Page 71 of A Treasure To Keep (Leone Legacy #2)

Andrea

L uci and El finally made up several weeks ago. There’s a small sparkle that’s back in her eyes now that she’s able to put the drama aside and enjoy her pregnancy.

Currently, we’re at the store, preparing for her baby shower and putting together our baby registry. Something else that makes her eyes sparkle.

I stand with Enzo, watching Luci and El pick out clothes for our son. No matter how many clothes James gives El, she never misses an opportunity to grab more. Something about taking advantage of grabbing a variety of sizes while we have time and energy.

El glances over at me, smiling while she dramatically scans the green blanket in her hand.

At this rate, we’ll spend all day here, giving me the perfect opportunity to befriend Enzo.

“El and Luci seem to be having fun shopping for the baby. I’m noticing a few things for Gia in their cart. Do you have any children?”

Enzo tilts his chin up, finding that Luci has wandered behind a rack of clothes. He always needs to have eyes and ears on Luci. “No. Unfortunately, I was never given that opportunity.”

His eyes go dark, filled with sorrow and anger that I can’t quite pinpoint. There’s a story behind that. One that haunts him. One that I’m not sure he will ever tell anyone. Nothing good comes from holding a secret that big.

All I’ve learned about Enzo is that he started working for Geno in Italy about a decade ago, then came to America when Alessandro moved here.

Knowledge about his past is vague, limited to his prior work in Washington, DC, and the US military before that.

Training that has made and still makes him the perfect bodyguard.

El makes her way over to me, wrapping her arms around my neck to kiss me. Normally, I’d pull her close until her body presses against me. Unfortunately, our son tends to get in the way these days.

“Are you having fun with Luci?”

“Am I having fun shopping? Of course I am. Do you even know who I am? Oh!” Our son gently kicks, showing us he’s having fun too. She giggles as I kiss where her neck meets her collarbone. Our bliss is broken by his signature, annoying voice.

“I guess the rumors are true. Eleanora Gallo, pregnant out of wedlock. To the guy who plays dress up, nonetheless. I heard you two are engaged. Did that come before or after the pregnancy? There’s no shame in admitting that’s the reason behind the proposal.

” No one other than our internal circle knows who created my son.

I could only imagine the comments we would receive, specifically from that voice.

When we turn our heads, he’s leaning against the store display, his default cocky expression spread across his face.

He’s wearing navy pants, a white shirt, and a gray blazer.

Either he’s coming from work, or that’s his signature preppy style. Neither would surprise me.

“Giovanni. What the fuck could you possibly want?” El sneers, and Enzo notices. For a moment, he switches his focus, hopefully taking in Giovanni’s features. By the time Giovanni speaks again, Enzo’s attention has switched back to Luci.

He pushes off the display, taking two steps toward El.

He better not take one more step in those last-season shoes.

“I want a lot of things. Most recently, getting laid lands at the top of my list, but unfortunately, I’ve been surprisingly unsuccessful.

I heard from a colleague earlier in the workweek that my name was plastered on a social media page that warns other women in Pennsylvania about certain men.

She said the post called me ‘a sexist, cheating, body shaming pig that deserves to have his tiny balls and even tinier dick served to him for dinner.’ That sounds like something you would say.

” Enzo coughs while smiling, attempting to cover up his laughter.

The quote Giovanni mentioned screams El. I’ll need to talk to her about this.

“Whoever said that, whether it was me or not, was correct on all accounts. Maybe you cheated with or on the wrong girl.” El stands in front of me, holding one of my hands in hers as she stands up to her ex.

I couldn’t be more proud of her than at this moment.

It’s about time she gains her power back from Giovanni.

“This is only a small setback. I only need a Saturday night in a bar to get everything back to normal.” Giovanni leans in, whispering in El’s ear loud enough for me and Enzo to pick up what he says. “And don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll lose the pregnancy weight.”

Giovanni turns around, and almost immediately, El rears her fist back. When her body lurches forward, her body stops. Enzo wraps his hand around El’s fist, keeping her in place. He shakes his head when El turns to him, letting her know it’s a bad idea to punch Giovanni.

El yanks her hand out of Enzo’s grasp, turning away from us and strutting off back to where Luci stands. Luci places her hand on El’s arm, confirming that she’s okay. Once I see El’s head nod, my shoulders relax. At least she didn’t let the glitch known as Giovanni’s appearance ruin her day.

I subtly turn my head to Enzo, taking the opportunity to thank Enzo while El is distracted. “Thank you. That man is a lowlife piece of shit. He thrives on getting negative emotions out of El.”

“I can tell. She doesn’t deserve that. You’re a lucky man to have El as your woman.”

“You think I don’t know that? I’ve known that since the day I met her.”

The rest of the shopping trip goes by, thankfully uneventful.

El seems to have shaken off her encounter with Giovanni by the time we are done.

I occasionally catch Enzo glancing around the rest of the store.

Normally, I’d say it’s Enzo doing his duty, watching for any potential danger that may come Luci’s way.

Except something about how he’s acting after Giovanni’s visit makes it appear that he’s watching out for him. Watching out for El and our son.

I’m scanning through the registry El put together.

It’s as lavish and long as I assumed it would be.

And this doesn’t include the massive amounts of items she’s purchased already or has been gifted to us.

The worst thing our boss did was put an infant and children section in last year at the store.

That’s where she’s spent most of her employee discount lately.

Hours after arriving, El practically skips over to me after Luci pays for her items and grabs both of my hands. She always has this demeanor after a good shopping spree. Happy? Content? Shopping drunk? All three? Regardless, her bright eyes and smile show that Giovanni’s visit didn’t ruin her day.

“Are you ready to go home?”

“Only if I can have chips and salsa?”

“Of course. Not the extra spicy kind. It gives you heartburn.” Her nose wrinkles when I kiss it, reminding her of what happened a few days ago. I’d hate to see her in that much pain again.

“In my defense, I didn’t have heartburn this entire pregnancy until then.”

We walk out of the store, hand in hand. I make sure to open the door, waiting until she’s comfortable in the driver's seat before shutting the door.

As I circle the car around to the passenger seat, my pocket vibrates, and an unknown number appears on the screen. By what it says, I can only assume it’s Enzo.

Unknown:

Remember, cherish her. You two deserve each other.

Me:

Always have and always will.