“Seems that way. Shepherd’s had his eyes on him since he came through those gates. Fucker’s blinded by his body,” he snickers.
“Yeah, but can we trust him? He’s not like David.”
“How so?”
“He’s dark. Something’s lurking there, man. Enzo is not to be fucked with.”
“Neither was David. That man was brutal.”
“I know, but there’s something dark there. Watch yourself around him.”
Their voices fade away, and I shiver in the heat, icy cold moisture trickling down my spine despite the physical work that has me sweating in my shirt. With a sigh, I wipe my hand across my grimy brow and turn back to my duties.
Although my body aches, it feels good to be out of the house and doing something. Sitting alone with just my thoughts was sending me into a tailspin. Cabin fever is truly a thing, and I thought I might go mad after all.
I’ve never known Enzo to be dark, not until we came here, but what do I really know about him? He waltzed onto the farm with Sofia and their minions as pretty as you please, all smiles and cheeky grins, charming the men and women.
I didn’t get the chance to know him until we were alone together, and even after all this time, his past is still a mystery. His present is the only thing I can consider. He was so much more relaxed and playful when it was just the two of us. Now he’s closed off, angry, with a wall of emotion that I can’t get past, and maybe I don’t want to.
The day gets away from me, and I head back to the city center for dinner, a sticky, sweaty, tired mess, not to mention my bones ache, and a headache is forming at the base of my skull. I make a pit stop at the bathroom and wash my hands quickly before heading into the dining space where I spot Cole and Marie right off, snuggled cozily together at a table with people I don’t know.
Schooling my features behind a blank mask, I turn away from the sight and walk into Enzo who’s standing behind me with an odd expression.
“Oh, hey,” I say brightly.
My stomach aches from the rollercoaster of emotions I’m constantly bombarded with, and wearily I wish I could just have a day off.
Cole’s words about trust, not to mention our renewed intimacy, are like a smack in the face every time I see him with his partner or whatever, and it fucking stings. And knowing this is probably Shepherd’s decree does nothing to temper that feeling.
Enzo nods silently, but I spy a void behind his eyes that makes me uneasy. What’s going on in his brain now? Fuck, but I miss my damn friend.
“Hungry?” I ask, nudging him with my hand.
He doesn’t respond but follows me to the line, and we get our apportioned meals slopped onto plates before finding a quiet place to sit. It’s only when I’m halfway through my food that I notice the people around us giving Enzo a wide berth. Enzo typically attracts people like bees to honey, which means this isn’t good.
“What’s going on, Enzo?” I ask, glancing around warily.
“What?” he asks, leaning back in his seat with a moody stare.
“Why is everyone acting weird?” I lean in to whisper.
He shrugs, his gaze boring into mine, and uncomfortably I turn my attention to my plate and shove the food into my mouth, unable to taste what I’m eating under the weight of my unease. The world feels as though it’s on the verge of dropping out once again, and I have no clue how to stop it or save myself.
After dinner, Enzo surprisingly walks me home. He’s still quiet, but the tension has eased from his shoulders. Once we’re inside, he closes the door and rasps, “You should be more careful, Lola.”
“Careful of what?” I ask absently, pulling off my sweatshirt.
“Shepherd has eyes and ears everywhere,” he says, his brows dropping over his eyes.
“Okay,” I say slowly. I’m still not sure where this is going, but the sickly slide of anxiety pulsing in my chest warns me it’s nowhere good.
“He’s not dumb, Lola. You think it’s not obvious when you look at Cole every time you’re in the same damn room as him? Maybe try to contain yourself, hm? You’re like a bitch in heat,” he jeers.
At a loss, I stare at him wide-eyed. “Why are you saying this, Enzo?”
“Because you’re endangering us both, and I’m fucking sick of it! For what? For that piece of shit? He left you, Lola. He left you behind and found a new piece of ass,” he bellows.
“Wow,” I reply, crossing my arms to ward off the chill. I hardly need the reminder of how fragile my relationship with Cole is or of the bitch I see snuggled up to him every time we’re around each other.