Page 58 of Bad Medicine

“Of course,” Francesca answered him. “Who else would cause a self-proclaimed lifelong bachelor to consider changing his ways?”

“Whoa, now.” I held up my hands, another blast of panic coursing through me. “I didn’t say nothin’ about changing shit.”

Enzo looked at me, considering.

“I give him a month,” he said, and Francesca nodded.

“You’re on.”

“What the hell, boss?” I huffed. “You’re betting on me now? What the fuck?”

“We gotta go, Frankie.” Enzo continued as though I hadn’t even spoken, grabbing both suitcases and hauling them to the trunk of the cab. “Flight’s not gonna wait for Rocco to get his head outta his ass. He’s gonna have to do that on his own time.”

“Oh, fuck off, Enzo,” I growled, not finding any humor in the situation. “Like you can talk. Your ass didn’t stand a chance against your woman, either.”

“So, you admit she’s your woman?” he said, his smirk infuriating me to no end.

“What? No!”

“Then what’s the problem? Just hit it and quit it like you always do.” Slamming the trunk, he turned to face me. “She’s just a broad, right?”

I wanted to punch him, but I had known Enzo long enough to know that was exactly what he wanted me to do.

Instead, I stepped back, stuffing my hands into the pockets of my jeans.

“She got a son, man,” I said quietly, getting right to the heart of the matter. That even if I could make myself try with Mia and I ended up failing her, Enzo knew how I felt about kids, how I never wanted anything bad to happen to any of them.

I’d seen way too much of that shit already.

I’d never forgive myself if I fucked up and hurt him as well.

“Rocco Campanelli,” Enzo said, punching me in the arm hard enough to hurt. “I have known your sorry ass for longer than I care to admit.” I nodded, rubbing my shoulder absently. “And in all that time, there is one thing I have seen you do over and over and fuckin’ over again.”

He stared at me, hard, and I frowned, not really knowing what he was getting at.

“Care, you stupid shit. You fuckin’ care. About everyone, whether you should or not.” Enzo held up a hand and began ticking items off on his fingers. “You cared about every one of the kids you ever fostered with. You cared about Honey long after the two of you aged out of the system.” I could see Francesca nodding along, and I felt my face heating. This was personal shit Enzo was spilling right here on the goddamn street. I mean, it wasn’t like Francesca wasn’t, you know, inner circle now or whatever. But it was unlike Enzo to be so, I don’t know, emotional, maybe? Standing here, talking about feelings and shit; he really had changed since Francesca came along. “You care about everyone in our crew like they were family.” I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off. “Yes, even Lexi.”

I growled, but conceded. She annoyed the fuck outta me, but I wouldn’t leave her behind or anything.

“So, you wanna tell me again why Mia having a kid would be something that would stop you from getting involved with the woman?” He eyed me suspiciously, and I could feel the judgment from both him and Francesca. “Unless you have no intention of getting involved beyond getting your dick wet, and if that’s the case? Then, brother, I gotta tell you. Back the fuck off her.”

Turning to open the door for Francesca, he helped her into the cab like she was nine months pregnant instead of, like, nine weeks or whatever, then spun to face me one more time.

“Now, take your mopey ass home. Get some fuckin’ sleep, and don’t fuck up my city while I’m gone.” Climbing into his own seat, he called, “We’re all countin’ on you, Rock.”

Right. No fuckin’ pressure.

Chapter twenty-six

Rocco

“Oh,fuckrightoffwith that shit.”

I stared at the phone, the text message from Trick doing nothing to improve my already sour mood. I know he thought he was being hilarious, but I didn’t have the patience for his riddles and shit.

It had been three of the longest weeks of my fuckin’ life, and there didn’t appear to be any end in sight.

“Something I can help with?”