“Why are you whispering?” Enzo asked, amused. “My house isn’t being tapped by the Feds.”
“How am I only just now learning this?” Seven pressed. “Is that why people are always accusing your mom of being some kind of mob boss? Because she married one?”
“My stepfather is the boss of nothing. My mother runs both families. My uncles and aunt answer to her. When Dario’s father died, he demanded that my mom step in. Said she was the only one ruthless enough to make sure his businesses didn’t collapse like a house of cards.”
“My new mother-in-law is an actual mob boss?” Seven said, like he was testing the weight of it on his tongue.
“It’s not exactlyGoodfellas,” Enzo assured him.“More likeGet Shorty.”
Seven huffed out a quiet laugh. “Is he a good guy? Dario?”
Enzo nodded. “Yeah, my mom is an incredible judge of character. That’s why she picked you for me.”
Seven side-eyed him. “Do you really think she put me in your office as some elaborate matchmaking scheme?”
Enzo smiled. “Oh, I know she did. My mother never does anything without looking at the whole board. She’s always five moves ahead. You were perfect in her eyes.”
Seven’s brows knitted together. “She didn’t even know me.”
“She did, though. She was already friends with your mother, who she adores. She already had Levi working at the restaurant, so she knew of you. When you ran away from me that day, you ran straight into her trap.”
Seven rolled his eyes. “You make it sound so calculated.”
“It was. Think about it. You were perfect. Sweet. Charming. Attractive. Soft. Intelligent. A law student. Neith’s son. But more than anything, you were one of Jericho’s boys. And she’s wanted to cement that friendship for years. By marrying us off, we’re joining three really powerful families.”
“Apparently, we’re joining four families if we include your stepfather’s family. The Contis, The Mulvaneys, the Navarros, and the Durantes…” Seven marveled. “Damn. I wish I could be mad about it, but it’s kind of genius. This really was an arranged marriage.”
“And your mom was a willing accomplice. Which means she thought I was good enough for you.”
Seven snorted. “No offense, but when it comes to men, my mother’s bar is so low it’s floating in the Earth’s core. She spent the last twenty-something years letting some piece of shit lie to her, cheat on her, treat her like one of his harem, and yet, every time he crooked his little finger, she went running.”
Enzo was quiet for a bit. Should he tell Seven what he knew? Even if it would hurt him more?
Seven glanced up at him anxiously, “I don’t mean you’re not good enough for me. If anything, you’ve been way too good to me. More than I deserve.”
Enzo tipped Seven’s head up so he could press another kiss to his lips. “That’s not true. I could spend the rest of this life and the next spoiling you and it still wouldn’t make up for how I treated you that day at the restaurant."
“It’s not that dire. I was just in a really bad place mentally and your offer tipped me over the edge. I was going through some stuff because of my dad. Your offer…made it worse. It was just a series of unfortunate events. You’ve more than made it up to me. I just meant my mom has really bad taste in men, not that it made you a bad choice.”
“Do you ever wonder if maybe your mom just went along with your dad all this time because she had no choice?” Enzo blurted.
Seven froze. “What do you mean?”
Fuck.
Enzo shook his head. “Nothing, I’m just... I—Just forget I said anything.”
“No,” Seven said, frowning. “I won’t. Tell me what you’re thinking.” When Enzo still hesitated, Seven scrutinized him further. “Do you know something about my parents?”
Enzo closed his eyes. What the fuck was wrong with him? This wasn’t going to make Seven feel any better. If anything, it would make him feel much worse.
“Enzo…”
It was too late now. “I don’t know anything…not for a fact. It’s more speculation, I guess.”
“Spit it out,” Seven demanded.
Enzo sighed. “I told you that I knew of your dad, right?”
