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Sighing, I place my hands on the edge of the cool counter. “Okay, can you please show me how to use the french press? I’d like to learn so I don’t have to ask you every single time I want a coffee.”
He chuckles before giving me one of those endearing smiles of his.Why can’t Matteo be more like his little brother?
“What’re you thinking about?” Enzo asks as he takes the coffee beans and walks over to the grinder.
Following him, I brush him off with my response. “Nothing.”
He shows me how to load the coffee beans and where the start button is. “I might not know you too well yet, but I can tell something’s off.”
“Well, I was kidnapped, found out my estranged dad is in the Mafia, and forced into a marriage with an asshole who is also in the Mafia all in twenty-four hours. I apologize if I’m acting. . .off.”
“Damn. When you put it that way, your life definitely sucks right about now.”
I want to be irritated, but his playful tone makes me sputter out a laugh.
“I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, Enzo. I came here to find my mom and ended up slamming face-first into a whole other world. One that I don’t understand and don’twantto understand.”
Enzo gives me a sympathetic look, his dark-brown eyes, so similar to his brother’s, softening. “Look, I can’t lie and say I know what you’re going through, but try to think of the positives. Think of the things that’ll get you through the day.”
I scoff. “Yeah, like what? I don’t exactly have much going for me right now. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do with my day-to-day life anymore.”
“Your mom is the reason you came out here, so that’s what you focus on. Forget about the other stuff for now. Focus on holding onto finding your mom.”
“I want to help find her, but I have no idea where to start. I know Matteo said he’s going to help me, but who knows if he was being honest about that.”
“Matteo never goes back on his word, Luxtyn. He told you he would help you find your mom. He will.Wewill.”
I try to take Enzo’s reassurance and use it to calm my nerves, but it’s not working. “So, what do I do in the meantime?” I ask him.
“Just try and do your best to not drive yourself insane with finding your mom. Let us handle it. We have the resources. We’ll figure it out.”
I scoff. “You’re kidding, right? That’s your advice? To not worry about finding my mom? My best friend?”
Hell, my only friend.
“There’s nothing you can do to help right now, Luxtyn. We need to keep you safe.”
My shoulders slump and I drop my head as this helpless feeling washes over me. I didn’t have much of a plan when coming here. I figured I’d go to the condo and if I wasn’t able tofigure anything out from there, then I would go to the police.
I glance back up at Enzo who’s watching me as if he’s studying me. Maybe waiting for me to have a meltdown, which I’m surprised I haven’t done so yet. “And you guys aresurewe can’t go to the cops?”
He shakes his head. “If you talk to the police, that information could easily wind up in the wrong hands. You can’t trust all of them.”
“And why should I trust you and Matteo?”
Enzo offers an effortless shrug. “Because who else do you have?”
“Is that supposed to be helpful?”
“No. It’s just a fact. You have no one else out here,” he says as he pours my freshly pressed coffee into a black ceramic mug. “We’re not the bad guys. Teo. . . he might come off as?—”
“An arrogant prick?” I offer.
He gives a breathy laugh. “Yes, but he’s not all that bad. You just have to break through that outer shell of his.”
“I’d really rather not,” I say as I add the creamer and sugar to my coffee.
Enzo eyes me while I take a sip of the delicious brew. “What?” I ask as I pull the cup away from my lips.
