Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT ENZO TOLD ME THE TRUTH
Enzo asked me to dinner.
Not at Vincenzo's.
Not at one of the expensive restaurants his family owned.
At a small Italian place near the waterfront.
The tables were covered with white paper.
The owner greeted him by his first name.
No one stared.
No one whispered.
For the first time, Enzo Moretti looked almost ordinary.
He ordered pasta.
I ordered the same.
Then I asked, "Why did you really hire me?"
He put down his fork.
"I recognized your name."
"You already told me that."
"I also recognized your face."
I frowned.
"How?"
"Your father kept a photograph of you on his desk."
My throat tightened.
"He did?"
Enzo nodded.
"You were wearing a yellow raincoat. Missing one front tooth."
I laughed despite myself.
"I remember that coat."
"He talked about you constantly."
I looked down.
"What did he say?"
"That you wanted to own a restaurant."
My eyes filled.
"I was eleven."
"He said you used to make menus for imaginary customers."
I smiled through tears.
"I did."
Enzo's expression softened.
"When you applied to Vincenzo's, I thought it was a coincidence. Then I saw your mother's name on the emergency contact form."
"And you knew."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I wasn't certain whether the people who hurt Daniel were still watching his family."
I looked at him.
"So you brought me closer to yours?"
He nodded slowly.
"That was a mistake."
I appreciated the honesty.
But it didn't erase the risk.
"Enzo, I need you to understand something."
"I'm listening."
"I don't want to be protected by being kept ignorant."
He leaned forward.
"Then I won't do that again."
I studied him.
"Promise?"
"Yes."
For a moment, the restaurant seemed very quiet.
Then I asked the question I'd been avoiding.
"Are you mafia?"
Enzo didn't look away.
"My family has been involved in organized crime."
"Are you?"
"I inherited businesses and relationships I should have challenged sooner."
"That's not an answer."
He exhaled.
"Some of the people around me are criminals. I've benefited from their loyalty and ignored things I shouldn't have."
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Have you hurt people?"
"Yes."
The word was quiet.
I stared at him.
He continued.
"I've used intimidation. I've made decisions I'm ashamed of. I won't pretend otherwise."
"Why tell me?"
"Because you asked."
I looked down at my hands.
Part of me wanted to leave.
Another part wanted to understand how someone could be both frightening and gentle.
Enzo seemed to read my hesitation.
"You don't owe me anything, Clara."
I looked up.
"Not even an explanation?"
"Not even that."
We finished dinner quietly.
Outside, the waterfront lights reflected across the dark water.
Enzo walked beside me toward his car.
I stopped.
"Enzo?"
He turned.
"Why did you cancel all your meetings the night Victor came back?"
He looked at me for a long moment.
"Because when I saw your father's watch, I realized the past wasn't finished."
"And?"
He stepped closer.
"Because I was afraid you were about to become another person my family failed."
I swallowed.
"Is that all?"
His gaze moved to my lips.
Then back to my eyes.
"No."
My heart began pounding.
"What else?"
"I wanted to see you again the moment you walked into my bar."
I stared at him.
He smiled faintly.
"Which is inconvenient, considering you're the only woman who's ever argued with me about the price of bottled water."
I laughed.
Then the laughter faded.
"Enzo..."
He didn't move closer.
"I know."
"You don't know what I'm going to say."
"I know you have reasons to be careful."
I looked at him.
Then, slowly, I reached for his hand.
He looked down as though the gesture surprised him.
For a few seconds, we stood beneath the streetlights.
No promises.
May you like
No declarations.
Just two people who understood that whatever came next would not be simple.
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