Page 118 of Mafia Redeemer

Enzo takes a moment before he responds to everything I just revealed.

“Do you know which syndicate?”

“Wo Shing Wo.”

The silence that greets those words tells me way more than anything anyone could say. I hit the nail on the head. Do I mention I deal with them pretty regularly now? Several other clients have gone knocking on their door for seven and eight-figure donations. The books have always been spotless with every — shall we say — investment, but I think there’s been money laundered in both directions.

I don’t know where to look, so I keep my gaze on Enzo. No one else is forthcoming, so I wonder if we’ve reached the part of the meeting they don’t want me to hear. Do I excuse myself?

“Chellie, my family and I need to speak. It’s either in Italian or English if you leave. I’d rather you stay, but none of us wants to be rude.”

Now I glance around again, but my voice is soft when I respond to Enzo.

“I’d rather stay and not understand.”

My gaze drops. I’m embarrassed that I’ve admitted what I want. What if his family was being gracious but don’t really want me here? What if I look too clingy? I’m unprepared for Luca to fire off rapid Italian.

“Chiamiamo Maks e lo coinvolgiamo o cerchiamo Simms da soli?” Do we call Maks and get them involved or look for Simms on our own?

I hear a last name, or at least I assume it’s one that I don’t recognize. My gaze shifts to Matteo, even though I don’t understand him any better than Luca.

“Io dico di fare prima la nostra caccia. È impossibile che Sergei non sappia già cosa è successo. Ha uomini che ascoltano gli scanner della polizia proprio come noi. Ma nessuno di loro ha chiamato per chiedere informazioni sul suo benessere.” I say we do our own hunting first. There's no way Sergei doesn’t already know what happened. He has men listening to police scanners just like us. But none of them have called to demand information about her wellbeing.

Enzo’s chest rumbles against me when he speaks.

“Sono doctor.” I agree.

I expect him to say more, but he goes quiet. The hand of his uninjured arm strokes along my shoulder, and I suddenly feel a wave of exhaustion. I close my eyes, listening to the conversation around me, but no longer worried or even interested in what the men say. I just want to feel safe with Enzo. I tune them out and am almost asleep when Enzo kisses my forehead.

“Piccolina, we’re done talking.”

I open my eyes and watch as everyone but Massimo and Salvatore file out of the room. Massimo offers me a fatherly smile, and I didn’t expect something so small could make me feel so much better. I sit up and return it, hoping my expression shows my gratitude. He darts his gaze to his son before shifting his focus back to me.

“Michelle, Nicoletta and I would like you to stay with us until this is over. It’s an open invitation that I hope you will accept. We’d all feel better with you staying at one of our homes, and Nicoletta and I already consider you family.”

I can’t help it when my eyes widen. I’ve barely been dating their son, even if he and I are talking about marriage. I didn’t think they’d be so accepting so soon. I’ve already been an unexpected houseguest, and now my future father-in-law is telling me I can basically move in.

“One day, Nicoletta and I will tell you the story of how we met. She comes from aCosa Nostrafamily, so she’s known this life since she was born. She knew who and what I was back then and what I would become. She understood how fast men must decide, but the speed didn’t mean they rushed those decisions. I knew within five minutes of meeting her I would marry her. We were barely more than kids, but I knew. Some days she says it took her four minutes. On the days I annoy her, she says it took her six. She knew when I asked her out that I wasn’t just asking her for one date. She knew I was asking for a lifetime. I wouldn’t have brought any woman deeper into my life if I didn’t mean for her to be there until my last breath. You aren’t from this world, but Enzo is. The moment he said he was dating you, I knew I had another daughter-in-law. We’re happy to have you join our family.”

I swallow several times as I listen to him. The story he alludes to piques my curiosity. But my stomach knots when he says he already considers me family. I want to believe him since I have no reason not to. But could they really be that okay with an outsider joining them? My mind dashes to Sinead, then Olivia. Both women knew nothing about this life, either. Both seem to fit into the family as though they’d always been members. Maybe it would be all right.

I’m unprepared for what Salvatore says, and it’s a bucket of ice water.

“Michelle, we don’t expect you to keep anything that happened from your parents. You’re going to have bruises and be sore for a couple weeks. But we’re asking you to tell your mother not to tell her family. The O’Rourkes can’t know.”

“The O’Rourkes? They’re not family.”

Enzo tenses beside me, so I shift to see his face. He looks as confused as I am.

“Uncle Sal, what are you talking about?”

Salvatore doesn’t take his eyes off me.

“We ran a background check on you and your family as soon as Lorenzo said you were dating. We didn’t ask Carmine, who usually does it. There was something about your name that sparked a memory. Your father’s family may be of Sicilian descent, but your mother’s isn’t.”

“I know.”

“Your mother and Killian Doyle grew up together.”

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