Page 131 of DeLucas After Dark

A chorus of groans met her request, but she ignored them. This was important. Enzo deserved nothing less than perfection. She needed their insights, their knowledge of the man they all served so loyally. Surely, they could offer some ideas she hadn't considered yet. They'd known him longer than she had.

"Come on, guys," she pressed, folding her arms over her chest. "We're all in this together, right?"

Stefano's chuckle irritated her, but she let it slide.

"You all look hungry," Eve observed. "Should I go make a quick snack to get you all energized for this meeting?"

That got everyone's attention and had them sitting up straight.

Stefano leaned back against the couch, exhaling heavily. "Fine," he conceded, rubbing the back of his neck. "But let's make this quick. We all have to get back to work."

"I tried telling her that," Giorgio muttered, staring down at his security device that showed all the screens revealing what was happening outside.

Eve's eyes darted between Stefano and Giorgio, noting their frustration. She shook her head, refusing to let their annoyance distract her from her mission. Her lips pressed into a determined line as she addressed the assembled men.

"Alright, you all know why we're here. Let's hear your ideas for the perfect gift for Enzo," she demanded, hands on her hips, her gaze sweeping across their faces. "And remember, it has to be something truly special."

The guards exchanged uncertain glances before offering their suggestions.

"How about a new custom-tailored suit?" one proposed.

"Or an expensive bottle of whiskey?" another chimed in.

"Maybe a rare, antique gun?" suggested another guard.

She dismissed each idea with a shake of her head. They were all thoughtful gifts, but none of them struck her as unique or meaningful enough. Plus, Enzo had most of those things already. Frustration bubbled inside her, threatening to boil over.

"Come on, guys," she insisted, desperation creeping into her voice. "Think harder!"

Her gaze fell on Stefano, who had been unusually quiet throughout the discussion. A sudden thought came to her, and her eyes lit up with excitement.

"Stefano," she said, latching onto the idea. "Enzo mentioned once that he's never had red velvet cake. What if I bake him one? I could look the recipe up online. It's just a cake. It should be simple to make, right?"

Stefano's eyes widened in horror at the suggestion. "No!" he blurted out, shaking his head vehemently. "No baking. No cooking. Don't go near the kitchen."

Eve rolled her eyes. "Alright," she conceded. "What do you suggest then?"

Stefano rubbed his chin thoughtfully before speaking. "Give him something money can't buy," he suggested, meeting her gaze. "Something only you can give him."

Eve's eyes narrowed as she mulled over Stefano's words. "Something money can't buy, huh?"

Her mind briefly wandered to a more explicit interpretation of something money couldn't buy.Pussy. But her pussy already belonged to Enzo. That would be like regifting a present, and she wasn't a fan of regifting.

And she already planned to give him the pussy anyway. In fact, she had every intention of putting her pussy all over him after their dinner date. And technically, money could buy pussy.

Back in Chicago, when she'd been making a living by killing whoever her mentor, Maureen, ordered her to, some of her friends had been making a living by fucking. So, yeah, money could buy pussy. But she was pretty sure pussy wasn't the gift Stefano was referring to.

"Maybe a rare bottle of wine?" another guard chimed in, probably thinking Eve's silence meant she hadn't liked Stefano's idea.

"Or a custom-made knife set?" added another.

"Enzo has plenty of those," Eve dismissed with a wave of her hand. "I want it to be something special, something unique."

As the suggestions continued to pour in, Eve's thoughts kept circling back to Stefano's idea. Money couldn't buy everything. But trying to make money every day could cost you everything. Focusing solely on money could cost you time with your family and friends.

It could put a strain on relationships and even end them. And with Enzo, money wasn't the only thing that could strain a relationship. His title of don carried so much weight that sometimes she could see it weighing him down. And though he never buckled under the pressure, she knew it was a large burden for him to carry.

And even while carrying that weight, she knew he was just as determined to make their first Valentine's Day special as she was. Enzo didn't need a gift. He didn't need anything money could buy. What he needed was to be cherished. He needed to be shown that he was special, loved, and worthy of being spoiled.

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