing.Everything.Enzo and Armando might’ve killed the guards, but this entire night happened because ofme. They did it to helpme.
Enzo’s eyes glisten under the dock lighting, sympathy taking over his face at my harsh words. “You heard what he said. He has connections with the chief of police. He’ll get out of this.”
“If that’s the case, then why’d he insist on getting me out of there?” I demand. “If there wasn’t any concern, it would’ve been fine if I stayed.”
“That’s not always how things work in our world, and you know it,” he murmurs as if he didn’t really want me to hear the words. “I don’t know who was called to the scene, but chances are, Armandowillget either arrested or at least questioned about the crime scene. He doesn’t want you around that, and I don’t either. I won’t apologize for getting you away from that shit.”
Voices sound in the distance from Diego’s home, drawing both of our attention back to the house, but we can’t see anything with the trees in the way.
Enzo’s widened eyes meet mine. “We’re leaving, and I swear if you doanythingto get out of this boat, I will drag your ass back here and tie you to me. Do you understand?”
I avert my gaze because honestly, jumping from this boat doesn’t seem like the worst idea.
“I said,do you understand, Amalia?”
As much as I want to go back and help my cousin, I know everything he and Enzo are doing is forme. If I go back now, Enzo will follow me, and if all hell broke loose, they’d both cover for me. I have to trust that Armando knows what he’s doing. I can’t put Enzo in a position where he could suffer the consequences for my actions.
“I understand,” I whisper.
Enzo leans in and kisses my forehead. “I would doanythingto protect you,” he says, then jumps back onto the dock and hurries to untie the boat.
He throws the ropes back onto the boat, and I should get up and help, but it’s like I’m frozen to the spot and all I can do is watch.
Before I know it, Enzo has the boat started and he’s taking off into the bay. I turn back to look at Diego’s house, not sure what I expect to get from it but wishing there was some sort of sign from Armando letting me know everything’s all right.
My mind wanders with all the possible outcomes. I’m trapped in it, concern for my cousin so prominent I don’t realize Enzo’s sitting next to me until his hand is on my leg.
I slowly bring my gaze up to his. “I didn’t know you could drive a boat,” I say, and it’s just what we needed to lighten the mood.
Everything will be okay. It has to be.
Enzo breathes out a laugh. “We have a lake house in upstate New York. We practically grew up there during the summers.”
I give him a small smile, then it’s quiet between the two of us, nothing but the slight breeze and the small waves bouncing off the boat filling the night air.
“He’s the only family I have left,” I finally whisper. “I can’t lose him too.”
Enzo wraps his arm around my shoulders and draws me into him. “He’s not the only family you have left anymore,” he says. “But I promise you’re not going to lose him. I won’t let that happen. Ever.”
I turn my head to peer into Enzo’s dark eyes, and it’s the first time I’ve been able to let out a breath of relief since getting on this boat. It’s impossible for Enzo to predict the future like that, and I knowanythingcould happen, but there’s something about his tone of voice and the sincerity in his eyes that has me believing him.
We might not know what’s going to happen, but at this moment, I know I’m not alone and no matter what, Enzo and I will figure it out.Together.
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