I know they aren’t telling us the whole story, but I know they don’t plan to either.
“Jules and Luna aren’t giving you enough credit, boys,” Pippa says sweetly. “You told a bunch of politicians not to hurt women and children. You probably said it allbig and bad like, too.” She does a slow clap, and I can feel the heat rising off Enzo’s skin. “That did it! That solved the whole problem. Let’s give these boys an award.”
“Pippa,” Jules hisses.
Luna levels a glare her way.
“No, ladies, come on. These men are therealheroes. They laundered the money of criminals, provided them with weapons and protection, all while turning a blind eye. Probably assumed these dirty politicians were just using your protection to help the poor, right? Tell us, how many millions have you made this year alone? Surely with all that bravado about not harming women or children, you used some of that profit to help victims, yeah?”
Seeing my Jane all fiery has me ready to put her over my knee.The few times she’s let me do that?—
“You’re right,” Enzo surprises me when he quietly responds. “We haven’t done enough.”
“So where do we go from here?” I ask before Pippa can fire back.
The silence says we are all worried about the same thing.
“We told you what we can,” Pippa says. “Are you going to stay out of our way or be a problem?” She says it like a dare, like she would enjoy the wrong answer.
Enzo answers too eagerly. “We’ll help.”
“What now?” I blink at him.
Around the table I hear a chorus of “no, thank you,” “no way,” and I am pretty sure an “oh, fuck no” from my girl.
Enzo shrugs, as if it’s already been decided. “We have reach,resources, direct lines to several of these men. If we can help take them down, we should. As you said, we’re not doing enough.”
“And because your savior complex is acting up, we’re supposed to let you in on the action?” Jules asks pointedly.
Damn, she clocked him. Impressive. Enzo calls it protection, honor, even duty. I call it his Achilles heel. The compulsion to take care of those around him burdens his every move. What I don’t know is when he decided these three needed his protection.
If Enzo is ruffled by Jules calling him out, he does not show it. He doesn’t respond, either.
“I am sorry your pristine criminal empire got a little dirty,” Jules continues, cool as ice, “but we did not ask for backup. We do not need rescuing.”
Enzo tries another angle. “If you do not want our help, fine. Don’t confuse that with our continued ignorance. I can’t unsee this. I will not sit back.”
Pippa smiles without warmth. “On the record,” Pippa says in a tone sweet enough to rot. “Was that a threat?”
Niko stiffens and so do I.
Enzo’s tone is even but not calm. “No. It is a promise that if you do not let us in, someone else will come sniffing around.”
Huh.He’s worried someone else will find them. Savior complex in-fucking-deed.
The women look at each other, contemplating.
I aim for reason. “He isn’t wrong. If we found you, others can, too.”
Jules scoffs. “Just because Enzo got hot and bothered by Pippa does not mean we are on anyone’s radar.”
Enzo’s jaw ticks at the comment, but he doesn’t deny it.
“Pippa, Jules, maybe it’s worth considering a controlled partnership, a trial alliance,” Luna suggests. “It could?—”
Pippa folds her arms. “Are you serious?”
Right as Jules says, “Absolutely not.”
