Born in Blood Collection Volume 1 - Cora Reilly Page 0,164

hot gulp of coffee. I wanted to give Gaby some time to get past her nervousness. “Where do you live? I’ve been wondering about this since you told me your story.”

“Oh, I live with Zita and her husband. They took me in shortly after I started working for Mr. Cavallaro.”

“Are they treating you well?” Whenever I saw Zita, she was glowering or frowning. She didn’t seem like someone who should take care of a girl like Gaby, who’d gone through hell as a teen.

Gaby nodded her head vehemently. “Yes. Zita is strict but she treats me like family.” She put the last crumb of croissant into her mouth and swallowed before saying, half-embarrassed, “She’s starting to warm to you. Zita always needs some time to get used to new people.”

“Really? She doesn’t look like she’s liking me any better.”

Gaby gave a small shrug. “I’m sure she’ll change her mind soon.”

I couldn’t help but like Gaby. She was kind. I peered at the watch around my wrist. “I need to leave now. I want to be early on my first day at work.”

“Good luck,” Gaby said, rising from her chair. “I think it’s great that you want to work. You’re the only woman of your status who doesn’t only stay at home. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with being just a wife.”

I briefly touched her shoulder to show her I wasn’t offended, then followed her back into the staff area where Enzo was drinking coffee. He got up at once when he saw me. “You can finish your coffee. There’s no rush,” I told him. Despite my words, he picked up his cup and downed it in one swallow. Zita was throwing disapproving glances my way. I definitely couldn’t see her warming up to me. She hadn’t said anything yet except for a curt “good morning,” but I could tell that she wanted to.

“In my time, the wife of a Capo would never have lowered herself to work,” she muttered as she wiped the counters, which were already spotless.

“Times change,” I said simply.

“The deceased mistress, may God rest her soul, was happy with the role of mistress of the house. She spent her days trying to make her husband happy and make sure he had a beautiful home.”

“Zita,” Enzo said sharply. “That’s enough.”

Zita pointed a finger at him. “Don’t talk to me like that.”

“Maybe we should head out now,” I said to Enzo. I didn’t want them to fight because of me. He nodded, grabbed his gun holster from the chair, and we walked in silence toward the garage.

“Thank you for speaking up for me,” I said as we sat in the car.

“Zita should show you respect. You are the Capo’s wife. He wouldn’t approve of anyone treating you like that.” Would he really care? “You should tell him.”

I shook my head. “No. I can handle myself, but thank you.”

Enzo inclined his head and the rest of the drive passed in silence. To my surprise, Enzo didn’t just drop me off at the casino. He followed me inside and didn’t budge from my side. I had a feeling Dante might have told him to keep an eye on me. I wondered if it was because he didn’t trust his men to treat me decently, or if he didn’t trust me not to mess up. Neither option made me feel better.

Leo seemed surprised when he spotted me. “I didn’t expect you yet. Raffaele and the girls aren’t here yet. There’s not much to do right now.”

I headed straight toward the back where the offices were located. “I know, but I want to read up on our high rollers. I assume you have documents and statistics about them?”

Leo’s eyes darted between me and Enzo, who had his arms crossed over his barrel chest, looking like he was waiting for a chance to crush Leo’s head. No love seemed to be lost between them. “Yes, we do. Let me get them for you.”

I settled in the plush chair behind my desk, feeling out of place, but when Leo returned with folders full of papers, I held my head high and gestured at him to put them on my desk. “I’ll read them. Please let me know when Raffaele and the girls arrive so I can talk to them.”

Leo nodded and left without another word. Enzo hesitated, then he too walked out and closed the door behind him. I slumped in the chair, and let my eyes take in my windowless office. I grabbed the