That Time I Accidentally Took Over the Mafia (Accidental)

Chapter 23

E nzo’s counterattack appears frenzied, but it has purpose. I can see the strategy in it. What appears to be random spurts of hand-to-hand fighting, followed by a pushback with gunfire, allows Enzo’s soldiers to move about the large room, helping patrons make their way to the back walls.

Gunfire echoes through the club, mingling with the screech of chairs, shattering glass, and the desperate cries of bystanders.

Enzo and his men move with calculated precision, coordinating with military-like efficiency to clear the room. I watch as they drag terrified civilians into secret passages hidden behind walls, ushering them to safety while the rest of the men hold their ground, gunning down the invaders one by one.

But Enzo doesn’t stop—not for a second. His eyes are focused, sharp, scanning the room for every possible threat. His team takes care of business while he ensures the safety of the people here—of me. I can see it in the way his muscles tense, his every movement purposeful.

I remain behind the blockades, helping move those who need assistance to the tunnels within the walls. Some are injured, and I avoid looking at the ones lying motionless on the ground.

“Ninety seconds, Delaney.” His tone is low and menacing, leaving no room for argument. In less than two minutes, all hell is going to break loose.

The large artillery gun is nearly set up, and when they start using it, none of us will make it out. I can see the large-caliber rounds from here. If one were to rip through a human body, there would be nothing left.

Two of Enzo’s men are preparing the explosives we’ve taken from the bodies of those who broke in. Several guards are armed with grenades to throw, and Enzo is handling the large bundle.

We will be the last two out, causing a distraction so the patrons can escape through the walls. It’s me they’re after anyway, and by extension, Enzo.

An older woman stumbles, nearly out in the open and exposed to the gunfire. She’s slipping on broken glass, spilled food, and blood. I dart out for her just as Enzo yells for us to get down. I cover her with my body and feel Enzo’s heat as he covers me.

The explosion rattles the ground and vibrates the chandeliers above. I expected a spray of debris, but it never comes. Peeking behind me as the blast dissipates, I see Enzo has flipped a table on its side and is holding it to shield us.

“Thank you.” I cup his face, then help the woman to her feet. One of Enzo’s guards takes her, and they disappear into the darkness of the passages behind the walls.

Enzo takes the bundle of explosives, his finger holding the tab. When he pulls it, the countdown will start, and we’ll run for our lives.

“Can you run in those, baby?” he asks. His eyes are wild, and I know he doesn’t like this plan, but we have no other options. No one is coming to help because all the mafia families are either sending someone to kill us or are busy killing each other. I have no idea where Jax and Luca are, and frankly, I’m trying to ignore the possibility of what that could mean.

If these men attacked Enzo’s house first and caught them off guard... If they are already?—

I can’t finish the thought and swallow it down, focusing on Enzo and what we’re about to do. “Yeah, I’ll be okay.”

He releases a huff of resignation and pulls me into a kiss. “You better not fucking die,” he growls, taking one last look at the anarchy.

“We’ll see you on the other side, boss.” One of his men pats his shoulder. I see them take their positions, and emotion washes over me. The loyalty Enzo’s men have to him, their training, their devotion—it gives me hope. He’s a good leader for his family, and that’s enough to know we’re going to make it out.

An assault of explosions will blast around us as we run for the window. Enzo will throw the bundle at the heavy cannon blocking the doorway. As long as we don’t get shot, it should be fine.

“We’ve got thirty seconds to make it out of the building once I pull this pin, okay?”

“Got it.” I nod, steeling myself internally to make the push toward the other end of the building. Then comes the hard part.

We have to run straight through a large glass window and jump three stories down into the freezing river below. No big deal at all. Super glad this was my idea.

Enzo looks down at the bundle, his finger pausing on the tab. Then he releases a deep breath and pulls it. We’re up and running. The first few steps are tricky amid the shrapnel littering the floor.

Enzo lobs the explosives, the mesh bag of bombs arcing through the air. His gun fills his empty hand, and he reaches for me with the other.

It’s a hard push toward the windows, and I focus on them as we race forward.

Enzo’s soldiers hurl their own grenades, and they explode around us, forcing the attackers to take cover and giving us the best chance of making it out. I only hope they survive and can help the bystanders escape.

Enzo raises his gun, shooting the window until his clip empties. He throws the gun through the window, shattering it just before we leap into the air.

Enzo turns his shoulder into it and yanks me to him as we jump from the building. He takes the impact of the window at the same time the bombs detonate, sending us free-falling three stories to the water below.

The explosion is huge.

It races out of every window, shattering the glass. The blast feels like a punch to the gut, but Enzo took the brunt of it, shielding me from everything he could.

I feel his arms go slack, and I panic.

No. Fuck you, don’t you dare.

He slips away from me, and I reach for him. It’s too dark to see, but I know he’s unconscious. I just pray he’s still breathing.

The water is like needles on my skin as we crash hard into the river. It is not graceful. Unable to control our descent, the water feels like cement.

Immediately, I push everything down and start reaching for Enzo, but I can’t find him. I can’t breathe. I can’t see.

The current carries us downstream in an instant. I kick myself to the surface, sputtering and opening my eyes to look for Enzo. Thank God, he’s close, but he’s facedown, and my heart crumbles.

He can’t be dead. He fucking can’t be.

I kick toward him and wrap my arms around his wide chest. It takes everything I have to hurl him around so he’s facing the sky.

“Enzo!” I call out, grabbing his face and trying to wake him, trying to see if he’s still alive. “Enzo! Wake up.”

It’s a struggle to keep both of us above water, and the river churns around us. I hear the zip of bullets racing by, followed by the sharp bursts of automatic gunfire aimed at us.

“If you can hear me, take a deep breath!” I inhale a big gulp of air and pull us beneath the surface, kicking hard with the current to carry us downstream quickly. I push aside the horrifying observation that he didn’t react at all.

I can’t hear any more bullets, and I’m not even sure if I would feel them pass us in the water, so I stay submerged as long as I can. This feels like an action movie playing out in a real-life nightmare.

It’s nearly impossible trying to hold onto Enzo. He’s a fucking giant, and it’s exhausting me. My lungs burn, and the frigid water stabs at my limbs, stealing what little strength I have left.

The light above the water’s surface darkens briefly, then brightens again. I think that means we’ve passed under a bridge. If so, the shooters can’t possibly reach us now.

I push myself to the surface, gasping for air as I haul my lifeless Enzo with me.

My Enzo.

He’s dragging me down with every kick. Every muscle screams against the biting cold, and I’m having a harder time keeping my grip on him.

He’s going to fucking drown, and it’s going to be my fault.

The thought crushes me, acting like an anchor pulling me under. But I fight against it. I kick, push, and swim, trying to reach the opposite shore, but the current is carrying us too fast.

I try to get on my back and hold Enzo so we can float, but it’s no use.

I’m coughing and sputtering on the water I’m ingesting as my vision darkens. I can’t take a full breath, and it feels like gravity is increasing tenfold.

Blinking furiously, refusing to stop, I fight against unconsciousness and keep swimming. Maybe the river will slow soon, and I can make it to shore. I cling to that hope, forcing myself to hang on just a second longer.

A bright light shines in my eyes, forcing me to shut them tight against its intensity. It’s gone in an instant, and I frantically look for the source. Terror competes with the chill of the river as I think our attackers have found us again.

But thank fucking God, I see the most beautiful sight I’ve ever beheld: Luca and Jax at the next bridge, standing by a massive black SUV. Luca removes his jacket, something slung over his shoulder, and climbs over the bridge’s railing. Holding on, he times himself to dive in just ahead of us.

“Luca.” It comes out like a garbled plea, but he hears me. Pain flashes across his face, and I see fear in his eyes. But I’m so fucking happy to see him and Jax. No matter what, I know they’ll get us out of this river.

“We’re going to make it,” I tell Enzo, hoping he knows he’s going to be fine and that we’ll all be together.

Tears blend with the water assaulting me, but I focus on Luca. His hard gaze locks onto mine, acting like a tether.

With his arms outstretched, Luca dives into the river. I feel his grip on me before he surfaces, and my heart splits in two with relief.

“I’ve got you.” Luca’s dark hair clings to his face, and he shakes his head to clear it so he can see. The weight of Enzo is dramatically lighter with Luca’s help. In seconds, he secures a harness around Enzo, letting go of me only briefly. Then he’s holding Enzo’s collar with one hand and wrapping his other arm tightly around my waist.

“Luca.” His name is all I can manage, my thoughts too scattered for more. It becomes my prayer.

“Jax will pull him up, okay?” he yells over the current.

“Don’t leave him!” Panic surges through me at the thought of losing Enzo. “We can’t leave him, Luca. He’s not waking up.” Tears stream down my face as the reality of our situation sinks in.

“I won’t leave either of you, Lenny.” His grip on me tightens, as if to prove his point.

Suddenly, the thick rope fixed to Enzo’s harness pulls taut, but we’re carried under the bridge before it catches, halting our movement in the current.

“There’s only one crank, so we’re going to have to climb,” he calls out as I watch Enzo being lifted from the water. His head lolls, his limbs are slack, and my heart shatters. “He’ll be okay. Just hold onto me, Lenny.”

He kicks hard, grabbing another rope secured to his own harness. Hand over fist, he pulls against the water. “Get on my back and hold on tight. No matter what, don’t let go, or I’m coming in after you.”

“Okay,” I manage, though I know he’s not looking for an answer.

Luca grabs the rope over and over, pulling us upward. “We’re almost there,” he huffs, his voice strained but determined.

I adjust my grip and look up just in time to see Jax hauling Enzo over the railing. Seeing him so vulnerable, so still, feels like a violation of the natural order of the universe.

Enzo is sturdy. An immovable pillar of resolve. Not this lifeless body being dragged from the river.

With a few more pulls, the top of the bridge is within reach. “Don’t let go yet, Len.”

“Okay.” My answer is weak, barely audible. The thought of Enzo dying is crushing me, like the river’s current still has a hold on my soul.

Luca braces his feet against a knot in the rope and reaches for the railing. His muscles strain, cords tightening as he lifts us higher. “Grab on now, baby. You can do it.”

I stretch my arms toward the railing, but my muscles feel like jelly, useless and weak. Gritting my teeth, I dig deep, grunting with effort as I pull myself upward. “Good girl, Lenny. Keep going. You’re almost there.”

Luca continues to support me, his hand steadying my back. Finally, I manage to hook my knee over the edge, and with one last push from Luca, I’m on the bridge.

I immediately turn back, reaching for Luca’s harness. My fingers fumble, but I don’t stop pulling, determined to help him climb. He moves quickly now, hand over hand, until he’s finally over the railing.

As soon as he’s on solid ground, Luca’s arm snakes around me, holding me tightly. We collapse against the railing, both of us trembling with exhaustion and adrenaline as Luca holds me upright.

But the moment of relief shatters when I see Enzo’s body lying still. Jax is over him, performing mouth-to-mouth.

My knees buckle, and I crumble to the ground. Luca catches me, his arms wrapping around me like a protective cocoon as we sink together. He holds me tightly against his chest, his long legs bracketing me like a shield.

“It’ll be okay, baby. It’ll be okay,” he murmurs, his voice low and soothing. But I can’t look away from Enzo. Not for a second.

Jax leans over Enzo, his face tight with concentration as he forces air into his lungs. Over and over. Desperation rolls off him in waves. My pulse pounds in my ears, each beat dragging on like an eternity.

Then, a miracle: Enzo’s chest jerks once, then again, more violently this time. I gasp, hope surging through me.

He’s breathing. It’s shallow and ragged, but it’s breathing.

“Enzo?” My voice cracks, barely a whisper. I’m afraid saying his name might shatter this fragile moment.

Jax quickly turns Enzo onto his side, and he begins coughing violently, expelling water from his lungs. Relief crashes over me like a tidal wave. He’s alive. He’s really alive.

I reach for him instinctively, my fingers trembling as they touch his damp face. “Enzo, please...” My voice is thick with emotion.

His eyelids flutter open, his gaze unfocused but alive. When his eyes finally lock on mine, they fill with recognition.

“Delaney...” His voice is a raspy whisper, barely audible over the sound of the rushing river and my pounding heart. But hearing him speak breaks the weight crushing my chest.

“I’m here. I’m right here,” I say, pressing my forehead against his, feeling his warmth even through the cold dampness.

He winces slightly, the pain hitting him, but his lips twitch into a weak, familiar smirk. “You’re... crazy,” he mutters, his voice rough but teasing.

I let out a shaky laugh, brushing his wet hair away from his face before kissing his cheek, then his mouth. “Yeah, well... you’re lucky I’m crazy enough to keep you alive.”

Jax exhales a long, relieved breath, sitting back as he wipes his face with the back of his hand. “Holy shit, both of you are going to fucking kill me one day,” he mutters, a mix of relief and irritation in his tone.

Luca’s arm tightens around me, and I feel the strength of his hold, a comforting anchor in the storm. His other hand grips my hip like he’s afraid to let me go. He’s trembling, and I don’t know if it’s from exhaustion or the emotional weight of the moment.

I turn in his embrace and cradle his face in my hands. His hold feels like a shield, and I bury myself against him, pressing my face into his neck. “You fucking scared me, Len,” he murmurs, his voice raw with emotion.

“You came for us,” I whisper, my breath caressing his skin.

“Always, Lenny.” His forehead rests against mine as he takes a deep breath, closing his eyes. “A day won’t pass that I won’t be here for you, baby.” He cups my cheek, pinning me with his piercing gaze.

“Luca—” I choke on his name, unable to form another word.

“Shhh.” He kisses the top of my head. “Later, okay? We’ve got to go.”

I pull back slightly, needing to see him. He winces, and my heart twists at the sight of his pain. “I really fucking want to kiss you right now, Lenny.” His thumb brushes my bottom lip, his gaze lingering on my mouth.

“Then kiss me.”