Page 126 of Enzo
My father protected Amadeo and me, and he loved us, but before Isla, we weren’t exactly an affectionate trio. It was a trait we were still learning. All three of us.
“How did they learn of it?”
“Nico Morrelli has his ways, and he’s good friends with Cassio and his gang.” This confirmed what Luca had said. “He’d been an expert at hiding information for years. You’re just as good—if not better—than him, but he’s dominated our criminal world for decades. After all, he hid Isla from the world for twenty years.”
I said nothing for a moment. Just stared at the wall, churning options in my mind.
“How long before they come?” I asked.
A pause.
“You have a day, maybe. No more.”
I hung up without another word.
Penelope waited, watching me like she was bracing for impact.
“What is it?”
I looked at her—my wife, my shield—and swallowed hard.
“Cassio King learned of my involvement with Organs of the Night. He and his gang are coming. We can definitely expect Cassio and Nico soon.”
Her face was unreadable.
“You know, they’re my uncles.” I nodded. “They won’t hurt me, but you… I won’t let them. We have to talk to my papà.”
She was already out of bed, reaching for her clothes. I caught her wrist.
“No,” I said. “You’re not walking into this with me.” I should send my wife away too, but I wasn’t sure if my moral compass could handle it. “Your papà already made a decision, and he’s right. It’s not fair that I put the boys and your parents at risk. Or you, for that matter.”
She blinked at me, then gave a slow, deliberate shake of her head. “I won’t hear of it. I’m coming with you.”
“Pen.”
“I’m not discussing it any further, Enzo,” she snapped. “I’m your goddamn spine and you’re my heartbeat. We’re doing this together. If you want to run, we’ll run together. If you want to fight, we’ll fight together. But under no fucking circumstance are you doing this alone.”
“You could get killed,” I said quietly.
“So could you,” she shot back, eyes burning into mine. “That’s kind of the point of us going together.”
I looked at her and saw everything I fell in love with. Fire, loyalty, and devotion. But the one thing that shone more brightly than anything else was her love for me.
There was no point in fighting her.
She cupped my face. “Papà was upset, but I know him. He’s probably turned over every word we spoke since he came. His stance could have changed.”
I took a breath. “Okay, then. We go to your papà. He’s the only one who can slow them down.”
She nodded, already sliding her small feet into her Converse. “And after that?”
“After that,” I said, “we’ll show them the truth. Or we’ll go down fighting.”
“Well, we’ve done dumber things together.”
I gave her a faint smile. “Not many.”
And we were out the door before the sun even broke over the horizon.
