“Nor, it’s not that,” Ari sighed, rubbing her hand over Nicco’s thigh. “It’s complicated.”
“Is Enzo in danger?” My stomach twisted. He wasn’t one to shy away from a fight, I knew that. But I couldn’t stand the thought of him being in the direct line of fire.
Nicco inhaled a sharp breath. “We think whoever is targeting us, has ties to Vincenzo.”
“Enzo’s father… but I don’t understand.” Vincenzo had been Antonio’s second, his right-hand man. Why on Earth would—no.
No!
Matteo nodded slowly, his eyes filled with regret. “Vincenzo was a traitor.”
“But… that doesn’t make any sense. He died. He was in an accident and he—”
“There was no accident,” Nicco said, thickly.
“You mean you killed him?” Because that’s what the mafia did to traitors. They got rid of them.
An icy shudder rolled through me.
“I didn’t kill him, Nora.” Nicco looked right through me, and then he said two little words that shattered my heart.
“Enzo did.”
“I still can’t believe it,” I said as me and Ari lay shoulder to shoulder on my bed.
“Yeah… when Nicco told me… I wanted to tell you. But it wasn’t my story to tell.”
“I understand. It explains so much.”
Ari rolled onto her side and leaned on her fist. “Now you know why I’ve been so worried about you. Enzo isn’t… he’s in a dark place, Nor. Super dark. I’m not sure I want you around that.”
“It doesn’t matter now,” I said, peering up at her.
“What do you mean?”
“I told him I’m done. I want more, Ari. I deserve more.” But as I said the words, my heart shattered all over again.
Enzo only had his father growing up. A cold, vicious man by all accounts with a strong sense of loyalty to the Family. A man who shaped his son and his view of the world. A man who molded his son in his image…
“God, I can’t imagine what Enzo must be feeling. No wonder he pushed me away.”
“No, Nora, don’t do that, don’t excuse his behavior—”
“I’m not excusing it, but I get it. He killed his father, Ari.” My voice cracked. “Enzo shot his father in cold blood. You don’t just come back from something like that.”
Her expression softened. “I know.”
“It’s why he left, isn’t it?”
She nods. “Antonio wanted to give him time and space to deal with everything. But then this happened, and well, here we are.”
“What a mess,” I breathed, feeling my chest constrict.
Nicco had explained that the guy targeting them seemed to have a personal vendetta against Enzo, so they assumed it was someone connected to Vincenzo. Maybe a business partner or someone involved with the deal he cut with Mike Fascini to bring down the Marchetti empire.
Just then, male laughter filled the cabin.
“I wonder what they’re doing.”
“We could always go out there and see?” Ari suggested.
“Sure, okay.” It felt like we’d been in here for hours, the sun long set over the tree line.
Matteo and Tristan had taken the girls for a walk earlier, but we’d declined. I wasn’t feeling very sociable after Nicco had told me the truth about Enzo and his father.
I couldn’t get it out of my head, couldn’t even begin to imagine what Enzo was going through. It explained a lot. Why he pulled away suddenly, his deep-seated anger, his cruel words and cold demeanor. Enzo was carrying a burden most of us would never understand.
I followed Arianne into the living room to find the guys crowded around the table, playing poker. Enzo had obviously returned from wherever he’d been all day, but I forced myself not to look at him for fear that he would see the truth in my eyes.
I knew his darkest secrets now, and I knew he’d probably hate me for it.
But it didn’t matter, because I didn’t plan on telling him. Enzo obviously didn’t want me to know… or he would have told me.
So I grabbed a chair and tucked myself between Tristan and Matteo so that I wouldn’t be in his line of sight.
I was hardly surprised when Nicco pushed his chair back to accommodate Ari on his lap. They couldn’t be in the same room without touching.
“Where are the girls?”
“Watching Rivervale or whatever it’s called. You know, the one with the guy that wears that stupid hat. Bughead.”
“You mean Riverdale?” I snickered. “And it’s Jughead.”
“Same thing.” Matteo shrugged. “Enzo picked them up a bunch of snacks, it should keep them quiet for a while.”
At just the mention of his name, my chest tightened.