Seven nodded. “You mentioned it the day we met. I was afraid he was one of your clients.”
“Hewasn’t. But I represented one of your father’s other…women…once. It was a favor for my mother. A pro bono case. Check-writing fraud. She’d written a bad check to try to buy groceries for her children, one of whom was your father’s.” Enzo took a deep breath and let it out. “She told me she didn’t love him, never had. But she came when he called because every time she tried to cut ties, he’d remind her how easy it would be for their kid to go missing. How easy it was to make people disappear. So, she just gave him what he wanted, whenever he wanted. To keep her daughter safe.”
Enzo watched the color drain from Seven’s face. “What?”
“I think the reason these women keep going back isn’t because your father is just so charming…it’s because hethreatens their children—hisownchildren—to keep them in line. Your mom feels safe dating my Uncle Rocco because she knows your father can’t hurt you from prison, and if he tried, my family has your back. I’m sure my mother has told her this. I’m sure Rocco has told her this.”
“So, it’s my fault?” Seven whispered. “This whole time, he’s been holding my mother hostage? Blackmailing her into sleeping with him? I think I’m gonna puke.”
Enzo held him tighter. “I didn’t tell you this so you could swim in guilt. None of this is your fault. The only person at fault is your father.”
“Easy for you to say.”
Enzo shook his head. “It’s not, actually. But if you were your mother and you were sleeping with someone to keep your child safe, would you blame the child for being a target?”
Seven just shrugged, his face stormy.
“Of course, you wouldn’t,” Enzo answered for him. “Your mother loves you, and if that was why she kept going back, she did what she had to do to keep you safe. And she pretended to love your father so you didn’t feel guilty. I shouldn’t have told you this. I just thought it might help you forgive her or, at the very least, understand her.”
Seven jerked his gaze to Enzo’s. “No, I’m glad you told me. But how do I not feel bad about it? She lost decades to that piece of shit.”
Enzo pulled Seven in for another kiss. “And if you asked her whether she’d do it again, I promise you, she’d say yes. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to her. She tells me so every time we see each other. And then she reminds me that she has an army of people willing to slaughter me on her command if I break your heart again.”
“Again?” Seven asked. “Oh, God. Did your mom tell my mom what you did?”
Enzo flushed. “Not in so many words, but I think she got the jist of it.”
“Oh, my God. That’s so fucking embarrassing.”
“Yeah, for me,” Enzo murmured. “The fact that your mom didn’t just kill me and make it look like an accident is a miracle. Hell, I’m shocked that Jericho didn’t.”
“Jericho knows, too?” Seven cried.
“I don’t know if he does or not, but the way your friends overshare I can’t imagine that he wouldn’t.”
“We overshare with each other, not Coe. He’s the closest thing I have to a real dad. He’s too protective. He almost stomped a man to death when he stabbed Nico.”
Enzo’s stomach soured. “Well, if he did try to kick my ass, I would let him. I deserve it.”
Seven rolled his eyes at him. “Stop being such a martyr. You had a lapse in judgment based on your traumatic break-up and self-esteem issues. You didn’t cheat on me. We’re so far past that now that it’s not even worth bringing up.”
Enzo’s insides twisted painfully. “I just hate that I hurt you.”
“I’m over it,” he said, then yawned. “But if you do cheat on me, I’ll release the full weight of the Navarros, the Mulvaneys, and the Contis on you, and I’ll have Felix make me a designer work bag out of whatever’s left of you.”
Enzo squeezed him against his chest until Seven wheezed. “Don’t even joke about that. I would never do that to you. The idea of being with anyone else makes me a little queasy. And the thought of you wanting someone else makes me homicidal.”
“Good,” Seven muttered. “‘Cause I’m still waiting on my official proposal.”
Enzo smiled. He already knew just how he wanted to do it. He just didn’t know how he would make it happen. But he wasn’t afraid to exploit his connections if he needed to.
“Just wait a little longer, okay?” Enzo asked.
“Okay,” Seven mumbled sleepily.
“Let’s go to bed,” Enzo suggested. “You’re exhausted. Do you want to sleepinthe cocoon or out of it?”
“Out. If I wake up and can’t move my arms, I’m gonna have a panic attack.”
