Page 102 of No Saint

He was due to start next week.

Falling into routine with Gabriel had been easier than expected. We shared a bed every night and ate meals together everyday unless Gabriel was called off to fix something in the city. I had expected more chaos around the mafia of Redhill, expected more violence but I didn’t see any of that. There were no more attacks on the house, but I didn’t believe it was over. Gabriel was tense, brows pulled low in concentration while he thought through plans. I didn’t ask and he didn’t tell.

If Gabriel wasn’t around then Enzo was, he escorted me into the city often, kept close and never allowed anyone near me. But he never spoke either. I think that added to the terrifying aura the man let off. Beautiful to look at, with his gorgeous face and intricate tattoos but deadly to touch. I’d asked Gabriel once why he didn’t speak but he didn’t know as he’d met the man after his vow of silence.

And in the weeks that had passed I’d become close friends with Sierra, swapping numbers and speaking often. The dress was almost complete, and I’d asked her to create a few more lingerie pieces I’d designed which I was on my way to collect now.

Gabriel had gone out this morning with the twins, who still made me uneasy, Atlas especially. It seemed he hadn’t warmed to me at all but Asher was kind, I supposed. Well, he wasn’t awful to me but there was this feeling anoff-nesswith both of them. Especially when I catch Asher staring at me when he thinks no one notices.

Enzo pulls the car up to the boutique, parking it out front. “Hey!” Someone yells. I glance around to find a traffic warden beelining our way.

“Uh, Enzo, you’re gonna get a ticket.”

Enzo looks at me, quirks one brow and smiles before he turns to the guy.

“Hey!” The warden yells, “You can’t park there.”

Enzo steps in front of the guy who practically skids to a stop and goes pale. Enzo was huge and built like a tank. Any person willing to step up against him wouldn’t be in their right mind.

He stares down at the warden who pales even further, shrinking back. “I – I’m sorry.” He stutters out and I can’t help the smile of amusement. “You’re exempt. Park anywhere you want.”

And then he runs away and I can’t contain it, I burst out laughing, doubling over as I clutch my stomach.

Enzo casually stands next to me, waiting for me to calm.

When I look up to him, literal tears in my eyes from the laughter, he’s beaming a full mega-watt smile. He had perfect teeth and his eyes crinkled slightly at the sides.

“You should smile more,” I chuckle, patting the man on the arm, “Makes you less scary.”

The smile drops instantly, turning to stone, and that only serves to make me laugh harder.

Sierra pokes her head out the door, frowning, “What’s happening out here?”

“Enzo,” I wheeze between my cackles, “Enzo is just out here terrorizing our city officials. That’s all.”

One dark brow quirks as she looks to the man and shudders, shaking her head. I’m still giggling as we walk into the shop, me in front and Enzo close behind us.

We head straight through to the back where Sierra has laid out the new lingerie pieces. Enzo, ever the gentleman –HA! –averts his eyes from the lacy pieces.

“These are beautiful, Sierra,” I touch the garments with my fingers, excited to wear them for Gabriel.

“Don’t hate me,” Sierra says, “I took the liberty of creating something else for you, well two things actually.”

My brows pull down, “What?”

“Well Gabriel sent me all your drawings when he commissioned me to make the gown and well, these just stood out to me, they’re so beautiful and I wanted to see if I could make them.”

“And you can?”

She nods, pulling on a trolley that has several finished dresses on them. I don’t recognize any except the last two.

One was red, a deep color that had slits up either side to the hipbones, the dress was short as per my design and slightly sparkly with a cowl neckline and chain straps. It was subtle and beautiful and when I drew this one, I had imagined someone like Sierra wearing it, knowing the red would be gorgeous on her skin tone.

The second dress was slightly longer but with a deep plunging neckline and a V shaped back. It was a champagne color with thick straps and across the back, thin gold chains criss crossed the space with several charms hanging from them.

“Sierra, these are stunning.”

She nods, “I’d love for you to have them, wear them.”

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