26. Enzo
Enzo
26
I’ve never been happier. Yesterday was perfect. Absolutely perfect. I roll onto my side to tuck a stray strand of hair behind Christina’s ear. She’s so beautiful, asleep in the bed, nuzzled peacefully between us. Her silky brown hair curls into spirals that tickle my face.
I press a kiss to her head. I love this woman. So damn much. I need to tell her, but I haven’t found the perfect time.
If it weren’t for Christina, I doubt Nico and I would have gone to the premier, let alone had fun. I kiss her again. There are so many things about life that she’s teaching us to enjoy, to look forward to, and this is only the beginning.
My heart squeezes, tightening in my chest. She’s so perfect. This is what I want. This.
Christina in between us, always.
Her love fills us up in ways I never expected. I have been born and raised to be a man of action, but I can confidently say that I would spend the rest of my days here, lying by her side.
If only that were possible.
I reach over to the nightstand and check the time on my phone. Five in the morning. I try to set my phone aside without disturbing her but she stirs awake.
I press a kiss to her forehead. I fucking love kissing her.
“It’s all right, princess. I didn’t mean to wake you, go back to sleep.”
She yawns, offering me a sleepy smile. “I can’t help it. I’m awake now.” She yawns again.
“You sure?”
She nods her head, pulling away to stretch, but then snuggling back into the crock of my body.
“You’re so adorable,” I huff a laugh as she kisses me. “You want coffee then?”
She smiles.
“All right. I’ll get us coffee.” I kiss her again. “Don’t move.” I swing my legs over the edge, careful to stay quiet and not wake Nico.
Christina might be forgiving of an early morning wake up call, but Nico wouldn’t be. He’s a bear in the mornings.
I walk down the stairs, yawning but I pause when I hear Albert’s voice. It’s much too early for him to be up and about unless….
Something isn’t right.
I lean over the banister and try to listen.
“How the fuck did we let that happen?” He yells to someone. It sounds as if there’s movement from his office. A thump and more shouting.
“They ambushed the shipment as it left the port.”
What?
I take a step closer. That can’t be right. Another ambushed shipment. But no one knew about our deal with the Colombians. No one… except.
A door opens.
I straighten, trying my best to walk down the stairs as if nothing unusual has happened, making my way into the kitchen.
“Ah, Enzo, good,” Albert says, looking at me overtop his glasses.
The look on his face suggests that this news is going to be anything but good. I nod my head to Giovanni who turns to leave through the door.
My fingers itch to take out my phone and text Alec, but I know that I need to wait until after I gather all the information.
“Will you wake Nico for me?” Albert asks. “Now.”
“Of course,” I say, finishing the coffee for Christina, bringing it up to her and waking Nico.
So much for enjoying our morning together.
I hand her the drink, kissing her forehead softly and stroking her hair. I hate to leave her.
“I’m sorry, princess,” I say. “Something happened, and we have to go to work for a little bit.”
“Is everything okay?” she asks, sleepily, her eyebrows knitting together in concern.
“Yeah, don’t worry about it, it’s going to be fine,” I say with a sigh. I hate that my words come out uncertain.
I allow myself one more kiss.
It’s technically not a lie. Things will be okay, not because I know the solution yet, but because there’s no other option.
I won’t give up my future with Christina, so I will always find a way.
“I promise, we won’t stay out longer than is absolutely necessary,” I say to her, since I can’t say the rest of what I’m thinking.
“You’ll be safe?” She asks, holding the cup in her hands, the steam rising.
“For you, I’ll always be safe.”
She gives me a warm smile.
“Nico,” I say, happy to see him awake. He’s grouchy in the morning, so it’s a nice change of pace to see him smile at Christina. “Father wants to see us.”
Nico places a kiss on her lips and follows behind me.
Albert waits for us in the kitchen. “Have a seat,” he says gruffly.
Well, this can’t be good.
Nico makes himself coffee. The hum of the espresso machine whirrs in the background of the room.
“A third shipment was ambushed. We’re going to the docks to learn more. Be ready to leave in five.” He stands and leaves the room without another word.
Fuck.
Nico gives me a meaningful look.
I run a hand through my hair.
We can’t change it now.
Nico sighs into his coffee, taking a single sip before turning around to grab a tumbler from a cabinet and dumping it into his to-go cup.
We’re at the warehouse in less than twenty minutes, learning a lot from the phone calls Albert makes on the drive there.
The sky is still dark by the time we arrive. The buildings and streets are shrouded in an early morning darkness, complete with thick fog swirling around the towering stacks of shipping containers. The sound of the waves lapping against the dock fills the space between us.
Headlights cut through the fog as the rest of the men arrive.
Nico stands next to Albert, arms crossed against his chest, a grim expression etched on his face. They are mirrors of each other.
The old guard, and the new.
The air crackles with tension. We all sense the unsaid. We’re at war.
My jaw tightens as I survey the scene before us, always on alert. Everything and everyone is quiet, too quiet for my liking. The familiar hum of activity that usually fills the air is absent this morning. Instead, it has been replaced by an eerie stillness that feels oppressive.
Albert cracks his knuckles and clears his throat. We’re all assembled, it’s time to find out why.
He nods his head towards the building, as clear an order as we’re going to get.
The men exchange uneasy glances as they begin to file behind one another through the doorway. It’s still so early – some are yawning and others are shifting uncomfortably.
We’ve had many years of peace. There are some in the inner circle that have never even known a time of war. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen Albert this angry.
I turn to follow them inside, walking alongside Nico.
Nico’s voice is low and steely. “What the hell do you think happened out there?”
I scratch my neck, following in step. “We now know without a shadow of a doubt that the Cossi family has declared war.”
By the time we’re all crowded into the small conference room, the tension is palpable – as is the sense of urgency.
I look around the room. It’s utilitarian at best. A long wooden table, empty crates, and an assortment of chairs. A large city map is tacked up on one wall and a whiteboard with arrival notices is hanging on the other wall.
Everyone takes a seat wherever they can. Albert moves to the head of the table and Nico and I flank him.
Giovanni steps forward as everyone takes their seat. I stare at him with laser focus.
“We were ambushed this morning on the coast of Colombia by the Cossi family, just after leaving the port of Cartagena.” His voice is quiet and measured but carries through the room.
“They came out of nowhere, catching us off guard. We believe this to be the third attack they have launched against our business.”
Alec’s fists clench and Tommy slaps a hand on the table, his frustration boiling over.
“We’re certain it was the Cossis?” Albert asks.
There are murmurs amongst the men.
Nico shoots me a knowing look. If Albert is asking a question in this room, he already knows the answer.
Fuck.
Giovanni nods his head. “They left this.” He slides forward a series of blown-up photos.
“Our intel confirms. The shipment was ambushed by the Cossi family. The cargo ship was stopped at a port but let go a while later. Everything seems normal until one of our men turned up dead and…desecrated.”
I lean forward to look at the image and cringe.
It’s a brutal way to send a message, even for our world. Someone carved out his eyes and nailed his tongue to the wall. He’s still wearing chains.
“This is more than a business deal gone wrong, or territory dispute.” Giovanni pauses, looking to Albert before continuing. “This is personal.”
“I just need to figure out why,” Albert nods.
I rub at my face, annoyed, already piecing together what I believe has happened.
His daughter. Nico mouths and I nod my head.
Great. It’s starting to look like Alec’s theory might be right.
“We need to regroup, figure out our next move,” Albert says. He makes a point of looking at every man.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Albert already has that plan in motion. He rules over our organization with an iron fist and he wouldn’t have called this meeting if he didn’t already have a response ready to go.
“Whoever made this call will pay dearly. It’s a declaration of war. We won’t let this slide. Tell your men – we’re on high alert.”
The men nod and Albert dismisses them.
We may have lost this battle, but the war is only just beginning.
Nico is locked in a whispered conversation with his father. I sit and survey the room, watching as the men chatter among themselves. Giovanni sits mostly by himself. Another red flag.
We have to figure this out. I square my shoulders, my mind racing with plans for retaliation. We will not let the death of any of our men go unavenged.
As everyone starts to filter out, Nico and I hang back.
“Wait here, I have another meeting,” Albert says, mysteriously.
I look over at Nico and he just shrugs. I’m not sure who I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t Senator Cosa.
He barges into the room just as the last of the men are leaving. His security detail moves around him, watching each of us.
What the fuck is he doing here?
I shove my hands in my pockets and glance over at Nico. He’s glaring at Jimmy Senior.
Most find the Senator to be intimidating. Not only is he a respected politician, but he’s also a large man who radiates a certain comfortability with power. He’s tall, with big hands and an angry scowl that makes him look older than he is.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Senator Cosa smile, but especially not now.
There’s something in the way he walks over to Albert that tells me something is very, very wrong.
“What’s going on?” Alec whispers.
I just shake my head. “I don’t know.”
The two men step away but remain close enough for us to overhear.
“We can put a stop to it,” Cosa says.
“On one condition?” Albert fills in the blank.
Cosa chuckles. “Isn’t that how this relationship works, old friend? You do something for me, I’ll do something for you.”
The Senator has some balls on him to talk to Albert like that. If it wouldn’t get my ass kicked later, I’d probably laugh.
“Spit it out, Cosa,” Albert snaps.
“Jimmy marries the girl.”
Excuse me, what?
Albert purses his lips and looks thoughtful. When he doesn’t immediately say no, a sick feeling starts in my stomach.
I turn to Nico but he has already started moving forward, violence written all over his face.
I signal Alec and together, we grab his arms, forcing him back.
Cosa looks over at us with a sinister grin. Fucker. Jimmy probably told him about Christina’s relationship with both of us. I swear, if he’s doing this to fuck with us as payment for Jimmy having to go to the hospital after Nico beat the shit out of him….
They both need to die. Father and son. Sometimes family trees rot and whole branches have to be pruned. This is what’s happening here.
I almost let Nico loose when he cocks an eyebrow, turning on his heel to ignore us and grin at Albert, “Like I said, Jimmy wants the girl. You want this over. That’s what I’m offering.”
He makes a point to offer an exaggerated shrug, as if suggesting he doesn’t know what he’s doing.
Fucking prick.
“Surely we have a deal?” He says.
Albert eyes his outstretched hand and sighs. He doesn’t even bother to look apologetic as he takes it.
“Deal.”
Nico struggles against us, his face turning almost purple with rage. I look over his head at Alec.
If we let him go, he will kill the senator, or his father.
“Do it,” Alec mouths, grunting as Nico throws an elbow.
“I’m sorry, Brother,” I whisper, before lunging and putting Nico in a wrestler's choke hold.
He gasps and gurgles, drawing Albert and Cosa’s attention. His struggles test the very limits of my strength but, after several long minutes, I feel his body start to fall limp.
“He’s out,” Alec says, helping me drag Nico into the office. We’re definitely going to have to answer to Albert for that little scene. Shit.
“Guard him, don’t let him out of this room. Taze him if you have to,” I tell Alec as I head out to intercept Albert.
I fully expect him to be waiting for me but, to my surprise, the taillights of Albert’s SUV are leaving the compound.
What the fuck?
Mario and Tommy are guarding the door but everyone else has already left.
“Boss says you’re to come straight home once you’re squared away with Nico,” Tommy says.
I nod at him and run a hand through my hair.
Albert has to know. He has to know how important Christina is to us. We’ve been with her in public. We’ve claimed her.
Is this punishment? Is this a way of asserting his dominance?
What the hell is the old man playing at?
A muffled thump from the office draws my attention and I hurry back to see Alec wrestling with a very pissed off Nico.
“I should kill you for that,” he snarls when he sees me.
Alec tries to block him but gets a fist to the jaw for his trouble.
“What the fuck was that?” He snaps, pushing Alec and trying to get to the door.
But I’m too fast. I grab him and dodge his fist, wrapping his arms behind his back and kicking out his legs to bring him to the ground.
He hits the ground hard, but it doesn’t stop him from fighting back.
“Let me go,” he yells.
“Listen to me, you asshole,” I yell, positioning my knee in his back. We’re close in size so it’s going to take me leveraging all my body weight to keep him down for long.
“He…can’t…have…her…” Nico gasps.
I want to shake him.
“Stop it. We need a plan. It’s the only way we can save her.”
Nico struggles beneath me.
“I’m not letting you go until you calm down. I can’t have you killing someone.”
“I’ll kill whoever the fuck I want.” He grunts, still trying to escape me.
“Jimmy is going to die but you have to be strategic, fuckwit.”
Alec eyes us both nervously.
“Fine. But she’s not fucking marrying anyone that’s not us.”
I hold him down just a little longer, but he stops fighting. Fucking finally.
When I get off him, I help him up – motioning for Alec to stand between him and the way out.
I hold up my hands.
“Brother. She’s ours. But we need to talk this through.”
He gives me a short nod. His breathing is still erratic.
“Why are they going after our business? Why do they want Christina? What the fuck is Cosa doing here? Why is he even getting involved?” Alec asks, looking from me to Nico.
I don’t even begin to know how to answer all of his questions.
He rubs a hand over his face, clearly agitated.
“This is worse than I thought. The Cossi family isn’t backing down, not now. They’re pushing into our territory and hitting us where it hurts. Targeting our assets, our business. It’s a full-blown assault.” Alec grimaces. “And now our family? Oh, Jesus – they’re making a bid to take over. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
I nod my head. It is a lot. And seemingly out of nowhere. A coup would make sense.
“There’s certainly more to it than we know,” I say, slowly.
“Alec is right. They know the old man is stepping down soon and they think we’re weak and that if they attack us now, you and I will bend at the knee,” Nico says, wiping his mouth.
“And Christina?” I ask.
“She’s how they get to us. We need to retaliate,” Nico says, his hands clenched into fists at his sides as his eyes darken with anger.
Alec nods. “I think Albert’s working on it—”
“We need to work on it,” Nico interrupts.
“Look. We have to stick together,” I say, hoping to stop their fight before it can start. “We work together, so we’re prepared for anything.”
Nico nods, visibly trying to reign in his emotions.
I get it. I want to scream and rip the man’s head from his neck myself. But reactionary violence isn’t going to solve this problem.
“It’s the only way we’ll get through this, watching each other’s backs,” I say. I run a hand through my hair. I hate the warm layer of sweat that coats my skin from being in this musty room.
I want to go home.
I want to see Christina.
“We’ll think of something,” Alec says. “If she’s important to you—”
“She’s not just important to us. She’s everything to us,” I say, trying to head Nico off, seeing the flash in his gaze.
Alec looks nervously between us, trying to work out the unsaid meaning.
“She’s our woman,” I say, sighing. I’m tired of all this too. The sooner everyone knows, the better. There’s no safety in keeping this secret.
“And no one will fucking touch her,” Nico adds.
Obviously.
Alec shoves his hands into his pockets. “Then we’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.”
There’s nothing left to say. I step aside, hoping that Nico’s calmed down enough. We need to get home. I won’t be able to think here.
“Are you okay?” I ask, looking at him to be certain.
“As good as I can be.”
I lead the way out to the car.
Despite all my words, I can’t shake the feeling of unease that hangs heavy in the air between us.
The calm before the storm.
I shoot Christina a text, not to warn her, just to make sure she’s okay. Because I know that no matter what happens next, it’s going to feel as if her entire world is upending once again.