Page 43 of Highball and Chain

I’d never seen anything like it. I bet he could make a killing at the casinos. “Then don’t play me for an idiot. How much danger is your family in?”

Enzo took my hand. “The gunshots were warnings. If they’d wanted someone dead, they would have succeeded.”

“Some warning.” Part of me wanted to get back to the party, but the other part wasn’t ready to leave the little private bubble. “Has this sort of thing happened before?”

“Not since I was a child. I don’t remember much, just my father sending us to the States until things settled.” He ran his thumb over my palm. “Don’t look so alarmed. Assassinations require approval of the Fratellanza.”

“The what?”

“The Fratellanza is theruling body. The families have honor—women and children are never involved.”

Never involved?I had been with him when the shots were fired. Not that I considered myself part of the family, but I was a woman the last time I’d checked. “Are the Marchionnis one of these honorable mob families?”

Enzo nodded.

“You’re admitting it?” I ignored the pain in my chest. “Why?”

“Because secrets can get people hurt.” Frowning, he lowered his chin.

I could all but feel him pulling away. I needed to keep him talking. “If there’s some sort of democratic process, how do you explain what happened in the old city and what could have happened today outside the church?”

“I can’t. There’s always a risk. Bullets ricochet, but today…” He sat back and dragged his hand over his face. “Today could have ended very differently.”

I’d seen him wear the same crestfallen expression the day before. There was something else, something he wasn’t telling me. “Did something happen yesterday when you visited your father?”

“I was ordered to escort you, Dahlia, and Jessie back to New Orleans. My brothers and father believe me too hotheaded to help with negotiations.” He spoke as if the words tasted bitter.

I nodded, though I didn’t think of him as quick-tempered. It’d taken the patience of Job to resist strangling Nicolina. “That had to hurt.”

He looked away. “It’s nothing new.”

“That doesn’t make it right.” Turning his face toward mine, I leaned in and brushed my lips across his. “I shouldn’t have done that here where anyone can see.”

Enzo tensed for a half second before pulling me closer. “No one can see us here, in the dark, but what I wouldn’t give to have a night alone with you.”

Kissing a line from the corner of his mouth to his ear, I whispered, “We were alone today.”

“Yes, but you were being difficult. And believe it or not, you deserve better than a quick fuck in the backseat of a car.” He gripped my hips and drew a shaky breath.

“You got me all worked up and refused to have sex because you thought I deserved better?” I’d heard about men who made sure their partners’ needs were met before their own, but I’d never encountered one. Enzo had taken it one step further and thought through the situation. “Don’t answer that.”

He furrowed his brow. “Are you still angry?”

“Honestly? I don’t know. The independent side of me wants to be pissed that you decided what was best for me, but another part knows I would have regretted it.”

“Regretted being with me?”

“No. I would have had to walk in here and see your mother, knowing we’d had sex in the limo. Or missed the reception altogether.”

“We’ll be spending a lot of time alone when we return home.” Enzo brushed his lips across the top of my shoulder.

The certainty in his voice caused my warning flares to shoot off. I leaned back and met his gaze. “I’m all for seeing more of you, but why do I get the feeling that’s not what you mean?”

The muscle on the side of his jaw tensed. “We pissed Nicolina off.”

“We? What did I do? I didn’t even speak to her.” My voice came out breathier than I would have liked.

“She’s jealous.”

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