“It’s me.” The voice was Enzo’s. “Can I come in?”
My legs went rubbery. Half of me was furious with him; the other half knew I shared the blame. So he’d hidden some truth—I had too. “I suppose.” I opened the door, and saw the flicker of desire in his eyes as he took in my bare shoulders and legs.
“How are you?” he asked quietly, hands in his pockets. His hair was slightly tousled and his collar was loose, making him look much like he had leaving my bedroom last night. All that plus the soft, warm expression on his face was enough to make my breath come quicker. Don’t look at me that way, you son of a bitch.
“OK.” I stepped back, allowing him to enter, and closed the door.
“Have you eaten?” He crossed to the windowsill and leaned against it. “I asked them to bring you dinner.”
“I ate.” Perching stiffly at the edge of the bed, I stared at the floor. “Has my father been released?”
“Yes. I spoke with my father and he agreed to let Jack go home. I saw to it myself.”
I looked sharply at him. “Then why am I still—”
“My father wants to keep you here until the terms of the deal are decided, which will be sometime tomorrow. I assured Jack you would be under my protection tonight.”
“How convenient,” I snapped. We stared at each other as the tension ratcheted up another notch.
“Tiny, about what Raymond said. I—”
“I don’t want to talk about anything he said. None of it matters.”
He nodded. “Fair enough.”
A hot laugh escaped me. “Fair. What’s fair?” I glared at him. “It isn’t fair that my mother died giving birth ten years ago. Or that my little sisters are growing up with me for a mother. It isn’t fair that my brother-in-law was shot twenty-one times protecting some fat boss who probably didn’t give a shit about him. It isn’t fair that my nephews will grow up without a father.” I stood up, the heat of indignation rushing through my veins. “It isn’t fair that I used up all my tuition money to pay the ransom your father demanded. And it isn’t fair that I’m trapped here—in this room, in this city, in this life.” I turned away from him, my arms tight across my chest. “And it definitely isn’t fair that I still want you. So stop looking at me that way.”
Silence. “I can’t. I wish I could.”
I heard his footsteps on the wood floor. When he put his hands on my shoulders, it sent gooseflesh down my arms. I sighed. “Go away, Enzo.”
He slipped aside one strap of my chemise and rubbed his lips on my skin.
I stepped out of his reach and met his eyes. “You could have told me you were engaged to be married.”
“Why? Would it have made a difference?”
“Yes. I wouldn’t have…done those things with you.”
“I’m not getting married any time soon, Tiny. It was more of a business deal than anything else. I told you, Gina’s father owns a distillery, and I want to—”
“Please.” I held up one hand. “You’re making it worse.”
He was quiet a moment. “You know, you still owe me some information.”
I narrowed my eyes. “We need to renegotiate our terms. The situation has changed.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. If my father still has to give up a percentage of his business to you, and I’m going to put myself at risk so you can get your revenge on Scarfone, I want a piece of the action. Enough to pay my tuition this fall.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You do a good job for me, I’ll see that you have what you need. More even.”
“And you’ll keep your brother away from me.” I shuddered.
Enzo set his mouth in a line. “He won’t bother you.”
“Good. Then we have a deal.” I held out my hand, and he looked at it.