Speak Low (Speak Easy 2)

“Well, she doesn’t need you to defend her here.” Enzo took my face in his hands, brushing my hair back with his thumbs. “Are you all right?”

My stomach was roiling a little, but I nodded. “I’m fine.”

He pressed a kiss to my forehead, which somehow seemed more for Joey’s benefit than my own. “I’m sorry. Go into the office and sit down while I deal with this asshole.”

Which asshole? I wondered. But I slipped through the office door and took a seat on the brown leather sofa.

Adrenaline had kept me alert, but once I sat still, I felt the effects of the whisky again. The pattern on the rug in front of my feet swirled like a whirlpool, making me even more sick to my stomach. Snapping my eyes closed, I put a hand over my belly and breathed deeply. The office smelled nice, like leather and tobacco. A moment later, I opened my eyes.

There. That’s better.

Now to find out what the hell was going on between Enzo and Joey.

Chapter Seven

Enzo didn’t return immediately, so I had a few minutes to myself. The office looked the same as I remembered—oak paneling, gold drapes at the windows, a sideboard along one wall topped with crystal decanters, and two red leather chairs in front of a large mahogany desk.

Oh, the things we’d done on that desk.

I pressed my knees together.

Stop it. This is no time to get distracted by sex.

But my body had never listened to my brain where Enzo was concerned, especially once I’d been drinking, and I felt the pull low in my abdomen as I recalled the way he’d set me on the desk, knelt in front of me, and run his tongue along—

“So here we are again.” Enzo’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

I turned and saw him pouring a glass of something at the sideboard. He’d entered so stealthily I hadn’t even heard him.

“Darling, your ability to create chaos among men will never cease to amaze me.”

I wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or insulted. Glancing at the door, I asked, “Where’s Joey?”

“He asked for a moment to clean up.”

“Oh.”

“He’ll be back soon, otherwise I can think of a few things I’d rather do with you in this office than talk.” He moved to the desk and sat behind it, looking more like Angel than ever. “Especially at this desk.”

“Then you should have told me what you were planning tonight.”

“Tiny, this really has nothing to do with you. Why don’t you—”

“Bullshit!” I exploded, fueled by whisky and frustration. I wouldn’t be brushed off. “You made me a promise and I intend to hold you to it.”

He looked amused. “I make a lot of promises. Which one are you referring to?”

I nearly launched myself over the desk to slap his handsome face, an urge I had frequently. Instead I clenched my fists and counted to three. “Tell me why you asked Joey here tonight, alone.”

“Leave it, Tiny.” I stood as Joey entered the room, tucking a bloody handkerchief into his coat pocket. “It ain’t your concern.”

I looked from one to the other, seething. “So that’s how it is.”

“That’s how it is.” Joey’s face looked pale, and I didn’t think it was because of the fight, which was nothing new for him. Something had happened before I’d gotten up here, but neither of them would tell me what it was. The idea that it was now the two of them against me drove me insane.

“Do you know what I went through to get up here?” I stamped my foot like a child. Enzo actually laughed, which only made me angrier.

“How did you get up here, anyway?” He sipped his drink.