Page 57 of Sinful Bargains

“Yeah, Michael, I am roped into some mafia shit! And I blame the two of you for it. Maybe it wouldn't have gotten this far if you’d just told me the truth.”

“That’s bullshit, Antonio! Don’t put this on us. You’re the most relentless fucking person I know, you would have never let this rest!” Michael’s voice made my ears ring.

Enzo raised his voice above ours, trying to maintain order. “The two of you need to chill the fuck out before Val hears and reports this back to our moms!”

“Maybe she needs to hear! Someone’s going to have to help him get out of the shit this idiot’s put himself in!” Michael roared.

I looked straight at Michael, jaw tight, nostrils flared, fist clenched. “Don't call granddaddy and your pops now, Michael! That ship has sailed! I’ve been blackmailed to do whatever Vincent says, or I’ll be the next one found in someone’s trunk.”

“Antonio, don’t be stupid. You can’t get involved in this type of shit. You don’t understand, there's no clean way to leave once you enter. This shit isn’t a game,” Enzo said. “Look at what happened to my pops!”

“Your pops was in the mafia?” I asked him, in shock.

“That doesn’t matter,” Enzo said. “You can’t get mixed up in this kind of shit.”

“It’s too late! I won’t let another person hurt my ma again! If I’ve got to do this to keep her safe, then I will. I promised myself that a long time ago,” I fumed.

Enzo let out a long sigh. “Well, I won’t let you do it alone.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“You’re my best friend. I’m not letting you do this alone.”

Enzo’s gaze locked onto Michael’s, not letting up. Michael tossed his head back with a deep, frustrated sigh.

“You’ve got to be kidding me! Did anyone listen when I said I wantednothingto do with the mafia?” he snapped.

“Don’t be a dick, Michael. He’s our friend,” Enzo shot back.

“I may be a dick, but at least I know this is going to end badly,” Michael retorted.

“And you can live with that? Knowing it and still letting him take orders from Vincent alone?” Enzo challenged.

Michael groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you when this shit goes south.”

I felt warmth flood over me—a little hope amidst the mess I was in—but it was faint. I wasn’t convinced that they could help, but at least I wasn’t alone.

Enzo slipped back into the bedroom, locking the door behind him. Michael and I stood by the windowsill, waiting for the all-clear.

“I told Val we were going to sleep, so we’re good. We sneak out, handle this, and get back before our moms are home,” he said.

Michael shot him a skeptical look, one eyebrow raised. “Bold plan. You sure Val’s not smarter than that?”

Enzo let out a laugh. “Please. You can’t think this is the first time I’ve snuck out of the house, Michael. And Val could care less what we do, she's too busy sucking face with Sal.”

The three of us snuck out of Enzo’s bedroom window. The adrenaline kicked in as we walked down the sidewalk to the park. I unlocked the car door and slid into the driver’s seat. Enzo’s voice cut through the quiet of the night. “Holy shit! This is your ride? And you don’t even have a driver’s license? Okay, I think I’d have said yes to Vincent, too.”

“Shut up. This is no time for joking about serious shit like this,” Michael hissed.

Enzo just shrugged. “Maybe I wasn’t joking, Michael. And just for that, I call shotgun.”

Enzo nearly knocked Michael over in his rush to claim the passenger seat. Michael, dragging his feet, slid into the back and settled in the middle. He leaned forward, wedging himself between Enzo and me. “Do you even know how to drive this thing?” he asked me.

“Yes, Michael, I know how to drive this thing,” I mocked.

Enzo snorted next to me. “I know where they’re at,” he added with a sly grin.

“Yeah? And where would that be?” I asked, backing out slowly.

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