Chapter 15 Maddie #2
Enzo starts walking toward us, and something about the way he moves makes my breath catch. This isn't the controlled businessman I know. This is someone much more dangerous.
"Touch her and you're dead." His voice is perfectly calm, which somehow makes the threat more terrifying.
"We are not touching," the scarred man replies, but I notice he doesn't move any closer to my car. "Just talking. Like civilized men."
"Civilized men don't trap innocent women on isolated roads."
"Civilized men respect agreements. Civilized men know their place."
Enzo is close enough now that I can see his face clearly. His expression is absolutely cold, and now I understand why the villagers treat him with such careful respect.
"My place," he says quietly, "is wherever I choose it to be. Your place is wherever I allow you to exist. Do I make myself clear?"
The threat is unmistakable, and the scarred man finally takes a step back from my car.
"This is not over, Benedetti."
"Yes, it is."
Something in Enzo's voice makes both men exchange glances. The second man says something urgent in Italian, tugging at his partner's sleeve.
"We will go," the scarred man says, but he's looking at Enzo, not me. "But the message stands. Respect goes both ways."
"The only message here," Enzo replies, "is that touching what's mine has consequences. Remember that."
What's mine.
The men back toward their cars, never taking their eyes off Enzo and his companions. I notice Emilio has positioned himself to block any sudden moves, while the third man has his hand inside his jacket.
"Madison," Enzo says without looking away from the other men. "Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Lock the doors," he says quietly. "Don't get out unless I tell you."
I do as he says, my hands shaking as I lock the doors. Through my windows, I watch the tense standoff continue.
The scarred man gets into his car first, but slowly, maintaining eye contact with Enzo the entire time. The second man follows, and both cars start their engines.
"This isn't finished," the scarred man calls out his window as they begin to move.
"Yes," Enzo replies. "It is."
The cars drive away slowly, the one in front heading down the mountain while the one that was behind me makes a careful U-turn and goes back the way we came. Even in retreat, they're making it clear they're not afraid.
But they left.
And that tells me everything I need to know about who really has power here.
Enzo watches until both cars disappear around the bend before walking back to my car and tapping on the window.
"You can come out now."
I unlock the doors and get out on unsteady legs. "How did you know I was here?"
"My people have been keeping an eye on things since those men left the village this morning. When they followed your car, we followed them."
"Your people were watching me?"
"We've been watching them," he corrects. "You happened to be in their path."
It's a reasonable explanation, but something about it feels incomplete. Still, I'm so relieved to see him that I don't question it further.
"They wanted me to give you a message," I say.
His expression darkens. "What message?"
"Something about partnerships and boundaries needing to be respected. They said you'd understand what they meant."
"I understand." His voice is cold in a way I've never heard before. "What else did they say?"
"They thought I was lying about not knowing what business they were talking about. They kept referring to tourism development like it was some kind of joke."
Enzo and Emilio exchange a look that I can't interpret.
"They threatened me," I continue. "Said if I was lying about what I know, things would be very bad for me. But I don't know what they think I know. I told them I’m not involved with your businesses."
"You don't need to know anything," Enzo says firmly. "This is a business dispute between men who have different ideas about how things should be handled. It has nothing to do with you."
"But they made it about me. They said next time they might have a longer conversation with your 'pet americana.'"
His hands clench at his sides. "They said that?"
"Yes. What did they mean?"
"They meant to intimidate you in order to send me a message. It won't happen again."
The certainty in his voice is both reassuring and slightly terrifying.
"Can you drive?" he asks. “Or do you want one of my men to drive you?”
"I can drive. I’m fine.”
"Follow me back to the village. Stay close."
The drive back to Monte Vento is surreal. Enzo drives slowly, checking his rearview mirror constantly, while Emilio follows behind me in another car. I feel like I'm in the middle of some kind of protection detail, which doesn't make sense.
When we reach the village, Enzo pulls over near my house and walks back to my car.
"Are you certain you're unharmed?" he asks as I get out.
"Physically, yes. But I'm confused and scared."
"Understandable. Don’t worry. This unfortunate situation will be resolved."
"What situation? I still don't understand what just happened."
He studies my face for a moment, like he's trying to decide how much to tell me.
"Some people don't want Monte Vento to change," he says finally. "They prefer things to remain as they've always been. Your tourism project might threaten that."
"Why? But it's good for the village. It'll bring money and jobs."
"Not everyone would see it that way."
It's still not a complete explanation, but it's more than I had before. And right now, I'm too shaken to push for more details.
"Will they come back?" I ask.
"Not if they're smart." Something in his voice suggests he's going to make sure they understand the consequences of bothering me again.
"Thank you," I say. "For coming to find me. For making sure I was safe."
"Of course."
"How did you know exactly where to find me?"
"Emilio has contacts throughout the region. When my people reported the men following your car, it wasn't difficult to determine the most likely location on the road for an encounter."
It's a plausible explanation, and I'm too grateful and rattled to question it further.
"I should let you get settled," he says. "But Madison?"
"Yes?"
"Don't drive alone outside the village for a few days. Until this is resolved."
"Is that really necessary?"
"Yes."
The finality in his voice makes it clear this isn't a suggestion.
"Okay. I'll stay close to home."
"Good." He pauses. "And Madison? If anyone approaches you again, about anything, you call me immediately. Keep your windows rolled up and your car doors locked. You don’t talk to them and you certainly don’t go anywhere with them. Understand?”
"Yes, of course, I do."
After he leaves, I sit alone in my house and try to make sense of what happened. Men who think my tourism project is a threat for some bizarre reason. Business disputes about respect and boundaries. Enzo having "people" who watch other people and know exactly where to find me when I'm in trouble.
None of it quite adds up to the simple business partnership I thought I was part of.
But as I replay the afternoon's events, one thing is crystal clear. When I was scared and trapped and completely out of my depth, Enzo came for me. Whatever else is going on in Monte Vento, I know I can count on him to keep me safe.
And right now, that feels like the most important thing in the world.