Chapter 85 Brother’s Protection
Rose.
My brother wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me closer. I inhale, feeling soft and airy, because no matter what, I'll always be safe in his arms. He pulls away and gives me a slight smile.
"You're coming over in a few days for the wedding preparations, right?" he asks, and I nod. "I already promised Elena."
They're getting married in two weeks, and it's so surreal and exciting. I'm so happy for my brother. If someone had asked me a year ago what I thought about my brother becoming a father, I would have used the word "worried."
Roman is the best: caring, protective, loving, and responsible. But he's carried a huge weight on his shoulders practically since the moment he was born. Especially after our father died.
My concerns were more related to the fact that I didn't want that weight to double, especially if he added someone else to the people he felt he should be responsible for. I didn't want him to crash and burn.
But he didn't crash and burn—he took off. And my heart warms every day with the knowledge that he found his person.
That he found love.
He definitely deserves it.
"Mom misses you. I can't believe you haven't seen her since you left," Roman says, his voice slightly scolding.
I look away and shrug. I've talked to Mom on the phone several times, but she still hasn't apologized. I'm not sure she even realizes that what she did was wrong.
Roman looks at me meaningfully. "I'm holding a grudge, sister."
"I'm just busy," I tell him.
"Yeah, about that. How's Russo? Is he treating you well?" He asked.
Enzo's coming over now. We were just leaving when a couple of people from the party pulled him into a conversation. I followed Roman and Elena outside to say goodbye. Elena's already waiting for him in the car.
"It's fine," I assure my brother.
I don't have the heart to tell him it's a lie. Because two months later, it feels like Enzo and I haven't made much progress.
Roman looks at me as if he doesn't quite believe me, but doesn't press.
"Make sure you sort out your issues with your mom when you get here," he says, as Enzo appears next to him.
"I'll sort it out. Bye, big brother."
He winks at me before looking at Enzo standing next to him. They nod awkwardly, and then Roman leaves, joining Elena at the car.
"What happened with your mother?" Enzo asks immediately.
He crosses to my side. We walk to our car, and he puts his arm around my waist. I'm acutely aware of his touch. And what's worse, I love the feel of his hands on me. I can't help but think about how many times my body reacted to him tonight.
Every look, every touch—it was as if he was trying to imprint himself on me. I felt everything.
Enzo was always tense. But tonight, every time our eyes met, it felt like he finally let me see the real him. The person he hides from the rest of the world.
But he's never let me see that person. And it would be wishful thinking to assume he ever will.
"Nothing. We fought recently," I say, answering his question.
"Why?"
When we reach the black BMW, Enzo opens the passenger door for me. I analyze it. He has impeccable manners. The perfect gentleman. Or at least, that's what he seems like. But that's the problem.
Everything Enzo does is intentional, a way to portray himself as someone other than who he really is. I don't know if I know him. And that's our biggest challenge.
I get in the car and wait for him to settle into the driver's seat before answering.
"I was just disappointed with her reaction when she heard about our match," I say, shrugging slightly.
His expression turns thoughtful. "What reaction?" Eh.
"It doesn't matter. Anyway, I'm not angry with her anymore. I'm really excited to see her in a few days. She must be stressed out with all the wedding preparations."
Enzo looks like he has something to say, but he doesn't. Instead, he turns to start the car. We arrive home in less than thirty minutes. It dawns on me that I've acclimated enough to the Russo house to call it my own. The walls are silent, the house dimly lit as we walk up the stairs.
Enzo follows me as we head toward our bedrooms. Once I reach mine, I think he'll keep walking, but he stays put. My nerves shake, and I turn around. "What is it?"
"We need to talk, Rose," he says quietly, his blue eyes focused and serious.
I tremble under the weight of his gaze on me.
"Really?" I ask nervously, because right now he only wants to talk about one thing. "It's late, and I'm tired."
Enzo's lips curl with pleasure. "I'm sure you can handle a few minutes of conversation."
"Will it really take a few minutes?" I lean back, my tone bold.
He shrugs. "That's up to you, dear."
I sigh, opening the door. "Okay, let's talk."
He follows me into the room, closing the door behind him. I immediately head to my bed, taking off my heels as I do. Enzo leans against the wall, putting some distance between us.
Before we went home, he'd ditched his black jacket and tie, and he looked annoyingly good with his sleeves rolled up and the first two buttons undone.
"Okay?" I ask when the silence begins to grow uncomfortable. "Did you have anything to say?"
Enzo nods slowly, looking at me intently. "I'm just trying to think of something in my head."
"What?" I ask.
"Okay, so when we first met officially, after you found out about the contract, you said something. You said you wanted the best for yourself. At the time, I didn't really care what you said. But now I do."
When he asks, his eyes fill with heat.