Chapter 6 Enzo
ENZO
“Mm, I can do anything you want me to do,” the woman who worked at my strip club said into my ear as she slid onto my lap. “I’ve seen you watching me all night.”
“It’s my job to watch,” I said in a bored voice as she let out a soft titter.
I had no idea what her name was. I didn’t give a fuck what it was either. She was an employee.
I hated this fucking club. I’d only picked it up because of the location. I figured I might be able to turn it into something admirable, and really, I had. Business was booming. A place for the elite of our world to watch some of the top strippers in the city. It pulled in a fuck ton of money.
But it wasn’t for me.
I’d burn the place down in a heartbeat if I thought it would make me feel better.
Money wasn’t an issue for me. I had so fucking much that dropping a ten thousand dollar tip at a local diner was nothing. I made that every fraction of a second.
Guns. Tech. Real estate. I had my hands in a little bit of everything, right down to some fucked-up government contracts. I’d poured myself into work after my parents died and Rosalie left.
I didn’t have fuck all else to do. Seemed like a good way to waste my time as I waited for someone with enough bravery and skill to kill my ass.
She laughed as she rubbed up against me. I hadn’t been with a woman in years. Not since Rosalie. I wasn’t about to break my dry streak with one of my employees either.
“You’re brave,” I said to her. “I could kill you for touching me.”
She bit her lip and gave me a coy look. “If you were going to kill me, you’d have done it already.”
I let out a soft laugh at that before I reached out my tatted hand, lightning fast, and wrapped it around her delicate throat and squeezed. Her eyes went wide as she grasped desperately at my arm.
“Thanks for reminding me,” I murmured. I dragged her closer so I could speak into her ear.
“Listen closely. You do not touch me. I am not your friend or someone interested in fucking you. Your job is not to entertain me. It’s to entertain the men in this club.
This job is a privilege, not a fucking right.
If you want to keep that privilege that pays your fucking bills, I suggest doing your job and stop trying to do me.
Understand?” I loosened my hold on her throat.
She sucked in mouthfuls of air, her dark lashes fluttering.
“Y-Yes, Mr. De Luca. I-I’m sorry.”
“Get the fuck off me,” I said, giving her a shove. She landed on her ass with a soft cry, her bare tits bouncing, before getting to her feet and rushing away.
Several men in the club cast me a quick look. I didn’t give a fuck if a hundred men looked at me. None could touch me.
“Bit rude, don’t you think?”
I looked over to see who was speaking to me.
“Sylar,” I snarled, glaring at the monster Dante Church employed. The same piece of shit that touched my sunshine, and the man she’d kissed.
He’d made my girl a cheater.
I hated him.
He slid into the velvet seat across from me. “How much does a dance in this place cost?”
“Three hundred a song,” I said dryly.
He bobbed his head. “Do you guys take coupons?”
I gave him a sour look. He was a weird prick. I had men all over this place watching me. Protecting me. I wasn’t afraid of shit, especially a watcher from the underground.
“What do you want?” I demanded.
“Just figured I was in the area and I’d say hi.”
I watched as his gaze drifted around the darkened club. Men in this place let their eyes linger on the naked women. He seemed more interested in the decor than the women.
“Well, now that you’ve said hi, fuck off,” I said.
He laughed at that and settled back in his seat. Sylar Cain was a big guy. He rivaled me in size and looked like he spent his spare time working out. Everyone knew who he was.
Asylum. The monster from the depths who used a fork to cut out eyes. He had mental issues. Multiple personalities. I’d dealt with him in fork form as well as a goddamn rabbit, complete with bunny ears. I didn’t care for any of his forms.
“Listen, Lorenzo, our conversation from earlier made me feel bad. I’m here to offer you some information, since I know everything going on has put you in a bad mood.”
I stared at him without saying a word.
He gave me a dazzling smile before continuing.
“Dante says he is taking care of the Rosalie situation. That there’s no need to worry.
He has it handled. Also, he wanted me to remind you that you have no right to his sister and to back off.
He urged me to remind you about the blood agreement you and Cole Scott made to him.
He says he would hate for you to break it. ”
I clenched my jaw as I glared at him. “Noted.”
“Perfect.” He grinned at me again. “You’re not still pissed I kissed your girl, are you? I get the distinct impression you’re holding a grudge. It’s been years. You need to let that go.”
“Get the fuck out before I slit your throat,” I snarled at him.
He shook his head at me. “You’re unnecessarily violent. Keep that shit up, and you might find yourself in the underground.”
“Are you threatening me?” I demanded, leaning forward.
This guy pissed me off so much. I think Church knew it, too, which is why he always sent him instead of one of his other minions.
Like he knew I could only handle so much of him before I acted on the violent scenarios that rushed through my head whenever he spoke to me.
Then, once I made the move to kill his ass, it would give the underground a reason to end my reign.
I knew Church hated me for hurting Rosalie, but he didn’t know shit about it.
“No. I’m not threatening you,” Sylar said easily. “I’m only giving you a reminder.”
“Get the fuck out,” I repeated in a soft snarl. “Or I’ll have you removed.”
“Fuck, you’re a grouchy prick. Maybe you do need to get laid. I suggest the blonde over there with big tits. I’ve fucked her before. She’s a hoot and a half.” He got to his feet. “I’ll be seeing you, horseman. Have a good night.” And with those words, he left me alone.
“Asshole,” I muttered before downing my drink. I slammed the glass back onto the table and rubbed my eyes. Someone slid into the booth across from me moments later as I let my head hang. I’d drunk too fucking much tonight already. I did that a lot, it seemed.
“Sylar, I swear to fuck, if you don’t leave—”
“It’s me,” Cole said.
I looked up at him. “Oh. Hey.”
“Hey. Warehouse fourteen was busted into tonight. Looked like some random street job. Some vandalism. Probably just some street kids looking for a place to hang out. Doesn’t appear to be a Virelli job.”
I grunted.
“Nothing taken. Some windows are broken, so I told the men to install iron bars on the lower level, as I’ve been saying for years. So look for that expense to be coming out of your bank account soon.”
I lifted the bottle of bourbon at my table and poured another glass.
“Why was Sylar here?” he asked after a quiet moment where I drank some more.
“To be a pain in my ass and remind me of our arrangement with the underground to leave Rosalie alone.” I drank again.
“Pricks,” Cole muttered. “What did you tell him?”
“I told him to fuck off and leave.” Another drink.
Cole nodded. “And what about Rosalie?”
“Sylar said Church is handling it. To stay out of it. I didn’t plan to get involved anyway,” I muttered.
“You’ve had men checking in on her for years—”
“I haven’t in over a year,” I said. “Anson has her shit on lockdown. This was a one over. I know security will be tightened, and honestly, she’s not my girl anymore.
She has a whole other life now. You need to let her go, Cole.
It’s ruining your fucking life. You’re obsessed with having her back, but she’s not fucking coming back.
And if she did? She wouldn’t stay. We have a kid we lied about. I married someone else.”
“And that bitch is dead, and we’re at the top,” he said fiercely. “I want a meeting with Church. I want to renegotiate the terms.”
I slammed my hand onto the table. “Fucking stop! NO! It’s fucking over. Let it go.”
“Like you have?” he asked, his voice shaking as he glared at me. “Is that what you want me to do? Let go? Be free? Fuck whoever I want?”
“Cole—”
I watched as he grabbed the bourbon and slammed the bottle back, taking a substantial amount into his body. He slid it back onto the table before wiping his mouth.
Before I could reprimand him again, he reached out and grabbed one of the strippers and tugged her onto his lap and planted his mouth on hers. She seemed stunned for a moment before she melted against him.
I ground my teeth at seeing his lips on another woman.
Fury radiated through my body, but I didn’t stop him. He needed a hard lesson, and maybe this was it.
He broke the kiss off and whispered something into her ear before she slid to her knees below the table.
He stared back at me, his blue eyes hard.
“Cole,” I warned, holding his gaze.
“This is what you want me to do, isn’t it? Move on?” His voice wavered before his breath caught.
The woman he’d pulled onto his lap was definitely taking his cock out of his pants.
“Stop,” I snarled at him.
His breath came out shaky, and I watched as he tangled his fingers into her hair and guided her toward his dick.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve come in another woman’s mouth,” he choked out, his body shaking as she went down on him. “But this is what you want me to do, isn’t it?”
My bottom lip shook as I stared back at him. If he did this, it would fucking wreck his soul. I couldn’t let that happen. He’d never forgive himself.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as she sucked his dick.
I was on my feet in a heartbeat and shoving her away from him. She let out a cry but didn’t hang around.
“Put your fucking dick away,” I hissed at him.
He did as he was told before he reached for the bourbon. I returned to my seat and watched him drink more.