16. Enzo
Enzo
16
My bowtie feels like it’s choking me, and my jacket is too tight. Albert decreed that we would all be attending the Annual Police Association Charity Gala tonight. It’s an unfortunate reality that charity galas and balls are as much a part of our life as prison and funerals. I am way more comfortable with the latter but, no one has died this week.
So, here we are.
The only saving grace is this time, Christina will be there.
I suck in a deep breath and count down from ten to calm myself. It does nothing to soothe the restlessness that fills me. I’m not really a fancy night out kind of person. I hate tuxes, large groups of pretentious people, and fake smiles.
But, it has been decreed, so we’re going to do it.
I check my watch again. This might not feel so terrible if Nico would hurry the fuck up so we could leave already. I hate being late.
Which we already are. Shit.
We’re dressed the same, in matching black tuxedos. The only difference is that I’m ready and he’s not. Currently, he’s refusing to leave without the cufflinks that match the family signet on the ring he wears on his right hand.
I tap my foot against the tile. Of all the people I’ve met, I’m not sure any of them can compare to the special treatment Nico demands. He is the definition of a Mafia prince. It’s a good thing he’s set to be Don. Anyone else would get themselves killed from attitude alone. That kind of entitled behavior would usually be reserved for Christina. I snort, biting back the laugh that threatens to escape my lips.
Alec’s already waiting in the hallway downstairs, looking equally as annoyed as he checks his watch too.
“We are extremely late,” he spits out, annoyed. “Albert will notice.”
I wave him off. Alec and I are very similar, but there’s only one person who can harass Nico like this without risking a punch to the face.
“I know, he’s coming,” I add with an eye roll.
For me, there’s nothing worse than walking into a room full of people with all eyes on you.
Judging you. Assessing your worth.
Walking into a room full of people who know you can kill them at a moment’s notice? Totally fine.
But I hate everything about the idea of being in the spotlight
“We won’t be late if you drive fast,” Nico says, adjusting the cufflinks on his sleeve as he brushes past. The fucker doesn’t even have his jacket on.
“Where are the girls?” I ask, looking around, noticing that Christina and her mother are missing. Christina has been teasing us about her dress all day via text, even sending a picture of some red lingerie laying out on the bed. I can’t wait to see her. She’s becoming more and more open with us and I love it. I can’t wait to see her - maybe even steal her away for a moment or two in a dark corner.
“Already on their way,” Alec says, turning to follow after Nico who is finally ready.
We climb into the armored SUV and drive.
Alec drives our follow car with our security team. Even when traveling to an event, we’re prepared.
The fundraiser for the police is an annual event held at the mayor’s mansion. Nearly the entirety of the police force is here tonight, something that speaks to the state of the city, I’m sure.
In hindsight, we should’ve planned the shipment for the Cinelosa for tonight. I shove my hands into my pockets as I scan the room.
A wasted opportunity. Something I’ll be certain to correct when we take over.
I hear Nico’s sharp intake of breath and turn to see Christina walking alongside her mother. She’s a vision in red.
I watch, breathless, as she smiles at someone while taking little sips out of her wine glass.
Her dress is a deep crimson red that is perfectly fitted to her curves. The gold accents make her glow underneath the bright lights and the high slit shows off her toned legs.
Every single line of her body is accented and it makes me want to gouge out the eyes of every other man here.
No one should get to see her like this. No one but us.
“Holy fuck, who let her out like that?” Nico mutters.
I grunt in agreement.
She’s a beautiful girl in sweats, but tonight, she’s an angel come to life. A work of art. And everyone has noticed her.
The prosecutor’s office is also here. Meredith mingles with her coworkers, excited to introduce them to Albert who is perhaps more excited than they are to meet him. Senator Cosa sits at the table opposite ours, his son, Jimmy, scanning the crowd. I don’t like the way his eyes light up once he sees Christina.
He licks his lips and is looking at her like he’s a starving man and she’s his next meal.
The muscle in my jaw ticks. Fucker.
I’d sooner kill him in front of all these people than allow him to look at her like that again.
I know that he sees what I see, and I hate it. It sends my blood boiling, the way his greedy little eyes sweep over her curves. The scum is so far beneath her he doesn’t deserve to even look at her shadow, let alone at her body in couture.
I swallow my anger before it can get the best of me. Albert is dragging us away to socialize and I won’t have the chance to stop this interaction.
I track Christina through the crowd, my eyes always finding her as we move on opposite sides of the room.
Swarms of people approach, waiting their turn to talk to Albert. In the chaos, I lose Christina for a brief moment.
We go through the motions of greeting people we have no interest in talking to. I try to remember their names, but the reality is their only purpose is to fill time and preserve some connection we might need on a rainy day in the future. But right now, my attention is off…
Where did she go?
I see Jimmy approach her and I can’t wait any longer.
“Excuse me,” I say to the man in front of me, I put my hand on his arm and push past before he can stop me.
“Christina,” I call out, but she doesn’t hear me.
Instead, I watch as Jimmy takes her by the hand, leading her outside and away from the crowd.
Fuck.
I have to weave in and out of people, most of whom are already drunk, causing it to take much longer than I would like.
By the time I find her, she’s outside and alone with Jimmy Cosa in a dark corner.
I lean against the brick wall, watching.
Ready.
My hands clench into fists at my sides. As badly as I want to bash his head against the wall, I can’t. Or I shouldn’t. The rational part of me understands that I need to watch him to better understand his motives.
In our line of work, we have to be strategic.
What are his motives?
I watch Jimmy as he steps closer to her, crowding her in the corner. He holds out his cigarette, but she shakes her head no.
I can’t hear what he says, only see that his mouth moves and then a frown spreads across her face right before she crosses her arms against her chest.
My vision burns red, it’s all I can handle.
It’s time to take our girl back.