Page 56 of Enzo

As we left, Rio first, Mateo called my name, and I turned back to face him. There was a softness in his expression. “Good to see you, old friend.”

“I wish I could say the same.”

Fuck him. Fuck the SC.

I’m going home.

When we got back to Redcars, Jamie inclined his head at me in that quiet way he had, like a nod that said everything okay? and I’ve got this all at once. I returned it, grateful.

Robbie’s door was open, the soft glow of a lamp spilling across the hallway floor. I slowed, heart hitching a little, and peeked in. He was curled on the bed, legs folded underneath him, a book that looked way too heavy for comfort balanced on his knees.

“You okay?” I asked.

He glanced up at me. “Are you?” His voice was shaky. “I was worried.”

“Nothing to worry about. We’re fixing things.”

“You can’t if…” He stopped, and I didn’t push.

I leaned against the doorframe, keeping my voice easy. “What’re you reading?”

He held up the spine. “Family Law and Custodial Disputes in the State of California.”

“For real?” It was a brick dressed as a book.

Yeah, it was left here, and I … well, Logan’s got some issues with Cassidy. Thought I’d see if I can find some stuff to help.”

My chest pulled tight. “That’s… kind of you.”

He shrugged like it was nothing, but I could see the way he clutched the book—gentle, careful. Like it was more than paper and ink. Like helping Logan, helping Cassidy, meant helping himself in some quiet way he didn’t know how to say out loud.

“Enzo?”

“Yeah?”

He opened the book to the front and showed me, scrawled on the page was ‘property of Killian McKendrick. “Do you know this Killian? I heard you and Tudor talking about him. Or at least someone called that name, but how many people called Killian can there be?”

I was confused for a moment. “Oh, yeah, he’s some lawyer Tudor says we should call. I told him we don’t need a lawyer, we need to find Vinnie, then let the rest fall.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Can I get you anything?” I asked.

“Nah, I’m good. Jamie went out for more cookies and?—”

“He left you alone in here?”

Robbie blinked at me. “Logan was here, it’s okay.” He frowned then, “I’m safe here, right?”

My angry response died in an instant. “Of course you are.”

NINETEEN

Robbie

Three whole daysI did what I had to do for work, and then hid back in my room, and Enzo watched me go each time with an unreadable expression. It could have been relief or regret for all I know, and not once did he ask about John, but not once did he leave me alone.

At night, I’d lie awake, replaying that freaking alarm, and the man I’d seen and trying not to freak out that after Enzo and Rio went out to dowhatever, Rio had disappeared for two entire days onbusiness. In however long I’d been here, none of the guys had disappeared for that long, and no one would tell me where he’d gone in anything more than vague answers.

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