Enzo snorted. “Normal? You’re a dirty cop whose longest relationship is with a ten-year-old basset hound named Agatha. Rafa is so high on the spectrum, his friends call him Sheldon. Oh, sorry, his friend. Singular. Gio makes junkyard dogs look like Snoopy. Dante spends his days putting people’s eyeballs on little spikes like they’re party favors. Alexi makes toys that literally kill people. And while most college kids are drinking ‘til they puke at frat parties, the twins’ idea of fun is bankrupting billion dollar corporations and redistributing their funds tooverseas charities. And don’t get me started on the triplets. What about any of that is normal?”
Lucky sighed through his nose. “Okay, fine. None of us are normal. But you and Vince are next-level kinky. At leastyoukeep it extracurricular. Vince is such a pervert, he made it a full-time job.”
Enzo rolled his eyes. “Who knew cops had such delicate constitutions? You make it sound like he’s a porn star and not the owner of one of the most successful clubs in the country. And don’t forget, his business is what allows us to do what we do.”
Lucky wasn’t a hundred percent wrong about Vince. He was a bit…off. But Enzo refused to give Lucky that win. Besides, he was hardly a saint. He was a detective with major crimes at the one-ten, but his real job was keeping prying eyes off the family. Everyone had a role to play, but for some reason, Lucky thought his made him more virtuous somehow. Mama should have just let him become a priest.
Nobody was innocent in their family, but it was for the greater good. Much like the Mulvaneys, Francesca Conti—known affectionately as Mama to the whole neighborhood—had raised her children to do bad things for good reasons. What had started out as a revenge scheme was now so much more. If Thomas Mulvaney was Batman and Jericho Navarro was Peter Pan, then Francesca Conti was Robin Hood and her children were her merry men…and women.
The phone on his desk buzzed. Enzo pushed the button, wincing as Drucilla’s condescending voice announced, “Your…guest is here.”
“Send him in.” Once he disconnected the call, he looked at his brother. “Get out.”
Lucky snorted but rose to his feet. “I’m telling Mama.”
Enzo gave him a smug look. “Go ahead. She already knows him, anyway.”
“What?”
“She knows all of Jericho’s boys. One of them works for her, remember?”
Lucky blinked at him. “I thought you were joking.”
Enzo grinned. “I’m not. If he accepts my offer, I’m gonna keep him around for a while.”
“What are you going to tell her?” Lucky asked, narrowing his gaze at him. “Since I doubt it will be the truth.”
“It will be my version of the truth,” Enzo countered with a shrug.
Lucky gave him a flat stare. “The truth doesn’t have versions.”
Enzo chuckled. “Oh, now, we both know that’s not true.” He waved him off. “Now, go away and mind your own business.”
“I’m out,” Lucky said, shaking his head.
As his brother opened the door, Enzo called, “Say hi to Agatha for me. Give her a big sloppy kiss. It will probably be the most action you’ve seen in years.”
Something kicked in Enzo’s stomach when Seven appeared in the doorway, eyes going wide as he took in Lucky. His brother wasn’t as physically imposing as Enzo, but it wasn’t his physique that had Seven’s attention. It was the badge hooked to his belt. Lucky snorted when he saw the brat’s fixation, then turned to Enzo with a final, “See ya, bro.”
With that, Enzo and Seven were alone.
“Come in,” Enzo said, waving him forward, keeping his tone neutral as he looked the boy over.
Seven had skipped the oversized hoodie and baggy jeans for well-fitted olive green cargos, a caramel-colored sweater, and a pair of snowy white sneakers. Perfect. He looked gorgeous. He also looked incredibly nervous, though he tried to hide it by rounding his shoulders and digging his hands into his pockets. He’d been nervous that night, too. It was sexy.
Endearing,his brain added. He promptly told it to shut up.
He couldn’t afford to start thinking of Seven as anything more than a sub. It would ruin whatever it was they could have.
He clicked a button on the small white remote on his desk. Seven flinched as the automatic blinds began to slowly roll down the glass office wall. Enzo’s dick twitched with interest at the younger boy’s reaction.
Seven hovered close to the exit, like he worried he’d have to make a run for it.
“Come here,” Enzo said softly.
Seven’s startled gaze flicked to his, but he complied, moving deeper into the space, his expression wary.
Enzo tilted his head, studying him, when he stopped once more, keeping his distance. “Are you still afraid of me?”
