with Nicco before. Between us, we served the spaghetti, covering it with generous lashings of sauce. I sprinkled each plate with basil before calling everyone to the table. Nicco invited Luis to join us, but he declined, staying outside with the other security men.
“This looks great, Nora,” Tristan said, helping me with the bread.
“I’m not just a pretty face, you know.”
He chuckled, but it quickly died when Enzo scowled in our direction. “Ignore him,” Matteo said. “He’s just grouchy because he’s gotta take the couch tonight.”
“Listen, man, why don’t you take my spot, and I can room with Nora. I’m sure she won’t—”
Enzo’s eyes narrowed to murderous slits as he glared at Tristan.
“I think that’s a no, Capizola.” Matteo snorted. “You’re stuck with me, man, and E is stuck with—”
“Matt.” Nicco shot him a hard look and tension rippled around through the air.
“Fuck this,” Enzo said, “I need a smoke.” He spun around and walked straight out of the cabin, letting the door slam shut behind him.
“Was it something I said?”
Bella grabbed her brother and yanked him down into the empty seat beside her. “You shouldn’t push him, you know how he gets.”
“He needs to—”
“Basta!” Nicco slammed his hand down on the table, making the silverware rattle. He let out an exasperated breath. “Can we just eat, please?”
“You don’t need to tell me twice.” Matteo began helping himself to bread and salad. But I wasn’t feeling very hungry all of a sudden.
“Matt, you eat like a pig.”
“But you love me, pulce.” He roped his arm around Bella’s neck and began to ruffle her hair.
“Get off of me, you big goofball.” She shirked him off. “You are such a dork.”
“I think it’s cute,” Ari said.
“You need me to come over there and ruffle your hair, cous?” Tristan asked her.
“Please don’t.” Nicco glowered.
“Relax, Marchetti. I’m only busting your balls. This is good, Nor. Just like my Nona used to make it.”
“You’re not hungry?” Ari caught my eye, and I shook my head, my gaze flicking to the door.
Tempers were bound to be frayed given the circumstances, but Enzo was so volatile, so angry all of the damn time. The fixer in me wanted to excuse myself and go check on him, but I knew he wouldn’t thank me for it, so I forced myself to stay put.
“Can someone pass me the cheese, please?” Tristan asked, and in their haste to help, Bella and Alessia knocked over the jug of water.
“Oops.” Bella grimaced. “I’ll grab some towels.”
“Relax,” Tristan said. “I’ve got it.”
I wasn’t the only one who noticed the girls track his every move as he went and fetched some paper towel.
“What the fuck is happening right now?” Matteo grumbled beneath his breath.
“I think Tristan has a fan club.” I fought a smile, but Matteo looked anything but amused.
“Oh hell no.” His hand flattened against the table.
“Relax, Matt,” Ari said, “you can trust Tristan.”
“It’s not him I’m worried about.” His eyes went to his sister and their cousin. “Don’t get any silly ideas.”
“God, Matteo, you’re so freakin’ embarrassing. He’s like twenty.”
“Twenty-two.” Tristan corrected, rejoining us, clearly unaffected by his little fan club. “And Matteo is right. Don’t get any ideas. I don’t date high schoolers.”
“Of course you fucking don’t.”
“Jesus,” Nicco hissed. “Is it too much to ask to have a simple meal?”
“I know Uncle T thought it would be safer to bring the girls out to the cabin, but I’m thinking he didn’t consider our safety.” Matteo smirked, and Alessia and Bella both grabbed a handful of bread and threw it at him.
Tristan exploded with laughter while me and Ari tried our best not to join him. And Nicco…
Well, he looked like a guy with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Chapter 19
Enzo
I walked the perimeter of the cabin again. We’d been careful, covering our tracks once we left the highway, but it was better than standing still. Because when things were still, I was overcome with so much guilt and anger, I could barely breathe.
Nora made everything quiet. She made everything stop. Losing myself in her last night had been both a blessing and a curse. Every time she let me back in, another piece of me became hers. She’d never own my whole heart—that wasn’t possible for something carved out of stone—but she owned enough jagged pieces of my soul for me to notice.
I never wanted this. I never wanted to tie myself to someone knowing that I couldn’t ever be who they needed me to be. The Family came