Chapter 26 (Aura)

I spend the afternoon turning Tommaso's words over in my mind. Should I be worried that he might tell Enzo's boss about our situation? Somehow, I don't think he's the type to betray Enzo like that. There was genuine care and concern in his eyes when he talked about him.

Still, Tommaso clearly thinks I'm bad for Enzo. That I should run away for his own good. Part of me wants to - to flee this crazy, dangerous situation and never look back. But another part of me can't bear the thought of leaving Enzo behind.

I think about Enzo's life before the mafia took him in. How hard it must have been, facing death and violence without any family to support him. My own upbringing was so sheltered in comparison, even if my family was involved in shady business. I was protected from the worst of it.

Despite everything he's been through, I see a good man inside Enzo. If circumstances had been different, maybe he wouldn't have become a killer. I want that good man - but I also want the hardened, scarred version of Enzo that exists now. It's confusing and more than a little messed up.

We come from two worlds that are similar on the surface but vastly different underneath. Can we ever truly understand each other? Build a real relationship?

One thing I'm certain of - Enzo isn't inherently bad. He does bad things for his mafia family, but I can tell it weighs on him. That he never intended to keep me captive like this. With each passing day, my trust in him grows stronger.

In a way, Enzo is as much a captive as I am. Trapped by loyalty and circumstances beyond his control. I can sense his internal struggle, the war between duty and desire.

So now I'm faced with an impossible choice. Do I stay and potentially destroy Enzo's life? Or do I leave and give him a chance at survival in his world? The thought of never seeing him again makes my chest ache. But if leaving would truly be better for him in the long run...

My thoughts are so consuming that I don't even hear the front door unlocking. When it swings open, I panic and start to bolt for the prison room out of habit.

"Going somewhere?" Enzo's deep voice stops me in my tracks.

My heart pounds as I turn to face him. "I-I didn't know it was you," I stammer.

His lips quirk up in a half-smile. "Relax, it's just me." He shuts the door behind him and moves into the kitchen. "How was your day?"

Such a normal question in such an abnormal situation. I perch on a barstool, watching him. "Fine. Quiet. How was yours?"

Enzo shrugs, pulling a bottle of whiskey from a cabinet. "Same old shit." He pours himself a generous glass and offers it to me.

I shake my head. "No thanks. We need to talk."

He raises an eyebrow, lowering himself into a chair. "What's up?"

I take a deep breath. "Someone came by while you were out."

Enzo's expression instantly becomes serious. "Who?"

"Tommaso," I say quietly.

"Jesus Christ." Enzo runs a hand through his hair. "Did you let him in?"

I nod. "He already knew I was here. Said he'd figured it out after you went to him for advice recently."

Enzo's jaw clenches. "Fuck. That old bastard is too smart for his own good sometimes."

"He seemed more concerned about you than anything," I offer. "I don't think he's going to rat us out."

Enzo sighs heavily. "Probably not. Tommaso's old school - loyalty and honor mean everything to him."

"That's what he said," I agree. "He swore he wouldn't betray you."

Enzo nods, looking thoughtful. After a moment, he asks, "What else did Tommaso say?"

I hesitate, not sure I want to start this particular conversation. But Enzo deserves to know. It's his mentor, his apartment. "He... he told me I should leave. For your sake."

Enzo's lips press into a thin line. "That bastard," he mutters, but there's no real heat behind the words.

"He cares about you," I insist. "He wants what's best for you."

"And he thinks that's you leaving?" Enzo shakes his head. "Not happening. You're not going anywhere."

"Maybe I could survive on my own," I suggest halfheartedly. "On the run..."

"No." Enzo's voice is firm. "I just got you. I'm not letting you go now."

My heart flutters at his words, even as my brain tells me this is all kinds of messed up. "What if Tommaso says something to your boss?"

Enzo shrugs. "He might. He might not. I'll try to talk to him again soon, see where his head's at." He shakes his head in amazement. "I can't believe he figured it out."

"Did you ask him for advice about me specifically?" I press.

"Sort of," Enzo admits. "I didn't give him all the details, but I needed some guidance."

I nod slowly. "Maybe he just guessed the rest."

"Maybe," Enzo agrees. "Or maybe the old man's more plugged in with the family than I realized." He reaches across the table to take my hand. "You did the right thing, letting him in and telling me about it."

I squeeze his fingers gently. "I know you're trying to protect me. I just... I don't want you to suffer because of me."

Enzo's thumb strokes across my knuckles. "I haven't even begun to suffer, sweetheart. Not compared to what you've been through. But it'll be worth it in the end. You'll see."

"How do you know?" I ask softly.

Enzo's eyes lock onto mine, intense and unwavering. "Because I know myself. I know what I'm capable of. And I'm going to take care of every last one of those fucking bastards who want to hurt you. You're mine now."

I pull my hand away, frustrated. "How can I let you take those kinds of risks for me?"

He smirks. "You're not letting me do anything, sweetheart. I do what I want. You should be grateful."

His cavalier attitude rubs me the wrong way, reminding me of how much I hated him when he was just my jailer. But I'm starting to realize that this is who Enzo is at his core. He can't be tamed or fundamentally changed. If I want to be with him, I have to accept all of him - the good and the bad.

I stand up and walk around the table to where Enzo is sitting. He reaches out, grabbing my hips and pulling me onto his lap. His lips brush against my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Is this your way of agreeing with me?" he murmurs against my skin.

"Maybe," I breathe.

Enzo chuckles. "You can pretend to be stubborn all you want. We both know what you really want."

I roll my eyes, even as desire pools in my belly. "Oh yeah? And what's that?"

"You want me to rip your clothes off and fuck you senseless," he growls.

"I'll have you know I'm a lady," I protest weakly.

Enzo laughs outright at that. "Sure you are, sweetheart."

"I am!" I insist. "Just because you've seen me in bad circumstances doesn't mean I'm not classy."