Page 22 of Highball and Chain

Enzo tensed. “Should I be jealous?”

“Jealous would imply we are dating.” I poked his rippled abs. “Which we are not.”

He gave me an odd look and nodded. “He works at Marchionni Corp. Started a year ago when he graduated with an MBA and JD.”

“A business and a law degree?” Beauty and brains, and here I was dyslexic and unable to pass the freaking private investigators exam. “Impressive.”

“Do us all a favor and don’t tell him that. His ego is large enough already.”

“It’s almost as big as Gabe’s.” Laughing, I stepped into the street to get a photo of the domed cathedral on the hill.

A car careened around the corner, and my heart stopped. I had a split second to move, but communication between my brain and my feet ceased to exist.

Something slammed into my side with the force of a semi-truck. Which made zero sense, considering the direction of the car.

Before I could figure out how I’d ended up laying on Enzo’s rock-hard body, the bark of gunfire echoed off the buildings.

In one quick move, he rolled and tucked me beneath him. “Stay down.”

“Was that…”

He eased back and looked me over. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I think so.” My knees burned and my heart raced, but I’d live. “Was that gun shots?”

Enzo stared after the car. When he turned back to me, the color had drained from his face. “Are you sure you aren’t hurt?”

“I’m fine. Answer me. Why would someone shoot at us?”

His frown deepened. “It was a backfire… Many backfires.”

I might not be able to lie to my friends, but I could spot dishonesty in others. Enzo Marchionni had lied to me.

He pressed his lips into a line and helped me to my feet. “We should find my brothers.”

We caught up with the group in Giardino Ibleo, the city gardens. He pulled Gabe and Leo to the side. Judging by their expressions, he’d told them about the gunshots.

Joy of joys, Nico strolled up the sidewalk with Marco. Both carried shopping bags from stores I could never afford. She glanced over the area, glared at me and sidled up to Enzo.

I couldn’t decide if he’d lied to me about their relationship, or if Nico was that clueless. Why would a woman who looks like that hang on a man who doesn’t want her?

I joined Maggie and Dahlia on the palm-lined sidewalk. The garden was beautiful, but I would have preferred to explore it alone, without lies or drive-by shootings.

“Everything okay?” Maggie glanced over to the guys.

I debated on telling her the truth, but couldn’t do it. This was her wedding trip, not to mention, she was pregnant.

“Shanna?” Her voice thinned.

“He pulled me out from in front of a speeding car. I think it freaked him out.” It was probably nothing. Random shots. Maybe it was several backfires.

Yeah right, and Nicolina volunteered with lepers and orphans in her spare time.

“Are you okay?” Dahlia glanced between the men and me.

“Scared the shit out of me, but I wasn’t hurt.”

Gabe stalked toward us like a man on a mission, or a man whose brother had been shot at. “We should all get back to the villa and cool off.”

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