21. Matteo #2
Both of my fists clenched where they rested atop my thighs.
With my blood boiling, I wanted nothing more than to tear this hospital apart, brick by brick, until I got to Summer.
I mentally began to make a list of every person I planned to snuff out for keeping me from her, starting with the uppity bitch behind the desk.
Enzo leaned in, keeping his voice low. “We’re not putting a hit out on the woman for doing her job.”
My head whipped to the side. “How—”
“Because I know you. That, and you’re making no effort to conceal that you’re silently raging on the inside. I can fucking see the murder in your eyes.”
A rumble vibrated through my chest, and it was on the tip of my tongue to remind him that it was his job to back me up, no questions asked, when a soft, feminine voice drew my attention.
“Figured you could use these.”
Turning, I blinked at the nurse holding a bundle of light blue fabric. “What?”
“They’re clean and dry.” She handed me her offering, and I realized it was a set of scrubs. Enzo had dragged me from the house in nothing more than my boxer briefs.
“Thank you,” I muttered.
“And then you can give that shirt back to your doppelg?nger.” Her eyes were alight with interest as they swept over the ink covering my cousin’s chest and arms.
Not one to pass up an opportunity to flirt with a member of the fairer sex, he extended a hand, introducing himself. “Enzo.”
There was a brief moment of hesitation before she met him halfway, a flush of pink rising to her cheeks as she whispered shyly, “Allie.”
I cut Enzo a glare, a reminder that we weren’t here to pick up women, and he reluctantly pulled back, allowing the girl to scurry away.
“Really?”
“What? She was cute,” he argued.
“And not at all your type.”
Enzo reared back, offended. “Hey, I’ll have you know I enjoy women of all shapes and sizes.”
Though I highly doubted it, considering the man was often seen escorting paper-thin models—the exact opposite of the full-figured healthcare professional who was the subject of our discussion—I clarified my statement. “I meant innocent.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Little hypocritical coming from the man dating an outsider.”
I gritted my teeth against the urge to knock him out. “That girl isn’t the same. She’s untouched.”
“You think?” Enzo’s eyes darted toward the door where Allie had disappeared.
“I know.”
“Huh.” He considered it, lips pursed.
Shoving to my feet, I yanked off the borrowed shirt and tossed it into his lap. “I’m going to get changed. I want you to have forgotten about her by the time I get back.” I hardened my stare so he’d know I meant business. “That’s a direct order.”
“Fine,” he huffed before pulling the shirt on over his head.
My eyes lifted to the ceiling as I walked toward the bathroom. Like I didn’t have to deal with enough without having to worry about Enzo running around the city deflowering virgins.
When I returned, I slumped in my chair, my skull banging against the wall as I tipped my head back.
“Tell me this was an accident.” I knew better than to make that request. When bad things happened in our world, it was never a coincidence.
“You sure you want to do this now?” Enzo asked.
“If there’s a threat to my family, by assuming ignorance, I might as well be signing their death warrants.” A vise tightened around my chest, thinking of how close I’d come to losing them all tonight.
“You’re right.” He heaved a heavy sigh. “The power was cut to the entire block, not only knocking out our security cameras but also ensuring we wouldn’t be able to gain access to the footage over the fence from our neighbors on either side.
Since it was the middle of the night, Paulie was the only one on duty at the gate, and they must’ve gotten to him before he sounded the alarm. ”
“Make sure his family is taken care of.”
“Already done,” Enzo confirmed.
“So just like with everything else—Allegra’s death, the stolen money—we have no fucking clue who is behind it. There’s a goddamn target on our backs, and we’re no closer to figuring out who the enemy is so that we can blow them out of the water.”
My cousin ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” Sarcastic laughter fell from my lips, and I surged to my feet.
“Apologies don’t erase the fact that someone out there is trying to exterminate us.
They didn’t just come after me tonight. They came after my daughters, my woman.
There are some lines you don’t cross, and when I find out who’s behind this, the streets of Chicago will run red with their blood. ”
Every cell in my body demanded that I put my fist through a fucking wall, needing an external outlet for the all-consuming rage eating me alive from the inside out.
“How do you want to handle things in the meantime?”
“Full lockdown. No one in or out of the penthouse while my family is inside. Start making arrangements for us to leave the country.” He knew without me saying where I planned to take them.
“On it.” Standing, Enzo pulled out his phone and got to work.
“Mr. Bellini?” At the sound of my name, I spun around to find a doctor in a white lab coat on approach.
Unconcerned with how much he’d overheard of the conversation between me and my cousin, I asked eagerly, “Summer? Is she—?”
He dipped his chin. “She’s been asking for you.”
I bent over, breathing heavily with my head dropped between my knees. The overwhelming rush of relief was enough to make me lightheaded.
When the black spots cleared from my vision, I straightened. “Take me to her.”
“Of course. If you’ll come with me.”
Following behind as the doctor used his badge to lead me into the area where they treated patients, I silently vowed that once I laid eyes on Summer, I was never letting her out of my sight again.