Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Cassia puts her phone away in her handbag and turns her attention back to me. “If you ever need anything, call me.”
I nod, giving her a thankful look.
Enzo comes into the kitchen, and she scowls at him. “That wasn’t even thirty minutes.”
“I’m getting drinks for everyone,” he mutters, his tone brisk.
“We’ll help you carry everything,” she says, climbing to her feet.
I get up as well, and we empty the shopping bags before removing the meat from its packaging. I find a plastic container to put it all in and carry it outside, while Enzo and Cassia bring waters and sodas.
When we get to the veranda, Santiago asks, “Don’t you have any fruit juice?”
“Or alcohol,” the other man, who has the same dark hair as Enzo, says.
I freeze in my tracks and tilt my head a little forward so my hair hangs like curtains on either side of my face.
“Nope, it’s either soda or water,” Cassia replies. She glances at me. “Have you met everyone?”
I shake my head, and when Enzo comes to place his arm around my shoulders, I’m super thankful. He takes the container from me and sets it down on a table. I turn my body into his side and wrap my arm around his lower back, pressing as close to him as I can get.
“You know Santiago, and that’s his wife, Ciara.” Cassia moves to the next couple. “Dominik and Grace.” Then she gestures at the man who asked about the alcohol. “And Leo.”
I just nod, my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, and because everyone is looking at me, my face goes up in flames, and I move partially behind Enzo.
I’m a little disappointed in myself. I’m so comfortable with Enzo and Cassia, I thought the shyness was getting better, but it hasn’t.
Enzo takes hold of my arm and leads me to a chair, where he sits down before pulling me onto his lap.
“You make such a cute couple,” Cassia says as she sits down beside us.
They begin to talk about things I know nothing about, and instead of listening to the conversation, I rest my cheek against Enzo’s shoulder. My eyes focus on something red on his other shoulder, and I dart upright. When I lean closer, and I see it’s blood, I gasp. “You’re bleeding!”
I instantly forget about our guests.
I climb off his lap, grab his hand, and tug at his arm so he’ll stand up. My mountain of a man finally moves, and I drag him back into the house.
In the kitchen, I undo the buttons of his vest and shirt, and I carefully remove them so that I can get a clear look at his shoulder.
“It’s barely a scratch,” Enzo says, his tone soft.
I shoot him an unhappy look. “Scratch, my butt.”
He shakes his head. “The bullet grazed me.”
I go to the cupboard and grab the first aid kit while saying, “You don’t even have your stitches out from the last time you got shot. Is this something I should worry about?”
“No.”
Setting the bag down on the island, I quickly dig out an antiseptic wipe and make a mental note to get more supplies.
When I have to lift myself onto my toes, Enzo takes a seat and pulls me closer to stand between his thighs. His eyes are glued to my face, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
I carefully wipe the blood off and see that the wound looks like the grass burns I used to get whenever I fell off my bicycle.
I take out a small bandage and stick it over the raw spot, then meet Enzo’s gaze. “You need to be more careful.”
“Okay.”
“Promise,” I demand.
When he only nods, I lift my eyebrow at him and demand, “I want to hear you say it.”
“I promise, meu anjinho.”
I pull his shirt and vest back over his shoulders and fasten the buttons again, and enjoy the sight of his bare chest, while I get the chance.
When I’m done, and I try to step backward, Enzo grabs my hips to hold me in place.
He leans forward and presses a kiss to my mouth, then admits, “I like it when you fuss over me.”
I wrap my arms around his neck and smile at him. “I like it, too.”
Not caring that we have guests, Enzo wraps his fingers around my throat before he proceeds to kiss me thoroughly.
Chapter 26
ENZO
It’s been quiet the past eight days, and as we’re driving toward the factory so I can do one final check before we leave, my phone rings.
Seeing John’s name on the screen, I answer, “What?”
His voice fills the SUV as he growls, “I just got a tip that there are still MC members in the area and they’re planning to retaliate because you practically wiped out their club.”
“And where did you hear this?” I ask.