“This outfit is my life. I’ll do whatever I can to serve the family.”

“That’s good to hear because I have a sensitive matter for you. As you heard earlier today, we have a number of difficult issues we are dealing with at the moment, making our lives significantly more dangerous than they’ve been in recent years. Now that I’ve come back into the limelight, my family will make for easy targets. Alessia, Maria, and my wife all have protection, but Sofia is a different matter. I know you two went your separate ways, but it’s been years now, and I’m hoping you can mend that broken fence.

“She has no knowledge of our family activities, and I see no reason that needs to change, which makes security for her a bit of an issue. She won’t understand why she needs to be protected and would likely resist the intrusion. I’m hoping, perhaps, if her bodyguard was a childhood friend, we could play off your role as merely a reunion of sorts—an old friend come back into her life.”

The longer he spoke, the louder the ringing sounded in my ears. Surely, it had interfered with my hearing, and I had misunderstood him. He had to have known I’d broken his daughter’s heart, and there was no way she would welcome me back in her life.

This can’t be happening.

The words repeated over and over in my head, but it didn’t matter how many times I heard them, Enzo’s intentions were clear. He wanted me to guard Sofia. I wasn’t sure if the concept made me more terrified or pissed. Walking away from her had been one of the hardest things I’d ever had to do, and now, I was expected to open that wound and possibly go through the whole process again.

What shit had I done in my past lives to deserve this?

It must have been supremely fucked up because this had to be a punishment.

I tried to remind myself that I was being presumptive. The assignment wouldn’t be all that difficult if Sofia and I could be casual friends. We had both grown up since I walked away, and time would have lessened the hurt.

I was so full of shit.

What I’d done to her was unforgivable.

The only explanation for Enzo entertaining this scenario was if he didn’t know. There was no way if she’d told him what I’d done that he’d still want me near his youngest daughter.

Fuck.

My mind raced with panicked thoughts as Enzo continued. “She’s living with us for the next couple of weeks and will be protected under my roof. I want you to use that time to get reacquainted so that when she moves to her new apartment, you have a reason to stay near her. Usually this type of job would be delegated to a soldier, but considering all the circumstances, I think you’re the best fit for the job. It won’t be permanent, just while we get our shit straightened out with the other families and the damn Russians. Once things settle, I’ll assign her a driver who can act as her security. This may not be the normal task of a capo, but it’s more important to me than any other. My family is at risk, and until things settle down, their protection is paramount. I think you, more than any other man, would protect her with your life.” He smiled at me, believing he had given me a great honor, which he had. But he had no idea just how impossible the task was.