❤️🥰

Donny came through the door with the guy he left with. Not Rob though, he was nowhere in sight.

"The garbage is in the trunk boss," the guy who went with Donny laughed out casually. It took me half a second to realize what he meant. My eyes nearly fell out of my head.

Rob was in a car trunk?!

This man is crazy. I grew fearful again and looked around the room. Donny's knuckles were busted open and bleeding down his fingers.

I shuddered.

The guy he went with had bruised knuckles

I suddenly felt like a gazelle in a lion den. These men were predators, literally. They put Rob in the truck of a car for fuck's sake.

We stood there for a few moments just looking at each other before one of the men he was with coughed to get his attention.

"We have a -uh- meeting with some of our -um- competition in 30 minutes. Rob held us up for longer than we anticipated. We will be late if we don't leave soon. We have to get to Chinatown in Manhattan," the man declared.

When I looked at him, I noticed his features were similar to Enzo's. He was handsome but different from Enzo. He looked sweeter. Younger maybe, but still scary and extremely intimidating. His hair was straight, unlike Enzo's, and longer pulled into a knot.

"I'm quite aware, Alessio."

Alessio sounded like he was trying to leave out details he must not have wanted me to hear. I wondered what the "meeting" in China Town was really about.

I thought Alessio and Enzo were brothers. Or at least cousins.

"But, we can have them wait a while. Let them sweat. We still haven't eaten dinner yet. And I'm awful hungry. Are you hungry Lilly?"

A blush crept up my neck at the mention of the dinner I dropped earlier. He wasn't trying to embarrass me but it sure did.

"I'm sorry about your dinner," I wrung my hands together with tension.

He gripped my chin gently and tipped my face up to look at him. "Stop apologizing Bella, now answer the question. Are you hungry?" he sounded sweet, but stern. There was no room for lying. I wanted to say no, but I really was starving.

I nodded with a defeated sigh and he smiled, letting go of my chin.

"Perfect! You will join us for dinner then. No more waitressing tonight. Donny, can you redo our orders as well as whatever Lilly wants?" His words sounded more like an order than a request. Donny nodded and looked at me waiting.

"You want me to make you the penne vodka like I usually do Lilly? Or do you want the eggplant parm you sometimes get?" Donny asked me, probably realizing I was too awkward to tell him on my own.

"Whatever is easier for you. I'll come and bring out the food when it's ready."

"No, you won't. Don't worry Lilly, I'll bring the food out when it's ready. Just sit down, it's been a long day."

Enzo nodded and Donny walked into the kitchen.

I looked around nervously.

There was no buffer now, no one I knew. Just Enzo and his five men. Two of them still stood at the door like statues. The other three walked over to the table they were originally sitting at.

Alessio pulled out a chair and smiled at me, encouraging me to take the seat he was offering. I blushed hard and thanked him quietly.

Then he went to the other side of the table and Enzo sat down next to me. I caught him staring at Alessio with narrowed eyes, looking annoyed maybe. But, he didn't voice anything if he was. The other two men who I didn't know the names of sat down between Enzo and Alessio.

There was an awkward silence that I wanted to break but didn't know how to.

I opted to stare at my hands tangled together on my lap instead. I was fidgeting but I couldn't help to stop myself.

"Are you going to introduce us brother?"

I looked up from my lap to find all of them staring at me with strange faces.

"Lilly, this is my brother Dante. He is the youngest out of the four of us," he pointed at the guy who just forced the introductions into play. I looked at Dante. He was attractive too, hell they all were. He looked extremely similar to Enzo, though he had lighter hair and dark brown eyes.

"You guys are probably the same age," he added.

"Hello, Lilly you have a beautiful name, almost as beautiful as you," he held his hand out with a smirk.

I giggled at his cheesy compliment.

"Hi, Dante," I smiled shyly. I put my hand in his and he kissed it quickly, then smiled at me with teeth. I liked Dante, he was nice. Maybe a shameless flirt, but not in a way that made me uncomfortable or anything.

"Dante is a big flirt, don't pay him any mind," Alessio laughed. His laugh was so light and carefree it put me at ease. I felt more comfortable by the second.

"More like whore," Enzo snorted.

"You're all brothers?"

"In many ways yes, but not by blood. Only Dante and I are actually blood siblings. We have all been friends for many years. We've taken care of each other for a long time. Friends since birth type of thing. You know?"

I nodded at him in understanding.

He pointed to the guy that left with Donny to put Rob in the trunk next. His bruised knuckles were folded on the table like that was totally normal.

"This is Stefano. He's my enforcer, and very good at what he does, which is why Rob is not going to bother you anytime soon," he said with his voice full of pride.

"Thank you, Stefano," I smiled shyly. The subject seemed a little taboo to speak about at the dinner table.

He laughed and cracked a grin that chilled my bones.

"My pleasure, Lilly," he winked.

I looked at his knuckles again, still uncomfortable about the reality behind their bruises. He must have noticed that I was staring at his bruises because he looked at me guiltily and shifted his hands to his lap under the table.

He winked again, but not in a teasing way, just a knowing way. I gave a small smile back, grateful.

Stefano was huge, and he looked like he didn't belong in suits.

He was nice and clearly intuitive.

"This is Alessio, the loud one. My biggest pain in the ass, my second in command," he pointed at Alessio with a hint of a smirk.

Alessio was grinning widely, like being called a pain in the ass was the nicest compliment ever.

I giggled at that, and he laughed back with me.

It felt like I was sitting around a group of friends instead of terrifying men that I only just met.

"What about you?" Dante prodded.

"What about me do you want to know?" I asked cautiously. Everyone who knew me knew I can talk anyone's ear off.

I didn't want to be annoying and make a bad first impression.

Enzo was the one who answered after Dante shrugged. "Everything," he whispered to me like he didn't want to frighten me by talking at a regular volume. It was a sweet gesture.

"Um, well my full name is Lilly Adrianna Colombo and before you ask, yes I'm Italian and no, I can't speak it fluently. My parents died when I was very young so they didn't get to teach it to me. I know some phrases but not much. I'm 20 years old, I go to NYU and I'm studying to become an English teacher. My favorite color is turquoise. I miss my old manager, Sampson. He was like a dad to me. Since I was in high school, I've been working here to help pay for my schooling and books. But, he retired which I'm sure you know. I volunteer at the library near my dorm when I have time. Um, I can't think anything else." I stopped when I realized I was starting to ramble.

Enzo had a triumphant look on his face.

"You're very cute when you are being talkative."

I put my hands over my face to conceal my cheeks burning with embarrassment. I always talk too much and manage to catch myself too late.

I heard a few chuckles from around the table and my cheeks reddened more than I thought was humanly possible.

"Don't be embarrassed Bella," Enzo laughed. I peeked out from my fingers and saw him smiling at me sweetly. I removed my face from my shielding hands. They all had tight-lipped smiles like they were trying to hold in their laughs. I rolled my eyes at that.

Donny came out of the kitchen holding a tray with all the plates in it. I naturally got up to help him unload the tray and hand out the plates since that was my job. But, Enzo swiftly and gently grabbed my small hand in his big one, stopping me from moving away from my seat. He raised an eyebrow at me, silently telling me to stop trying to serve and just let myself be served instead.

I sat back down without a fight. He made me feel so small, even when he was sitting down with me standing over him. Enzo didn't even have to say the words and I just obeyed him reluctantly. I couldn't help it though, he was just so sinful-looking. I wasn't even feeling afraid of him anymore, after the way he promised to protect me and look after me. I just wanted to do what he said; I wanted to please him.

It felt weird having Donny place my plate in front of me; I was usually the person to do that. I thanked him and he ruffled my hair as he did earlier. It made me feel like a small child. But, I knew it was another silent warning, a reminder of his earlier warning to watch my attitude carefully. I nodded to him subtly and he nodded back before heading back to the kitchen.

I looked down at my plate and almost squealed at the penne vodka on the side of the eggplant parm. Thank you, Donny! It smelled delicious and tasted even better.

The guys all ate their food and teased each other while Enzo and I had small talk, he kept asking me more about myself. I tried to explain that I was pretty boring, but he wouldn't take that as an answer.

"I live in Manhattan too," he said, "my parents raised my brothers and me in Brooklyn though."

"What were your parents like?" I asked before I could stop myself.

That was definitely too personal. What if he hates his parents?

"You know them, Bella," he laughed.

What?

"The couple who owned this place before me, those are my parents. My father retired and I took over the, uh, family business."

I nodded as I tried to recall the older couple who I only met once.

"They were very nice to me when I met them, but that was so long ago. I honestly don't remember that very well Enzo."

"Yes, they are nice. I'm sure they thought very highly of you Lilly. You are very charming," he practically cooed.

His words warmed my heart. Charmed. It was what Sampson used to say. I missed him so much.

I looked up at Enzo and grinned at him feeling happy about his similar words to Sampson.

He returned the grin and stroked my cheek and leaned toward my ear. "You are radiant when you smile, absolutely stunning," he whispered so that only I could hear his praise. My stomach was filled with butterflies and I gasped. His words traveled deep into my belly and I swallowed hard.

His long fingers stroked my cheek again and leaned back to his seat.

"Thank you Enzo, you're very sweet," I spoke softly, feeling bashful over his compliments.

"I'm not sweet, but I feel like I can be for you, Bella. You soften me. I don't just want to protect you. I want to make you smile. I want to take care of you, Bella."

I stared at him unsure what exactly I should say to that.

"You are the only person besides my brothers that was brave enough to talk to me so freely. You even made fun of me. You are quick with your tongue and you're funny. It is refreshing to talk to someone in such a casual way who isn't one of my brothers. Plus, I quite like that attitude of yours that I caught a glimpse of, it's amusing. I want to make you mine," he confessed.

I wondered what he meant by "make you mine". I wondered if he just meant sex, probably.

"Would you let me take you on a date, Bella? I'd love to get to cook some good Italian food for you." His face was gentle now, unintimidating. It was like he was trying hard to make me feel at ease, probably so I didn't feel afraid to say no.

He whispered the next part, "I cook way better than Donny, trust me."

I giggled at that.

"Enzo, you are very sweet. But, I am not looking for any hookups. I have had enough of those. I don't want to waste any more time on that type of situation," I spoke softly, testing to waters to figure out his intentions.

His face scrunched up in what looked like offense. Then it softened into sadness.

"Lilly, I think you are very special, more than a quick fuck. I asked you on a date because I would like to spend time with you," he said bluntly. My mouth dropped open a fraction. His voice lowered significantly so that only I could hear, "and if I just wanted to fuck you, I would have done it right here on this table right now, regardless of my brothers sitting here."

My eyes widened so much they probably looked like they were going to fall out of my head. His words were so dirty, and the images that popped into my head were painfully sinful. He would absolutely wreck me.

"Okay, I'd like that then," I said nervously. His dirty words kept echoing in my head.

I imagined what he would be like during sex and shuddered at the thought of this man using all of the power he exudes on me in the bedroom- or better yet on this table.