Page 54 of Deadly Vows

I don’t bother pointing out that I wouldn’t have to avoid anything if he just left to do his work. He may be in a better mood, but he still doesn’t trust me. Whether it be what I decide to do with myself or the possibility of learning more of his secrets, he won’t allow it to come to fruition.

But as I watch him leave the kitchen, I note he seems distracted by whatever is on his phone. I can’t help but wonder if one of the guests arriving today could possibly be my brother. I haven’t seen him since the day Luca chewed him out in the backyard.

Once I finish my coffee, I quickly head to our bedroom to prepare for the day. I head back into the kitchen to get a glass of water, pausing when I notice lawn maintenance replanting the backyard. I wonder if Luca somehow found out I can see the annex from there.

I slowly make my way to the door, studying them. These can’t be the guests he was speaking of having today. I shift my attention to the direction of Luca’s office. No one has entered since he disappeared this morning. When I look back at the backyard, I notice a new worker. He’s much younger than the men who usually tend to our yard, I notice as he wheels a cart filled with plants in it.

My heart beats a little faster when I recognize the dark locks he pushes grudgingly away from his face, and as he turns his head slightly, I finally see his face.

It’s him—my brother.

I thought Luca had him working in close quarters to prove himself part of the family, but it looks like he’s been moved far from the action, and Luca has him doing physical labor. I look one last time around the kitchen, ensuring Luca isn’t secretly watching me and this is a trap before I pull open the sliding glass door, making my way into the backyard.

I make sure to stand by the pool as I watch him, tears forming in my eyes. He looks flustered as he goes about his work, but it’s better than seeing him the way I did the other day for the first time. The other day, he was getting fussed at by his Capo and threatened. But today, he is here safely doing yard work. I wonder if he already did strike three or if Luca suddenly had a change of heart.

“Enzo, take those near the pool. Re-pot the vases,” the man who heads the yard service says, finally revealing my brother’s name after all this time.

Enzo.

I release a shaky laugh as he makes his way to where I am, quickly wiping my eyes. I look back once again to see if Luca is somewhere watching, waiting to rip this moment from me, but he isn’t. So, I stand where I am, waiting for him to notice me.

His eyes lift as he steps onto the patio, and his entire being tenses when he sees me. The plants fall from his hand, and he steps back, fear clouding his eyes.

“Shit,” he says.

He quickly looks around, his panic increasing.

“You weren’t supposed to be here,” he says.

I raise a brow, taking a step.

“You know who I am?” I ask.

I know there’s more than one meaning behind my words, and Enzo doesn’t seem inclined to answer me. Nor does helook excited to discover he has a sibling. If anything, he looks horrified.

“I’m sorry… Mr. Pasquino—”

“Is my husband. And you are?” I ask.

He’s silent for a moment, studying me as if thinking of the consequences of speaking to me. And for whatever reason, he fears them. This must be why Luca wasn’t very strict this morning with my whereabouts. He’s already given his orders to my brother.

“You don’t know who I am?” he asks.

I shake my head, feigning innocence. But I see his mind working to come up with a lie— a reason for his reaction.

“Mr. Pasquino just said not to bother you today,” he says softly.

I laugh. “You’re not bothering me,” I say.

I turn away from him to sit on one of the pool chairs, signifying my plan to remain where I am, and I can tell by the expression on his face that he doesn’t like it.

“You’re new, right?” I say.

“Yes. It’s my first day,” he says.

I offer him a smile. “Well, don’t let me keep you,” I say, gesturing to the plants.

He nods hesitantly, watching me before going about his duties. To my shock, Luca doesn’t show the entirety of the afternoon, giving me plenty of time to get to know the kid my father was going to kill me for. Instead of resentment, however, I continue to feel pity the longer I watch him struggle with work he’s obviously never done in his life.

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