Page 1 of Enzo (The Amato Family #2)
P ancakes have to be the best food ever invented. Kail always makes disgusted noises at how many I put away, but when your entire job is keeping a tiny five-foot four spitfire of a mafia heir in line, you need the fuel.
“What do you want to go with the lasagna tonight?” Kail asks as he wraps a stack of pancakes up in foil.
“Maybe that vegetable medley you made with the meatloaf a few weeks ago, I liked that. Benji did too.”
Kail snorts. “Benji needs to learn to cook for himself.”
I grin. “Why, when he can eat our leftovers? We sure as heck won’t eat them.”
He sighs but knows I’m right. Kail is one of those cooks who gets paranoid about not having enough, so he always makes more, which in turn leads to leftovers we won’t eat. Hence my best friend reaping the benefits of my boyfriend’s cooking.
After Kail’s done wrapping Benji’s breakfast up, he goes and pulls last night’s dinner out of the fridge, putting it in a bag and setting the foil-wrapped pancakes on top.
“What are your plans for today?” I ask.
“Nothing much. Going to steal some gravy from Nona because I haven’t had time to make any but I still want lasagna.” I snort at that and he ignores me. “Laundry after that, then maybe I’ll stop in and see my dad. What time do you think you’ll be home?”
“Roman has school, but as far as I know that’s it, so I shouldn’t be home too late. I’ll try to let you know if it changes, though.”
We both know that working for the Amato Family can be unpredictable, and things can change in an instant. As a bodyguard for the main Family, I’m not always in a position to contact my boyfriend to say I’ll be late for dinner.
Anyone else probably wouldn’t put up with that shit, especially when, in the last few years, there have been multiple times we’ve been forced to tighten security around Roman.
The NDAs we all sign, plus our loyalty to the Family, means we’re tight-lipped about our jobs to any outsiders, which makes it hard to have relationships with other people.
Kail not only being part of the Family already, but growing up with both his father and older brothers as guards, means he understands more than most. It makes it easier on us both, as we understand when one of us needs to work late or we don’t come home entirely due to work.
“Well, text me when you can. Either way, I’m having lasagna for dinner.”
I laugh. “I will.”
Taking my empty plate to the sink, I rinse it off and set it in the dishwasher. When I turn around, Kail steps into me and wraps his arms around my waist.
Settling a hand against his lower back, I brush my fingers under his chin, lifting his face to mine and kissing him slowly. “I love you. I’ll see you later.”
“Love you too. Tell Benji I want my containers back.”
Chuckling, I kiss him again before pulling away and double checking I have everything I need. Kail helps untwist one of the straps on my holster, and then hands me the bag of food he packed for Benji.
“Tell Nona I said hi, and I’m going to beat her next time I see her.”
He laughs. “Yeah, sure. I’ll pay money to see that.”
I roll my eyes. “I swear that old lady cheats.”
Kail smiles indulgently but we both know it’s true. His grandmother may look like a sweet, matronly woman, but she’s a fucking card shark. I’m determined to beat her one day. Doesn’t matter what game it is, the queen will fall.
At the front door, I set the food bag down long enough to get my guns out of the safe built into the entryway table. It’s not the only place where weapons are stored throughout the house, but the ones I use for work are always secured here as soon as I get home.
Geared up, I grab the food, triple check I have everything, then head out.
The drive to the main house is uneventful, and I store Benji’s food container in the staff fridge in the kitchen, making sure to label it before grabbing the pancakes and going to look for my best friend.
I find both Benji and Thomas—another of Roman’s guards—in the detached garage. “Catch.” I toss the foil-wrapped pancakes at Benji.
He sighs as he unwraps his breakfast. “I love Kail. Do you think he’d notice if I just moved in with y’all?”
I laugh. “Uh, yeah.”
“We need to get you a life, Benji,” Thomas teases, leaning against the SUV behind him and sipping his coffee. “What are you looking for? A wife? A husband? One of each? I’m sure Jennie knows some people.”
“I don’t need your wife finding me a partner, thanks. I’m perfectly content just the way I am.”
Thomas shrugs. “Just let me know if you ever change your mind, we’ll make it happen.”
Benji shakes his head, but before he can reply, one of the drivers, Luigi, comes out.
“What are you three doing leaning on my car? Did no one teach you any manners? Off!”
“Technically,” I point out, even as I take a step away from the SUV. “Thomas was the only one leaning.”
Luigi glares and sniffs, and I exchange an eye roll with Benji.
Of all the Amato drivers, Luigi is one of the less painful ones to deal with, but that doesn’t mean he’s not obnoxious.
I’d consider my assessment of them unfair if they didn’t earn every bit of it.
Not everyone is cut out to be a bodyguard, least of all for the main Family, and some people get salty over it.
Luigi climbs into the vehicle and drives out of the garage at the same time Leandro Mason’s bodyguards enter.
“I call riding with the boys,” I say, grinning at the other men. “Benji, you can ride in the follow car. Thomas, you’ll be housebound today. Anthony and Dante, you can fight over who’s on Leandro duty and who gets stuck in the car with the driver.”
“How come you get to ride with the boys?” Benji asks.
“Perks of being the boss.” I grin.
As Roman’s Head Guard, I have more privilege and agency than anyone else, and my word is law unless Tennant or his guard, Joel, says otherwise.
Anthony and Dante only grumble a little, because being on Leandro’s guard is never easy—kid may be tiny and a wheelchair user, but he’s as terrifying as his father, who happens to be the Amato Second in Command.
I check my watch. “Boys should be ready about now, let’s go.”
Thomas leans against one of the SUVs as Benji climbs into another, while Anthony and Dante get into their own.
A few other men will join them as per protocol.
Tennant’s orders may seem convoluted to an outsider, but so much has happened in the past few years that paranoia is to be expected. You can never be too safe.
“Have fun at school,” Thomas says, taking a drink of coffee.
“Enjoy being bored!” Benji shoots back out the window before driving out of the garage, Anthony following behind him.
“Behave,” I tell Thomas with a wink, before walking out of the garage to meet Roman and Leandro at the grand front steps to the main house.
“No, take your time,” Roman calls out when he sees me. “We don’t have to get to class or anything.”
I start walking slower, and the boy rolls his eyes before daintily making his way down the front steps. I have to suppress my grin at his dramatics, though I do appreciate the effort he puts into the whole spoiled prince act.
“Ready to go?” I ask, making my way to the car and holding the door open for him.
“I’ve been ready. Was waiting on your slow ass.”
“Yeah, yeah. Get in.”
He sniffs but slides into the SUV, and I keep the door open for Leandro, who first guides his protection dog, Boston, into the car before holding his arm out to me.
In a well-practiced maneuver, I help him from his chair to the car seat and then quickly break the wheelchair down to be stored in the back.
Truthfully, Leandro could probably get into the SUV on his own. It’d take a little more time, but he’s dealt with his disability for longer than we’ve actually known him and is quite self-sufficient. But as Roman’s best friend, he’s learned how to play his part well.
Not only that, being Tennant’s son doesn’t hurt and affords him as much privilege as Roman has, which the boy uses to his full advantage when he wants to.
Once everyone is where they need to be, I get into the passenger seat and Luigi puts the car into drive.
As far as morning routines go, this one couldn’t be easier—knock on wood—and so long as the day continues as it is, I’ll be home in time for Kail’s lasagna fresh out of the oven.