Femme Fatale Loved (Pericolo #3) Read Online Free

“We’re still Abbiatis, and there is no escape.”
    “Yeah, we might be, but we aren’t the Dio Lavoro anymore. We left that behind. We aren’t some sort of prestigious bloodline. We aren’t royalty, and we aren’t anything we used to be. It’s time to embrace what you, Carlo, and Bruno fought for.” I lean forward; I cannot stop the optimism from masking me. “It’s time to live for us.”
    He sits back in his stool, placing both hands over his tired face before rubbing it. I hate seeing how tense he IS; loathe seeing how much he still carries upon his shoulders.
    “You’re right,” he mutters, dropping his hands back onto the bar top. “You’re always fucking right.”
    “Course I am,” I gloat, a bright smile on my face. “I know we might find everything catching up to us, but I’m not living in the past, Enzo. It’s time to forget the past.”
    “Some parts of my past are harder to cut away.”
    I watch the glaze that forms in his eyes, and I recognize the look immediately. I know who it is he misses; the one piece of his past that holds him to the demons of what we used to be.
    “You can always reach out to her,” I say, trying in vain to get him to budge. “You can’t say this life will put her in danger anymore. I’m living the picket fence dream with Zane, Carlo’s living life with Sophia, and Bruno and Allana are well and truly living married life to the extreme. It’s time you did it too. We’re all safe and happy.”
    I watch him fight; the indecision is murderous.
    “We could be untouchable if you gave it a shot. You don’t even need to fight much to make it happen. We know so much about so many people; we have leverage. Sure, they have a lot on us, but that’s where we get the opportunity of a truce. There’s no reason to doubt it, Enzo. We have allies; we have peace.” I slam my hands down on the countertop, deciding we’re not going to dwell. If he is going to mope, it’s up to me to think of a way to change things. “So drink up and get rid of the solemn look because I really kinda fucking hate it.”
    I watch as Enzo listens, picking his glass up and downing the remaining scotch. As he slams the tumbler down, I’m ready with the bottle to top it off. I could keep this up, but Enzo just needs a little nudge when it comes to making himself happy. If I have to drink him into submission, I will, and I’ll do it until he listens.
    As he nurses the glass, I watch the door open, and although the whitewash of bright daylight illuminates the figure, I'd know that masculine body shape anywhere. Sighing contently, I watch as he moves into the bar, the door shutting behind him, and he clocks me staring.
    "What can I do for you, Detective Maverick?" I ask teasingly, watching as he occupies the stool beside Enzo.
    "Thought I'd visit my future wife at work," he announces, leaning forward across the bar.
    "I haven't said yes yet," I reply, my smile brightening with every second.
    "That's all a formality," Zane confidently quips at me. "I've gotten it approved by the head of the family, so all I'm waiting on is for you to say yes."
    Enzo laughs, as he watches me intently before he speaks. "Zane nearly had a panic attack before he could ask me," he starts to say with a light, mirthful tone to his words. "Why are you holding out?"
    I feel a small, coy grin take over the enigmatic one I had. The blush heats my cheeks, and I wonder what shade of pink I've gone to this time.
    Why am I holding out? That's a good question. It's not my father's hold on me, nor is it fear.
    "I'm waiting for the right moment."
    "Sweetheart, we've had lots of them," Zane admonishes, a cheeky expression marring his face. "But I know however long I have to wait, the moment you say yes will be mind-blowing."
    "I want you surprised," I say, leaning forward. "That's all. I want to say yes when you're least expecting it."
    “Like now?” he asks, an expectant grin pulling at his mouth. “No, okay, I get it, but