Chapter Three
Neil
HE LOOKED up at the words adorning the facade of the restaurant, the name making his heart flutter, and then he lowered his gaze to the door. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t go in. Every time he saw Marco, he put him in danger. It wasn’t just him being a CIA officer, it was the fact that he was a man. The mafia wasn’t exactly known for its inclusivity. Marco’s enemies would surely use it against him, too. He should turn around and walk away but a part of him wanted to stay. Desperately.
There was still someone out to kill him and he hadn’t the first clue as to who so he couldn’t do much to keep himself or anyone else safe from it. He couldn’t guarantee that Marco and his family were safe as long as he kept seeing him.
“If you’re worried about the menu, I can guarantee that there’s something you’ll like.”
While he’d known someone was walking toward him, he was surprised to find Marco’s sister standing next to him, a warm smile on her lips. Her black hair was up in a messy bun, and she was wearing a T-shirt and blue jeans, very unlike the usual floral dresses he saw her in.
“In fact, if you have a meal and you still don’t like it, I’ll put it on the house,” she said, eyes twinkling as she grinned at him.
“I know the food is good,” he said, turning fully to meet her gaze.
Her brows lowered and she gave him a confused look.
“What’s keeping you out here, then?”
“The person I would be having that meal with.”
Alicia put her hands on her hips and cocked a brow at him. “Is it because you’re unsure if you like this person?”
Why he was entertaining this conversation with her, he wasn’t sure. She was the last person he should be talking to.
“No,” he said.
“Then why don’t you want to be with them?”
“Because being with me isn’t exactly…”
“Easy?” Alicia suggested. “Yeah, I’m sure all my exes say the same about me.”
“I’m sure they don’t.”
She grinned and arched a brow at him. “Oh, trust me, they do.”
She linked her arm with his and tugged him toward the door.
“But I’m too strong a believer in love to let you throw away your chance at it,” she said and with a shake of his head, he let her lead him inside.
Alicia headed toward a table and sat down, motioning for him to sit across from her. He sat down with his back to the door, his shoulders tense though from Alicia’s calm demeanor, she didn’t notice. His line of sight was toward the back of the restaurant where Marco’s office was along with the entrance to the kitchen.
Alicia looked at him, then looked over her shoulder. She turned back around with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eyes.
“It’s someone on the staff, isn’t it?” she asked, the excitement in her voice making him fight to hold back a smile.
“Well go, then,” she said, motioning for him to get up.
A smile teased his lips as he stood and walked to her side, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“Thank you,” he said.
She put a hand on his arm and gave him a kind look. “Love is worth it.”
He nodded, then took off toward the back. The office door was open, and he could hear Marco talking on the phone inside. He leaned a shoulder against the door jamb, eyes tracking Marco as he paced from his desk to the window. When he turned to walk back to his desk, his eyes snapped onto Neil and his steps faltered, his words coming to an abrupt halt.
“I’ll call you back,” Marco said, dropping his phone onto his desk on his way toward Neil.
He pushed away from the door just in time for Marco to reach him and slam their mouths together in a hard kiss, Marco’s hands warm against his cheeks. He reached behind him to close the door, then wrapped his arms around Marco to pull him against his body.
Marco’s reaction to seeing him meant everything to him. He wasn’t sure where they were headed but he knew Alicia was right, he couldn’t throw his chance at love away because if anyone was worth putting himself and everyone else in danger, it was Marco.