Page 31 of Bellini Born

Ignoring me, she stomped over to the front door, pushing the button on the wall unit. “She’s not going anywhere with you, so get lost.”

“Gabi!” I shouted.

Hearty laughter came through the speaker. “Good morning, Gabriella. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you I can get into this building with or without your help.”

“Vaffanculo,” she spat back.

I could hear the amusement in Enzo’s voice. “If you’ve got the toys, I’ve got the time.”

“Ugh!” Gabi stomped her foot as she let out a frustrated scream.

“What did you say to him?” I asked. Clearly, I needed to download a translator app on my phone if the people around me were going to randomly switch into Italian.

Rolling her eyes, she huffed, “I told him to go fuck himself.”

Enzo spoke again. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, ladies.”

Stepping past my roommate, I hit the button that would buzz him into the building.

Gabi placed both hands on her hips. “You’re seriously going to do this?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “But on the bright side, you can finally get out of this shithole without me dragging you down.”

She pouted. “I’m gonna miss living with you.”

Tears burned behind my eyes, and I blinked furiously to keep them from falling. “Me too.”

A knock sounded on the other side of the door. Turning the knob, I pulled it open to reveal Enzo with a tattooed arm braced against the frame. His lips twisted into a smirk when he locked eyes with Gabi over my head.

His gaze dropped to mine. “All packed?”

I stepped back to grant him entry. “Almost.”

“Got anything I can take down to the car while you finish?”

I walked over to where a few milk crates full of random personal belongings were stacked outside my bedroom. “These are ready to go. Shouldn’t take me much longer to finish up.”

“Take your time.” He lifted the crates with ease and disappeared through the apartment’s open doorway.

Gabi followed me into my bedroom, where I resumed folding the rest of my clothes and stuffed them into my suitcase.

Her fingers trailed over the edge of my dresser. “What do you want me to do with your furniture?”

I’d pieced together my bedroom set between various flea markets and estate sales. It didn’t match, but it was functional. That’s all that mattered.

“Donate it or sell it. Whatever is easiest for you.”

I was going to be gone for sixteen months, and it didn’t feel right asking her to hold onto any of it for me when she moved into a better place. Besides, with the thousand-dollar-a-month stipend listed out in the employment contract Matteo sent via email last night, I planned to save most of it, which meant I would be able to buy new furniture later.

Zipping my suitcase, I placed it on the ground and rolled it into the living room. Enzo had returned and took it from my hand.

“This everything?” He looked around the space.

“Yep.” I dropped onto a kitchen chair and focused on tying my shoes to avoid watching Gabi glaring at her cousin.

“Don’t think I won’t be checking in on her,” she declared.

Enzo didn’t skip a beat. “I’ll have your name added to the list of approved visitors at the estate.”