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Enzo’s expression softens. “She’s fine,” he assures me. “I talked to her doctor and she should be coming home soon.”
Denise was diagnosed with schizophrenia a couple of years ago, and she’s been getting treatments since then. We’ve all tried our best to help her and be supportive.
“Okay,” I say relieved. “Then what’s wrong? You look like someone died.”
Enzo scratches the scruff of his jaw. “I’m not sure how to begin what I’m about to say,” he informs me.
“How about from the start?” I say impatiently.
“How about you tell me where you’re coming from,” he retorts.
My lips turn down in a frown. “Is this an interrogation?”
“No. Not exactly. I’m just wondering. Because the last time we spoke about this, you said you and Steele were friends. And now you’re spending nights at his place. Of course I’m curious, Isabella.”
I consider not telling him anything, but he’s asking respectfully so I decide to open up.
“We’re dating,” I announce without blinking.
If Enzo has a problem with that, then he can go fuck himself. I look up at Jason, and the way his eyes fill with hurt causes my gut to twist.
Whatever. I don’t care.
Enzo’s expression, however, doesn’t so much as flicker. He nods like we’re discussing a business arrangement.
“Is it serious?” he asks after a couple of seconds.
“What kind of question is that?” I snap.
My cousin takes a deep breath. “There’s a new family in town. I guess they’ve always been around, but recently they’ve been gunning for more power. And getting it. They’re almost as strong as us.”
I’m not sure how that concerns me. “Their name?”
“Caliari,” Enzo replies somberly.
My eyebrows rise. “I recognize that name.”
“Yeah, they had business dealings with your father when he was Don. Our families had an alliance.”
My gut tightens. “What does that have to do with anything? From what I remember about the Caliaris, their Don was a piece of shit just like mio padre,” I state.
“Well, that piece of shit died earlier this year,” Enzo informs me. “And since then, his son has been leading the family. And doing it well. He’s smart, calculated. And a few weeks ago, he reached out to me, in hopes of an alliance.”
I stare at Enzo unblinking. “I’m still waiting for you to tell me what this has to do with me.”
“He asked for a marriage alliance, Isabella,” Enzo says with a grimace.
My eyes widen as I let that sink in. And then I’m calling my cousin every single Italian swear word I know.
“What the fuck, cugino? Are you really suggesting I marry some cazzo I don’t know?”
“It was just a suggestion, Isabella. Chill out. I just wanted to mention it to you. But I already turned Caliari down.”
I relax a little at that. “I’m never going to marry to secure any sort of alliance for this family,” I tell my cousin, my gaze hard. “It’ll never happen, Enzo.”
It’s what my father would have wanted. And I’ll die before I ever do something that would make him happy in hell.
“Understood,” Enzo says easily and I feel a deep sense of relief and gratitude for him in this moment.
