Page 2 of Enzo (The Amato Family #2)
“ P apa, sono qui per invaderti!” I call out as I close the door to my childhood home behind me.
His voice comes from the kitchen to the left. “Oh good, come here.”
Kicking my shoes off, I wander into the kitchen and find my father standing at the counter, a plate of something in front of him.
My father is a big man—tall, stocky, and even years into his retirement from being a bodyguard, he’s still in shape.
Most people would probably be intimidated by the large Italian man who worked for one of the most notorious mafia organizations this side of the country.
Me? I’ve always just seen him as my safe space.
Even when I figured out I liked boys rather than girls, he was the first person I told, because I knew he wouldn’t judge me.
I, like most of my siblings, may look more like my mother, but it’s my father I aspire to emulate.
“Whatcha got there?” I ask as I cross the space between us.
“They’re supposed to be peanut butter blossoms,” he says slowly.
“Oooh, cookies!” Without thinking any harder about it, I reach out and grab one, shoving the thing in my mouth.
Instant regret. Papa laughs at the look of betrayal I shoot him before handing me a paper towel to spit the offending dry and crumbly mess into. “What the hell was that?” I ask as I head to the fridge for a much-needed drink.
“Your sister made them,” he says between laughter.
I stare at him in horror. “You let me just shove it into my mouth!”
Papa laughs harder. “That was the best part! You didn’t ask any questions, just went ‘oh, cookie!’ and shoved it in!”
I glare at him. “I hate you.”
While Papa tries and fails to put himself together, I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and try to wash the dry grittiness from that poor excuse for a cookie out of my mouth. My sister is amazing at many things, but none of them involve being in the kitchen.
“Why the hell do you have those?” I ask, gesturing to the offensive things. “Were you just waiting for one of us to come along so you can get your kicks?”
He laughs and shakes his head. “No, Lara dropped them off a little while ago and I was about to throw them out before you decided to put life and limb on the line.”
I make a face and grab the plate, glad it’s a paper one so I have no guilt dumping the whole thing in the trash. Though I one hundred percent would have tossed one of the good plates, because no. Just…no.
“Was she trying to poison you?”
Papa shrugs. “She wanted to try something new. Give her a break.”
“No, no I will not.” Whipping out my phone, I type out a text and send it via the family group chat.
KAIL
Almost died today because Lara decided to bake the driest cookies to ever dry.
Papa laughs as he reads the text and his response has me glaring at him.
PAPA
Funniest shit I’ve seen all week
VIC
Damn! Too bad you didn’t video it, would have loved to see K’s face!
PAPA
It all happened too fast!
LARA
They’re not that bad!
KAIL
Bullshit
ENZO
Glad you’re okay, darlin’. I’m really looking forward to the lasagna tonight
KAIL
See if you get any, asshole
VIC
Come by the house tomorrow, E, if Kail doesn’t put out tonight. I’m making lasagna—just got done canning the gravy.
KAIL
If you loved me, and in my time of distress, you’d drop some at my house. Had to steal some from Nona for my lasagna.
VIC
Mmm no. You’re on your own
KAIL
Traitor
LARA
Some of that sauce is for me, sucker!
PAPA
At least you refuse to disgrace our ancestors with your terrible cooking
Biting my lip I hold back my laugh, because unbeknownst to our father—but one of the best-kept secrets my brothers and I have—is that Lara did once try to make the family gravy.
We were sworn to secrecy about the science experiment gone wrong that it turned out to be, but we will never let her live it down either.
VIC
Yeah, at least there’s that…
LARA
Fuck off
PAPA
Children, play nice.
Chuckling, I put my phone away and move to sit at the kitchen table. “Do you have any non-toxic food?”
Papa snorts. “I have a few muffins left from the other day… here.”
He grabs a paper towel and a muffin, sitting opposite me at the table. “What are you up to today? Not working?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Did a bunch of chores before I went and begged Nona for a thing of sauce—I’m fully out and haven’t had time to make any. Lasagna is chilling in the fridge now, and I’ll put it on in about an hour or so.”
“I can make you a batch of gravy if you need to stock up. Not like I don’t have the time.”
I shake my head. “Nah, it’s okay. Thanks, though. I have the weekend off, so I’ll make it then.”
“How’s work going? Doc driving you crazy yet?” he teases.
I huff and roll my eyes. “He needs a keeper according to James. But it’s going well. No one has tried to die lately. Well, Tennant almost tore Hollis’s throat out, but that was a sex thing.”
Papa laughs. “I miss being around those two.” He sighs. “Don’t get old, kid, it sucks.”
Before I can respond my phone rings, and I pull it out of my pocket, sighing when I see Doc’s name. There goes having dinner ready on time tonight.
“Hey, Doc, what happened?” I’m already pushing away from the table as I answer the phone.
“James should be sending you the coordinates any second but… we need you on scene. Roman’s car was hit, and it’s bad from what I know.”
My stomach drops, and only my years of training and working in high-stress situations keep me level-headed as I practically sprint from the table to the entryway.
“I’m at my dad’s. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Good. Be careful. I don’t need to get a call about you next.”
“Always am. See you soon.”
Doc hangs up and I shove my feet into my shoes, fumbling with my phone at the same time.
“Gotta go, Papa. Something’s going on with Roman. Love you!”
“Love you too. Be safe. And call if you need anything.”
“I will!” I call over my shoulder as I yank open the front door and jog over to my van.
As I start the car, I let out a slow breath, focusing on getting my racing heart under control.
Adrenaline is driving me right now and I need to be careful.
I have to trust in Enzo and the other guards to keep each other safe.
Right now, the heir to the Amato Family is the most important thing for us all.
Any and all personal feelings don’t matter in situations like this. Doesn’t mean I won’t worry, it just means for now my priorities need to be different.
There’ll be plenty of time to focus my attention on my boyfriend later. Right now, the future of our Family is what matters.