The waiter smiled and moved away.
Kathleen’s phone vibrated on the table a moment later. Both of them froze.
Enzo didn’t need to see the screen to know who it was. The Callahans. Jamie. Gage. Mitch. Whoever was on the other end of that call, he hoped they would have some answers because he had a hell of a lot of questions. But now was not the time. They wanted to speak freely.
Kathleen’s fingers hovered over the phone.
Enzo shook his head once, barely perceptible.
Kathleen’s jaw tightened, but she flipped the phone face down and, after a second, slid it into her pocket.
Enzo flagged the waiter and asked to have everything boxed so they could take it with them.
The waiter returned with dessert, something glossy and French, too pretty to eat, and a small tray with lidded cups of coffee and tea.
Kathleen thanked the waiter. “Now we go?”
Enzo nodded and rose, sliding his hand to the small of her back as they stepped into the aisle. It was the lightest touch, but it anchored him. Reminded him of what mattered.
Kathleen picked up the dessert and the drinks with calm efficiency. She didn’t look at Dominic as they passed.
Enzo did.
Dominic lifted his glass of wine in a silent toast, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
Enzo held his gaze for a fraction too long, letting Dominic see the promise of violence there. Not here. Not now. But one day. Then Enzo guided Kathleen down the corridor toward the couchette, each step measured, each breath controlled.
They didn’t run.
They didn’t rush.
But the entire time, Enzo’s body thrummed with one relentless truth: if Dominic or anyone else put a hand on Kathleen, Enzo would stop caring about consequences.
And that would be the end of all of them.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Enzo locked the couchette door as Kathleen collapsed on the bunk and leaned against the wall. “That prick.”
“A rather mild way to describe thatstronzo.” Enzo agreed as he sat down next to her.
“He is an asshole, isn’t he?” Her eyes were light, but her expression was pensive.
“Look at you learning all the worst words in Italian.” Her grin was quick with his offhand compliment. He reached for one of the to-go cups. “It’s his job to annoy us and try to keep us off kilter. Just remember that.”
“Doesn’t make me hate him any less.” She rubbed her face with both hands. “I think it would give me great satisfaction to smash his nose across his face.”
Enzo grinned as he removed the lid from his coffee. “I never realized you were so blood thirsty.”
“I wasn’t, but you know, changing circumstances require changing attitudes.” She winked at him and then leaned forward and kissed him softly. He deepened the kiss, but the vibration from her pocket shattered the moment. With a heavy sigh, shedrew the phone out, and he looked over her shoulder as she glanced at the screen. The Callahans.
She answered the call. “Hello?”
“Kathleen?” It was Mitch. “Got a minute? Is Enzo with you?”
She put it on speaker. “Yes, we’re both here.”
Enzo leaned over and said, “Can we call you back in two minutes?”
