The Art of You

“You shouldn’t even be here.” I held on to Enzo near the back door, burying my face in his chest. “Maria needs you.”

“You need me.” Enzo let go of me and patted my head like I was five. Most days, I think he still saw me that way. “As long as I feel it’s safe, I’ll head home tomorrow. I promise. But the second we have a target, I’ll be back to handle them with the team.”

I didn’t doubt that.

Enzo looked at Hudson, tipping his head. “Everyone’s in the kitchen. Adelina is there, too. We’ll join you in a second.”

That was Enzo’s way of telling Hudson to leave us alone, and Hudson quietly nodded and took his cue.

I’d expected Enzo to start with a lecture, not to kick things off with heartfelt words instead. “Why is being here so much harder than when we’re at Mom and Dad’s place on Long Island? Or the Central Park home?”

I pushed the sleeves of my jean jacket up my forearms and told him the only thing that made sense in my head. “Because it was Bianca’s favorite place. Lots of happy memories here.”

The frown came and went fast. “I think I’ve only been here twice since she died.”

I thought back to the hug I’d desperately needed in that garden, and how Hudson had managed to calm me down so I could think more clearly. “Maybe we should come here more often because it was her favorite place, and not avoid it for that very reason.”

He stepped closer, holding my arms while resting his forehead against mine. “The youngest of us is the wisest.”

“About time you realized that.”

“Well, it’s not true when I think about the men you choose to date, though. You lose all brain cells when⁠—”

I lifted my hand between us, silencing him with a finger over his lips. “You were on such a roll being sweet. Don’t ruin it.”

He let go of me as I lowered my hand to my side, and we glanced in the direction of the kitchen, both of us seemingly hesitant to get the show on the road.

“You should’ve told us about the photo before the op. Secrets get people killed, remember?”

Like in Bianca’s case. “I didn’t want to distract you from the mission.”

“Your safety will always be a priority. Got it?” He narrowed his eyes, waiting for the only answer he’d accept.

So, I gave it to him. “Roger that.” When he continued to regard me with a hesitant expression, I begged, “Stop worrying. I’m going to be fine when you leave. I have Hudson to protect me.”

He jerked his head back as if offended. “And Alessandro. Constantine. Our parents.” He tossed a thumb toward the front door. “Not to mention an entire team of security guards.”

“Of course, I was just . . .” No clue how to finish that.

“Mmmhmm. I know what’s going on here.” At least he was smiling.

One of the main reasons why nothing may ever happen with Hudson joined us at the worst time. “And what exactly is going on?”

I faced Constantine, discreetly elbowing Enzo to keep quiet. It was never easy going up against my brothers. At three to one, they outnumbered me on everything, but at least Enzo appeared to be coming around to my side on this.

“Izzy was just telling me how eager she is to spend quality time with the family since you’ll all be under the same roof for the next few days. So many people here, though, she’s concerned that someone might accidentally wander into the wrong bedroom at night while she’s sleeping.”

The man deserved the daggers I shot along with the second elbow.

Enzo faked a wince, holding his side. “Kidding. Constantine would kill one of our guards if he accidentally slipped into your bed.”

Guards, huh? Sure, sure, that’s who you’re referring to.

“You two planning on joining us anytime soon, or do you need another minute? You know, like that minute you took to hug Hudson outside?”

An audible gasp fell from my lips at Constantine’s question. Okay, I was probably exaggerating on that part, but seriously. “You were watching us?” And wait. “There are cameras over there now? Since when?”

Constantine checked his watch. “Since an hour ago.” Turning to the side, he gave the order to join everyone in the way of a head nod toward the kitchen. “Not you.” He shot his arm in front of me the second I tried to walk. “We’ll be right there,” he told Enzo without looking at him.

Once it was the two of us, framed by the walls still holding on to Bianca’s memory, I whispered, “Don’t.” My voice was so fragile and weak that I barely heard the word, so I repeated it with more punch.

“Isabella.” If a sigh could ever be a word instead of a sound, it’d be a woman’s name from a frustrated man’s tongue.

I pouted in response. You know, more bees with honey and all that, or however the saying went.

He gently cupped my chin, urging my eyes on his. “You don’t know what I planned to say.”

“I do.” The downturned-lip action from me in response was legit. No faking that time.

“Come here.” He relinquished a deep breath, let go of my chin, and then pulled me into his arms for an unexpected hug. “What am I going to do with you?”

I angled my head so my face wasn’t smashed into a wall of muscle so he could hear me. “What you’re going to do is finally let me go so I can fall.”

“I don’t know what that means.” He stepped back, arms to his sides, staring at me as if genuinely confused.

“You don’t want me getting hurt.”

“And why would I?” he guffawed, head jerking back.

I poked his chest with my index finger. “You’ve always been there for me. And with every stupid mistake I’ve made, you’ve bailed me out from both trouble and heartbreak. But I can’t ever stand on my own if you’re always there to catch me before I fall.”

“I can’t watch you get hurt if I can help prevent it. It’s impossible. Not in my DNA.” He drew a palm over his heart.

“You can keep me safe from criminals, sure.” I twirled my finger in the air. “This mess I’m in? Yes, please. But the other stuff, no.”

Based on his grimace, he’d latched on to the meaning of “other stuff” and wasn’t a fan.

“You have feelings for him?” The dark undertones in his voice were as unsettling as his point-blank question. “Is that what this ‘let you fall’ lecture is about?”

Yes, but the timing is shit, so I should probably not let my near-death experience do the talking. “You were planning to warn me about him after seeing our innocent hug, right? So, I just⁠—”

“No. We haven’t had a moment alone since the accident, and I’d been planning to tell you how damn proud I am of you for being so resilient and remaining strong.” His next words were rougher. “And how much I love you, but also, how fucking terrified I was that I almost lost you on Friday.”

My hand went to my stomach as it squeezed in pain.

Before I could find it in me to respond, he hit me with another question, and it barreled through me, sending me back a step. “You’re asking me to stand by while you fall for a man I know can’t love you back?” A rattle of emotion he was probably working hard to hide managed to slip into his voice anyway.

The gut-wrenching words didn’t have a chance to swallow me whole because Hudson and his horrible timing stole my attention instead.

He was standing still in the hall, a hand up on the wall next to him as if he needed the support, and it had nothing to do with his injuries. His focus wasn’t on me, but on the floor.

Oh God, how much did he hear?

“Adelina doesn’t have a ton of time,” Hudson finally spoke, his voice low and haunted, indicating he’d heard something.

Constantine cursed under his breath in Italian, slowly swiveling around to face him. “Hudson.” The apology curled up into his best friend’s name. My brother was an asshole to everyone but the people he cared about. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have heard that.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about. Or anything to worry about.” Hudson slowly met his eyes. “Your sister and I will only ever be friends.” His gaze cruised over to mine as he killed me with a promise. “You have my word.” He pushed away from the wall, jaw strained and his solid body visibly tense. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, please tell Adelina I need a minute.”

Hudson brushed past us, barely grazing my shoulder, and I flinched when the screen door slammed shut.

Constantine reached for my wrist. “Izzy.”

“Nothing to say. He’s made himself clear.” I blinked back tears. “You know Hudson, and he’d never go back on his word.”