Page 37 of Run to Me
It takes me a minute to get my bearings and once I do I realize I’m in Enzo’s spare bedroom. I have no idea how I got here, the last thing I remember was sitting on his lap as he held me.
I must have fallen asleep like that, and he must have brought me in here.
“Morning, angel,” Enzo’s voice rasps and I almost jump out of my skin. I sit up and my head swivels to the side to find him sitting in a chair in the corner of the room.
What the…?
“What are you doing?” I ask, my voice thick with sleep.
“You were scared last night, and I know you won’t be used to sleeping in here. I didn’t want you to wake up and panic, I wanted to be here if you needed me,” he says and shrugs sheepishly.
I open my mouth to reply but the words get caught in my throat.
This big scary Mafia man was worried I’d be scared if I woke up alone so he slept in a chair all night so he could be here for me.
I swear this man lives to surprise me.
“Thank you,” I whisper, and his lips tip up in a shy smile before he stands and stretches his arms wide. Clearly, he hasn’t been very comfortable.
“All good, angel. Now get dressed, I’m taking you out for breakfast,” he says as he walks towards me. He presses a kiss to my forehead and strolls out the room, leaving me to gape after him.
Once I’m showered and dressed for the day, I head out of the bedroom and find Enzo waiting for me in the kitchen with a coffee in a to-go cup. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that the man knows exactly how I take my coffee.
“Where are we going?” I ask as he helps me into my coat.
“A little diner just around the corner, I’ve been going there for years. You’ll love it.”
We leave the apartment side by side and walk for a few minutes until we reach the diner. I’ve lived here for years and didn’t even know that this place—Angie’s—existed. Enzo holds the door open for me as I step inside, and we’re immediately greeted by an older woman in an apron.
“Enzo! I didn’t know you were coming,caro,”the woman says in a thick Italian accent when she spots him. Enzo bends down and presses a kiss to each of her cheeks before placing his hand on my lower back.
“Angie, this is Robyn. Robyn, this is Angie, the owner of the diner and the best cook in the city.”
Angie looks between us with wide eyes before a wide smile lights up her face.
“Lovely to meet you Robyn,” she says as I smile back at her.
“C’mon angel, let’s get you fed.” Enzo steers me towards a two-person table in the corner of the diner and pulls my chair out for me. Once we’re both seated, Angie comes over to drop off the menus before hurrying away again.
“I guess you come here often?”
“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. Angie’s husband is my dad’s friend, so we grew up coming here every week. I don’t think my brothers come here very often anymore but I still like to pop in when I can,” Enzo says with a smile, and I realize he’s nothing like the man I thought he was.
The rumors make him sound like a complete killing machine. But he’s just a man who grew up with a family different to most, he’s still human, he still enjoys things every other person does. Hejust feels emotions differently than most. It’s clear that he’s not very in touch with his feelings, and he’s probably gone a long time avoiding any sort of emotional connection. Until me, that is. Angie comes back and takes our order before we sit and make small talk.
“Why are you doing all of this, Enzo? What are you expecting to get out of it?” I ask and his brows furrow but before he can answer, our breakfasts are placed in front of us by a waitress whose eyes linger a little too long on the man in front of me.
It shouldn’t bother me that she takes an interest in him, but for some weird reason it does. Maybe it’s just because he’s clearly here with me, and for all she knows we could be here on a date. All I know is, it’s taking everything in me not to claw her eyeballs out for staring at him.
Luckily, Enzo’s eyes don’t leave me during the whole interaction. He doesn’t even spare her a glance. He mutters a short thanks, clearly dismissing her and she finally gets the hint before scurrying away.
“I’m doing this because I feel a deep-seated need to keep you safe. Your safety is the only thing I care about. Whatever else happens is up to you, angel. I’ll never push you for anything you don’t want.”
“So you’re okay with us just being friends?” I ask, because getting involved with a man like him would be a one-way ticket to a broken heart and I don’t think I could handle any more hurt in my life.
“You wanna be friends, angel? I’ll be the best damn friend you’ve ever had. I understand why you don’t want more from me, and I can’t blame you, Robyn. You’re my obsession, and I know thatsounds bad, but I just want to be in your life in any way you’ll let me. I fought to keep away from you for a while, but that’s done now. I pushed the feelings away and I ended up leaving you alone to get hurt. If you ever trust me on anything, let it be this: I willneverlet anyone get close to hurting you again. I’m fine with being friends, but if you ever want more? I’ll be here ready and waiting for you.” The determination in his eyes makes my breath stutter.
I knew he was obsessed with me, and I figured he would find a way to make me fall for him, one way or another. But I can tell by the sincerity in his voice as he spoke that he really will just be my friend if that’s all I want.