Page 17 of Second in Command
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to offend you,” he shakes his head, “Last night was just . . . scary I didn’t know what to think. You didn’t look very good, almost frightened and that man — he pulled a gun on me right here in the bakery the other day.”
My eyebrows raise into my forehead. Fucking Enzo.
I place a hand on my hip, shifting all weight to one of my legs.
“I’m sorry about him, he’s just—he has anger problems.”
“Right . . .” he drawls, “and so that’s why I didn’t know if you were okay or not, I had to come here first thing.”
“I’m okay, I assure you. Something startled me, and he was just getting me home.”
“Okay,” Michael nods, and I offer him a quick smile, before turning to my door, and opening it up.
“Would you like some coffee? Or?”
“No, I’m heading to work soon,” he says, lurking around the shop, and I nod.
“The man that was with you, is he your boyfriend?” Michael slowly walks up to the countertop, and I let out a nervous laugh.
“Uh — well I wouldn’t call him that but —”
“You guys are dating then?”
Little alarm bells go off in my head.What’s with all the questions?
My eyebrows crinkle together and I tilt my head at him, “I don’t think that’s your business.”
“I would totally agree except the other day you gave me your number. If you knew you had a boyfriend all this time, why would you lead me on like that?”
“I didn’t lead you on,” I respond incredulously, “and I don’t have a boyfriend—”
“I come into this shop every day, I patronize every day. And you stare at me, with those wide eyes, and wide grin, and fool me.”
Michael’s hands visibly shook. I narrow my eyes at him, rage building in my stomach as he scowled at me. “And what the fuck are you going to do about it?” I dare him.
He’s taken aback, His eyes widen for a split second.
“It was better when women didn’t have any rights.”
“I bet it would’ve been easier than for you to beat me, right here and now, huh?”
He doesn’t say anything, but he relaxes, his lips forming a smile.
“You know what, I think I will take that coffee.”
“I think you should leave.”
“I guess I’ll just have to report you to the business bureaus then.”
I resist the urge to laugh.
“You pathetic little shit. Go ahead. Do you even know who I am? Who my family is? My full name is FrancescaDonato, give that name to the business bureau. Have them choke onthat.”
He opens his mouth to speak, but a shadow at the door interrupts us. Enzo stands, his eyes set on Michael. His lips are pressed in a thin line, and he runs a hand through his hair, walking into the establishment.
“Good morning,” he greets, and Michael steps away from the cashier.
“Michael? Why are you still here?” I smile sweetly, and he glares at the two of us once more before leaving.
