Page 75 of Beautifully Ruined

For the last few days, I’ve been there, riding the crowded train for the short trip from my place to her office, and spending that time with her is nice. Going places with her is nice. In that mindless, perfect way some things just are.

Those minutes aren’t anything but being together, a few more minutes in each other’s company. Mindless, priceless, a nice that makes morning rush hours in New York more than bearable.

She flat out refuses to take an uber or car service there.

So, I’ve told her if I’m not with her, she won’t be alone. Someone’s keeping her company whether she sees them or not. Whether she likes it or not. She won’t be left exposed and vulnerable.

And Vi’s smart. Even if I hadn’t told her, she’s the type to work it out.

I sigh as I ride my train to meet with Enzo and the team we’ve put together. It’s at an underground hacker space, one The Syndicate owns. A good place to keep an eye on other hackers, to discover talent.

But I’m not interested in that.

I’m interested in meeting the others in the private rooms downstairs. Those are for members of The Syndicate only.

When I get off in Astoria Queens, I make my way next door to the space and go in through the dive shop. I nod at Esther behind the counter and go through to the back.

She’ll turn the sign to closed when the last person gets here.

Enzo doesn’t look up as I join him at the table.

This place looks like a basement that’s used for clandestine things. Mismatched tables and chairs, a bar, a fridge, and enough outlets to please an army of hackers.

There’s even a sofa down here to sprawl on when working on a laptop, as we’ve both done countless times.

Not everyone meeting us here today is a hacker. I do, however, trust them all.

Enzo is on his computer, and I join him, pulling out mine.

“How’s your girl?”

I smile. “Still mine.”

He sighs. “Only because I haven’t tried to steal her from you yet. I remember how she moaned out my name.”

“I’m not sure it was a moan. And haven’t you got enough on your plate? Didn’t you just piss off that mob boss’s daughter?”

His mouth turns up at the edges as he slides me a dark look. “Verity DeSouza is part of a Boston crime family. They’re small, it ended, she’s a drama queen.”

I try not to smile as I go through the information our search has thrown up. “Boston mafia isn’t cuddly. So, you should watch it.”

“Nah, I’m good. She’s not a favorite daughter. Besides, she’s meant to still have her big V card, so she’s not going to cry to Daddy. Believe me, I haven’t been the only one up there.”

I wince. “Real nice, man. Seriously.”

“What can I say? I’m a nice guy.” Then he drops the fun and games. “I’m being serious, she’s hoping I’ll come back. But Daddy’s not going to do more than pressure me a little. I’m not who he wants as her husband. It’s gonna be a marriage to suit him. And she won’t tell him I fucked her because that isn’t in her interest. She hasn’t yet, and that girl has quite the head count. She brags about it. I mean…come on.”

“So, you hooked up because she was easy?”

He snorts. “I hooked up with her because she wasfun. Andnota virgin. I don’t do virgins.”

Enzo shudders.

“As long as you remain upstanding,” I say with a big helping of sarcasm.

Under the fuckboy words, he speaks his own truth.

Enzo does stupid things. What he doesn’t tend to do is mess with the innocent.