“Sure. But plenty of people are willing to hide theirs to bag someone like Blackthorn. Not your ass. No. You keep it real.”
Was there a compliment hiding somewhere in his sentence?
“You give him hell, and he gives you back heaven. Why do you wanna call this?”
“Obsession,” I said crisply. “And I don’t know…karma for something terrible I did in the past?”
“I can see why he’s drawn to you.” He ran his tongue over his upper lip wolfishly. “I like a woman with a smart mouth. I always wonder what other impressive tricks she can do with it.”
I shook my head, looking out the window. A fluffy sheet of white clouds stretched beneath us like linen.
Enzo was dead wrong about Tate’s feelings for me. Anyway, I didn’t want to talk about it. The Ferrantes already had a front-row seat to the dumpster fire we called our marriage.
“So…how did you do it?” I piped up, glare still fixed on the sky.
“How did I do what?” He shook the crisps bag, staring into it.
“Kill someone when you were inducted. Tate told me about Luca and Achilles. He said you brothers like to top one another. Make it as gory and frightening as possible so your reputation will precede you. How old were you, and what’d you do?” I couldn’t picture Enzo hurting a fly.
“I was fifteen.” He tucked his knife into his pocket, aware his next words would frighten me. “A late bloomer. Luca was inducted at fourteen, Achilles at thirteen. Fucker couldn’t wait to draw blood.” Another tug of his hair. “My brothers, they’re real sociopaths. Me, I like to think of myself as a pacifist. But one who doesn’t mind bending his own rules if it means inheriting an empire. I needed to prove myself. I wanted to do something that required both skill and imagination. You know, show off my moves.”
I swallowed hard, adrenaline pumping through my body. “Yes?”
“I decided to flay my victim while he was fully conscious.” He examined his outstretched, cut fingers as though they were a work of ancient art. “I skinned him from ankles to neck before he died of hypothermia, but it took several days and a large number of infusions. When it was over, I managed to keep his entire skin intact.”
My stomach roiled. “H-how…”
“I was a STEM dude at school. Even did a year of premed.”
“What happened?”
“Uh, my dad happened?” He laughed humorlessly. “Have you met the guy? He doesn’t leave much room for agency. It’s cool, though. I made peace with what I do.”
“What did the man do to deserve it?”
“He killed an underboss’s wife and the baby in her belly. Stabbed her in the stomach several times. Then killed the underboss too.” A beat of silence followed. “The underboss was my godfather. The man who killed them was one of our own. He wanted to rise up in ranks quickly. Thought he wouldn’t get caught.”
“What did you do with his skin?” I didn’t know why I asked. I didn’t want to know.
“I made myself a nice, warm leather coat. I’m wearing it now, actually.”
My gaze shot to his black leather jacket, and my eyes flared.
“Oh my God, look at your face. I’m just fucking with you. What kind of sick bastard do you think I am?” Enzo chuckled good-naturedly. “No, but I did make a few knife sheaths with it.”
I massaged my temples. “I don’t know how I found myself surrounded by such bad men.”
“Ah, that’s an easy one.” Enzo untucked his knife, playing with it again. “You fell for one.”
I made one quick stop at a newsagent’s on my way to the cemetery to visit Dad’s and Elliott’s graves. They were buried side by side. Mum and I had to pay a convenience fee for their proximity, which felt utterly ridiculous. Nothing felt convenient about losing two of your loved ones.
“Hi, lads.” I lined up their favorite snacks and drinks by their gravestones. “There we are. Elliott—your scratchings, peanut M&Ms, and…Irn-Bru.” I shuddered at the radioactive-looking drink. My brother never had the chance to outgrow the criminally sweet soda. “Daddy, here’s your prawn cocktail Skips and Bounty bar.” I always brought them their favorite snacks. They were so serious about their food. “Sorry it’s been a minute. I’ve been taking care of Mum.”
My eyes stung from tears and the cold, and I knew Enzo and Filippo were standing behind me, probably wondering if I was mental.
“Don’t worry, though.” I sniffled, wiping at my runny nose. “She’ll be fine. I’m taking good care of her. I—”
I stopped, shaking my head and squeezing my lips together.
