Sinful Addiction

IX

ELENA CASSANO

"Elena," The deep, masculine voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I glanced up to meet his bright eyes. "Is everything okay with the food?" Enzo asked me. My fucking fifty-year old fiancé who was the first man my papà had apparently not begged to marry me.

My attention had been focused on the cellphone between my legs which I would occasionally look up from.

        This was my second meeting with Enzo and our first dinner, and all I knew about him was that he was the Capo of the Chicago Outfit.

        His hair was pure white, his face lined but he was still very handsome. His bright eyes sharp, and he talked with his mouth full. I had bet Alessio all my Chanel bags if the dinner lasted longer than his meeting and right now, he was winning.

        "Elena?"

        I snapped my eyes back to his, a wide smile on my face. "Yes. I'm sorry." I told him, and his gaze dropped to my untouched food. I couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sure the food is delicious."

        "What?"

        A blush covered my face. "The food is wonderful, Enzo." I spoke clearly in case he didn't hear me. Talk about awkward.

        "Good." A polished smile on his face. "Tell me something about you."

        "I'm pregnant."

        His eyes grew wide. "What?"

        "No, I'm kidding. I just thought it would be a fun thing to say." I laughed to myself, swallowing a forkful of pasta.

Apparently, my fiancé didn't find it funny because a thin line appeared deep in his forehead that told me that he was thinking of something to say. Or maybe he was done with this dinner like I was.

        He sipped his glass of wine. "Since we're on the matters of children, when we get married, I plan on having at least two. You?"

        "If." I corrected.

        "Excuse me?" His face masked with confusion.

        "If we get married, Enzo and no, birth control is my best friend." I spoke out through the pieces of food in my mouth. His face blanched and a look of surprise covered his features. "I'm not ready to have children yet." Lie. I never wanted them.

        "You're twenty-three, Elena. When do you plan on having children?"

There it was. He sounded just like Mamma. I wasn't necessarily against children. I wasn't one of those people who didn't want kids because they didn't like them. I liked kids perfectly fine. I just couldn't imagine myself having them.

A baby that would destroy my body and my nipples... no thank you. My uterus, my decision.

        I shrugged slightly, my hair tumbling over my face. Mamma convinced me to wear my long hair out from the bun I normally had it in. And now I was regretting it. It was a fucking hassle. "When I'm ready."

        "When do you plan on being ready?"

        "I'm not sure, Enzo but I don't plan on changing my mind right now." I sipped my glass of wine with a sweet smile. "I'm sure there are other Italian girls who can probably satisfy your need of being a father."

        His hold on the glass wine tightened as he gazed at me. "No. I want you." I want me too. Enzo exhaled a harsh sigh. "Fine. No children."