Page 2 of Vincenzo (The DiMaggio Crime Family #3)

VINCENZO

T rying to wake myself up, I rub my hand over the newfound scruff I’ve grown accustomed to on my face since Amalia Velasco and Carlos Montoya entered my life. The long nights of surveillance on them have proven to be more than I thought it would be.

Waiting around to see what move they’re going to make has been driving me to the brink of insanity. They haven’t done anything except go about their day-to-day lives like they’re regular fucking tourists visiting the Big fucking Apple. What the hell is their plan?

The intel I’ve accumulated is fucking shit.

You’d think with how much I’ve been watching them, I’d have figured out why they decided to visit the city, but no.

They’ve hit up the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, even went to a fucking Broadway show that I also had to endure for three fucking hours.

As I stand here, hovering over the kitchen sink, I rub my temples and think about what the hell I’m going to tell my brother, Teo. He’s expecting an update this morning, but I have nothing.

Small footsteps sound from behind me, then my sister-in-law’s voice follows. “Oh, hey, babe. What’re you?—”

I turn my gaze to her, and my lips curl up into the biggest fucking smirk. “Well, good morning to you too, Little Lux ,” I say, using my brother’s nickname for her.

Her hand flies up to her heart, and the other shoots out to brace herself on the edge of the marble counter when she jumps back. “Holy shit, Enzo. You’re not my husband.”

Turning around, I lean back against the edge of the counter and fold my arms across my chest. I cock a brow at her and say, “No, but I can be if you’d like. Just say the word, Lux, and I’ll happily get rid of him.”

“Who’re you getting rid of?” Teo asks, walking around the corner into the kitchen.

“He’s not getting rid of anyone,” Lux says, turning to face him. He takes her into his arms and gives her the sweetest little fucking kiss, then turns his attention to me.

“Actually,” I say with an edge of slyness to it, “I was just telling Lux if she was looking for a new husband?—”

“Enzo…” Teo growls out in warning.

“He’s just messing around,” Lux says, rolling her eyes at me, but even she can’t help the small tug at the corner of her lips.

I give them both a loose shrug. “Hey, I’m just saying, I’d be a damn great choice.”

“Enzo,” Teo snaps.

“You are a great choice for any other insanely lucky girl,” Lux says, trying to put out the fire I’ve started with my brother. It wouldn’t be as satisfying if he didn’t have such a reaction, but damn, since he does, I can’t help but fuck with him.

“You know, I was the one who saw Lux first. And who was the one who spent more time with her after?—”

“Enzo, I am not above killing my own brother,” Teo says.

“Okay, you two,” Lux says, swatting him in the chest with the back of her hand.

“How did the topic of Enzo being your husband even come up?” he grumbles, and it takes everything in me not to laugh at how fucking crazy he goes over his woman.

“Honestly,” Lux says, shooting a glance over at me again. “I glanced at his profile and thought it was you for a second. I’ve always thought you two look alike, but now with the facial hair he’s grown out, I’m really seeing the resemblance.”

“You trying something new?” Teo asks, nodding at me.

I run my hand over my chin, the short whiskers prickling my fingers, and shrug. “New year, new me.”

“I like it,” Lux says. “It gives character.”

I tilt my head to the side and narrow my gaze on her. “Are you saying I didn’t have character before?”

Lux lets out a small chuckle and shakes her head. “Lack of character is definitely not something I would use to describe someone that kidnapped me from an airport.”

“Kidnapped sounds harsh, don’t you think, Lux?”

“Okay, enough of your bonding,” Teo says, turning to give his wife one last kiss before pinning his gaze on me. “We have some business to discuss, so let’s go.”

Teo leads the way out of the kitchen while I push myself off the counter. Passing by Lux, I say, “That offer remains. You just say the word, Little Lux .”

“Now, Enzo!” Teo yells from the hallway.

I give her a wink, and she rolls her eyes at me, shoving me in the direction of my brother. “Get out of here, Enzo,” she says, and we both laugh as I leave the kitchen.

Following Teo to his office, I shut us both in before taking a seat across from his desk.

“So,” he says, bringing his attention down to my scruff and then back up to my eyes, “what is with the sudden change on your face?”

“Well, I’ve been surveilling Velasco and Montoya for a couple weeks now, practically twenty-four seven, so I’ve been a bit lazy. But since Lux says she likes it…”

Teo closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before saying, “If Lux isn’t the death of me, you will be.”

I let out a stark laugh, shaking in my chair. “Okay, fine, I’ll stop… For now, at least.”

“Enzo—”

“I’m going to be honest. I’m fucking tired and also bored as hell watching those two.

Do you know the shit I’ve had to do the past couple weeks?

If I didn’t already know NYC like the back of my hand, I sure as shit would know it now.

All they’re doing is touristy crap. I went to a fucking Broadway show, Teo.

A Broadway show. Which, honestly wouldn’t have been too bad if they had cut it down by at least half of its duration. ”

My brother leans back in his chair and furrows his brows while clasping his hands together, placing each elbow on his arm rests. “What the fuck is their plan?”

“They still haven’t made contact with Nicco?” I ask.

Teo shakes his head. “No. Nothing. They haven’t contacted Nicco, and they haven’t contacted us. It doesn’t make any fucking sense.”

“Well, since what I’m doing now isn’t working, I thought of a different idea.”

Teo raises a brow at me, waiting for me to continue.

“They’re still staying at that swanky hotel Nicco owns, which means I could easily get cameras installed in their suite. Get an inside look at what they’re doing here.”

Teo’s brow quirks up. “Now that’s an idea.”

“So I have your approval?”

“You didn’t need it,” he says with a smirk.

“I’ll get our guys on it.”

I push myself up from my seat and walk toward the door, pulling my phone out of my pocket when Teo’s voice stops me. “It works for you,” he says.

Turning around, I raise a brow at him. “What does?”

He chuckles, dropping his hands to his desk. “That shit on your face.”

A shit-eating grin plays out on my face. “Awww, you calling me handsome, big bro?”

“Enzo,” he says, exasperated.

“Think I can bag that hottie Lux?”

Teo straightens in his seat, pinning a glare on me, and I quickly turn around and shuffle out the door. His threat to kill me further drowns out the more distance I put between us.

Laughing, I bring my attention back to my phone, dial a number, then hold it up to my ear.

“What’s going on, Enzo?” Cassius says after a couple rings.

“I need a favor.”

“Tell me what you need and the address,” he says.

“The Arlington. Full setup. I’ll text you the details.”

Cassius lets out a long, low whistle. “That’s going to cost you.”

“And you know I’m good for it.”

He scoffs out a laugh. “Yeah, yeah. Timeline?”

“Immediately.”

“I’ll be in contact.”

Hanging up the phone, I stuff it back into my pocket and head for the elevator. Now that I’m about to get full access to those two, I’ll figure out what the fuck is going on. Until then, I’ve thought of exactly what to do to make this a little more fun and interesting for me.