Page 123 of Fallen Rook

The elevator pinged open, and I raised my head. Enzo stepped out, still clad in his enforcer clothes. He rolled his eyes at me. “I thought I made myself clear on my Instagram story.”

Ignoring the sledgehammer he’d slung straight into my chest, and the way it shattered everything inside it into pieces, I calmly rose to my feet. “Doesn’t Katya follow your account? Does she ever ask who all your posts and stories are dedicated to?”

He hitched a shoulder up. “She follows me, but I don’t think she cares.”

“This might change once you’re married.”

“That’s not for you to worry about, since we’re officially over.”

We’d been breaking up every other day since this thing started. And yet each time made my pulse stutter.

“I came here to apologize.”

“You called my family lowlifes.”

I stared at him with regret. Sully’s words about Enzo today were unforgivable, not to mention the way he’d pounced at him. But I’d enabled a lot of it, because I had made sure to treat Enzo as badly as I possibly could to distance myself from him.

Getting caught could get Enzo killed. And even if it wouldn’t, my entire operation with the informant, and all my other plans for the case, would go up in flames.

“You called me a punk kid.” He rubbed his nape, scowling at the floor.

I squeezed my eyes shut, surprised by the piercing agony and remorse that consumed me.

He stalked past me, punching the code to his lock and stepping inside. I followed him. He didn’t stop me. He shrugged his jacket off, going about his business like I wasn’t there. Even when he spoke, it was to himself, not to me.

“Your partner’s an asshole.”

“He’s an insecure piece of work with a tiny dick and a God complex,” I provided.

“And you know about his dick because…?”

“Communal urinals.” My sole and desperate attempt at comedy died violently and immaturely.

Enzo did not laugh.

“He threatened me with rape if I go to prison.”

“I’ve already filed a complaint,” I said sincerely, and fucking meant it. Sully had taken it five steps too far, and I couldn’t let it go on like that. Even if it wasn’t Enzo he threatened. This was a vile violation of his authority.

“You should leave.” He chewed on his inner cheek.

“I know. But that never stopped me before.”

“I don’t know why I’m doing this.” He grabbed a fistful of his hair, tugging roughly. “You keep humiliating me, keep treating me like trash, and I keep taking you back. Seeking you out. You’re the worst fucking drug I’ve ever tried. One hit got me hooked.”

“I’m sorry,” I said sincerely.

“If you’re sorry, why did you speak those words?”

“Because I couldn’t run the chance of them seeing what was written plainly on my face every time I looked at you.”

He was quiet for a moment.

“They’re observant people, Enzo. They read people for a living.”

“And what would they have seen on your face?” He studied me, pale honey irises narrowed beneath long lashes.

“That maybe I’m your drug, but you’re my life support.”