I turn my gaze back to the water again, and when she comes to stand beside me, I lower my head.
“Look, I know this is a lot for you to process, but the sooner you do, the better. Enzo may not be a good man, but for you, he’s the best man. You’re not strong enough to make it on your own, and you need someone like Enzo, who’s very capable of protecting you. It takes the biggest motherfuckers to fight the monsters in this world, and that’s why I’ve aligned myself with Dominik, Santiago, Leo, and Enzo. They are feared, and because my name is attached to theirs, men take me seriously and give me the respect I’ve worked my ass off to obtain.”
I unlock my phone and go into the notepad so I can type.
I hear what you’re saying, but do you really expect me to just be fine with him holding me captive until he grows bored with me?
Cassia lets out a chuckle. “I’ve known Enzo for seven years, and in all that time, I’ve never seen him attach himself to anyone. He’s always been a lone wolf.” She leans a little forward to see my face. “Enzo has no family or friends. He doesn’t let anyone in. Not even the alliance members, and trust me, we’ve tried to bring him into the fold. He’s only let us in a little the past two weeks, and I think it’s because you’ve turned his entire world upside down, and he doesn’t know how to deal with any of it.”
While Cassia pauses to take a breath, I’m reeling from everything she’s saying.
“He will never grow bored with you, so you need to make peace with that. Once a man like Enzo becomes obsessed with you, there is nothing you can do but accept it.” I begin to shake my head, and it has Cassia grabbing hold of my arm and leaning so close our faces are mere inches apart. “Listen to me, Jenna. I know you can’t see it now, but you have no idea how lucky you are. To have a man like Enzo decide you’re the one for him is very rare. He will move heaven and earth for you. Do you understand what that means?”
Yeah, it means I’m screwed.
Cassia straightens up again and shakes her head at me. “No, you don’t. How could you?” She thinks for a moment, then explains, “Enzo is one of the most feared men in this world. The bad guys hire him to do the jobs they can’t. He’s filthy rich. I mean, the man is a billionaire. He makes my bank account look like a joke.” She locks eyes with me, and I swallow hard at how intense the expression on her face is. “All of that will be yours if you just say yes. You’ll have all that power and money. You’ll beuntouchable.” Her features soften, and she gives me a pleading look. “You will be loved and cherished in ways you didn’t know existed.” She points to the mansion. “Enzo will do anything for you, and that is a miracle if ever I saw one. Don’t let the word ‘criminal’ get in the way of you and that kind of love, Jenna.”
That’s a lot to unpack.
I turn my head and stare at the water that’s gently lapping against the dock.
I can’t lie to myself and say I don’t want all that. Who wouldn’t?
I suck in a shuddering breath before I type a message on my phone.
I can’t be intimate with him.
I stare at the words for a few seconds before I show them to Cassia.
“Oh, sweetheart.” She places her arm around my shoulders and rubs her hand up and down my bicep. “That’s not something you need to worry about. Enzo will wait until you’re ready.”
I shake my head and type again.
No, I mean I can never be intimate with him. I’m broken.
Her features grow tense, and after reading, her eyes dart to mine. “Is it because of what you told me last week? About something bad that happened in your past?”
I nod and look down again.
“That’s okay.” A sad sigh leaves her. “I can guess what happened, and if I’m right, then my answer remains the same. Enzo will wait until you’re ready, and if that day never comes, he’ll deal with it.”
I let out a cynical snort and type a reply.
Yeah, sure. Men want sex all the time.
“You’re right. Most men are like that, but maybe you should talk to Enzo about this so he can set your mind at ease.”
My face goes up in flames as my fingers fly over the small keyboard.
Are you crazy? I’m not talking to him about sex!
Cassia laughs, and the sound echoes over the water. “You can talk to him once you know him better. Want some more advice?” When I nod, she says, “Give Enzo a chance. Don’t think about him being a killer or anything else. Just get to know the man.” She lets out a sigh as she crosses her arms over her chest. “You’ll regret it if you don’t. An opportunity like this doesn’t come twice in a lifetime.”
I nod to show Cassia I hear what she’s saying.
“And I really want a friendship with you,” she adds. “Don’t let everything you’ve learned about me get between us.”
I’ve loved spending time with her, and I don’t want to lose the friendship.
