Page 5 of Mafia Redeemer

“Are you usually such a flirt, Enzo?”

“No. Are you?”

“Definitely not. But somehow I’m not so sure about you.”

“Why’s that?Yougavemethe note.”

“I have no idea what possessed me. You must be a bad influence.”

I angle myself closer without taking a step in her direction.

“I think I could be a very good influence.”

Her gaze sweeps over me again, but not as slowly as inside. Her eyes lock with mine, but I can’t tell what she’s thinking. She must have been a damn good trial attorney, even if she hated it.

“I know you’re going to hate this question, but bear with me.”

I nod. Should I dread this as much as she makes it sound like I should?

“I know this isn’t a good comparison, but it’s the only one I have. Are you like Maks and his family? I mean, like the not dating because of who you are? Or would I just be—”

“Chelle, you would notjustbe anything. I don’t know what you know about Maks and his family, but we are a lot alike. That’s all I will say about that. But I do not make a habit of flirting with women.”

“You don’t need to.”

She blurts it out, then realizes what she said.

“I think the same about you.”

She scoffs.

“Hardly. Somehow, I don’t think our situations are at all the same.”

“I think men find you very attractive and want more than just flirting.”

There’s that shade of scarlet again. This time I inch closer.

“I don’t know about that, but I’m certain that’s exactly how women and probably half the men you know think.”

If half the men I know think that, it’s a secret they’ll take to the grave. Unfortunately, while my immediate family is forward thinking, not all the Mafia is.

“You flatter me,piccolina.”

“What does that mean?”

Shit. Did I really just say it?

“It’s a term of endearment.”

“Oh.”

She sounds disappointed.

“That I’ve never used before.”

It’s my turn to blurt my thought. I watch her pull out her phone and tap on the screen. Her eyebrows shoot up.

“Little girl. It means little girl.”

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