“It’s not your fault, Luna,” Eva assures her.
“The fuck it isn’t!” Enzo is fuming.
“Enzo, back off!” Pippa warns.
“Back off? Back off? Are you serious? Four nights ago, Hudson was shot, and now my sister is being targeted. And why? Why are the three of you going after these men?”
“We fucking told you why. We also told you tostay out of it. Don’t you dare start blaming us for this shit.” Pippa and Enzo are both standing now, facing off against each other across the table.
Luna, Eva, and I are trying to tell them to calm down. Everyone talks over the other. But it’s Jules who silences the chaos. With one long whistle, the room quiets.
“Eva, we’re sorry this is happening. Everyone sit down, let’s figure out how to keep Eva safe.”
“I can keep Eva safe, I don’t need your help,” Enzo snarls.
“Enzo, for fuck’s sake. Stop!” I stare.
He stares back, nostrils flaring.
“Seriously, Enzo, this isn’t their fault.” Eva looks at him, but he’s still staring daggers directly at me.
“We all agreed two weeks ago that these men needed to be taken down,” Eva continues. “Even if our paths never crossed,this would have happened. And then we wouldn’t have known anything about who was really behind it and wouldn’t have had anyone to turn to. So just calm the fuck down,” she commands.
After a few beats, Jules starts again. “Eva, I think between you, Luna, and me, we can find a way to quiet the chatter online. In the meantime, you’re safest here in the mansion. Don’t leave, but if you do, Enzo and Niko must be with you anywhere you go.”
“She’s not going anywhere,” Enzo mutters.
Eva rolls her eyes.
Pippa huffs.
“Something funny?” Enzo directs his anger at Pippa again.
She doesn’t take the bait. She remains silent as they engage in a stare off.
“Anyway,” Eva starts, “I think that is a good plan, Jules. Enzo, I’ll be safe and play by your overprotective rules. I’m sure this will pass.”
“I think so, too, Eva, but you have our help until it does,” Jules says tenderly.
“Thank you,” Eva and I both say.
“Tell me why,” Enzo says, directed at Pippa.
“Why what?” she responds.
“What is the real reason you are going after these men? Who are the three of you? Really? Who do you work for?”
She laughs. “Back to this? Jesus, if we were working for someone, don’t you think you’d have figured that out by now? For fuck’s sake, Enzo! Luna and Eva have been sharing code and files and cloud systems for a week. Eva has been toourwarehouse twice. I’m sure she would know if there was anyone involved besides the three of us.”
Enzo looks to Eva who simply shrugs. “Then why?” he asks again. “My best friend’s and my sister’s lives have been put at risk for your damned cause. I know why it matters, but I need toknow whyyouand by extension, whyus? I deserve to know who you are if I’ve put my family on the line for your vigilante justice.”
“It’s none of your fucking business.” Pippa rises to leave.
“This isn’t over,” Enzo calls after her.
She whips around. “Over?” Pippa huffs a laugh. “It never even began. You made sure of that.” And then she’s gone.
Enzo excuses himself from the table and goes to his office.
