Chapter 7
ENZO
Vanessa Rossi was certifiably crazy, which I’d known all my life. But I knew nothing good would come from this little trip downtown.
The bar was a strip joint, with a mirrored ceiling that reflected the large stage beneath it.
Gold railings surrounded the stage, along with shot glasses turned upside down, awaiting new patrons.
Beige chairs that had seen better days were packed like sardines around the stage, and at the back was a bar where two women stood chatting behind it, and one old guy sat at the far end of it, nursing a beer.
Otherwise, it was dead.
Vanessa sniffed the stale air and made a face before glaring behind the bar. “One of those bitches is Cami. Let’s go. Follow my lead.”
Vanessa strode forward, and I groaned inwardly. She was my best friend’s little sister, but she didn’t need me to protect her—I was probably here to protect this Cami chick from her.
“Whiskey, on the rocks,” Vanessa commanded, eyeballing the petite brunette who was, incidentally, eyeing me.
Great.
Was this the woman my best friend had ruined his life for? Was this Cami? She was just your regular woman, nothing overly special, and if anything, she was tacky. Fake pink nails and lips that were too big for her face. What the fuck had he been thinking?
“Sure thing,” the woman replied, her voice husky and low as she turned her attention to me, all wide eyes. “And for you, handsome?”
Vanessa nudged me and winked theatrically. “He’s single, if you’re interested.”
What the hell was she doing? Trying to set me up with the homewrecker?
“Oh, I’m interested. I’m Cami.” Cami winked at me.
Holy shit, she’d just signed her death certificate.
Vanessa’s expression changed slightly, not anything obvious, but because I knew her so well, I noticed the tic in her right eye, the twitch on her lips. She plastered on a grin and turned to me. “Tell her your name; don’t be shy.”
This was why Vanessa wanted me here, as bait. This fucking woman. Cami wasn’t having my real name, that was for damn sure.
“I’m Lee, but ignore my friend, I’m not looking for a relationship right now.
” I gave her my most charming smile, but Cami laughed, leaning forward so her tits were on full display.
She was a good-looking girl, I’d give her that, but compared to Lila?
Nah. She lacked the class and elegance Lila had. “And I’ll have a whiskey too.”
“Who said anything about a relationship?”
Oh, boy. She was a go-getter, and Vanessa was going to murder her.
“Oh Cami, leave him, you’ve got enough on your plate with your own man,” the woman next to her said playfully, sliding two whiskeys over to us.
Please god don’t be talking about Victor.
Cami’s smile dropped, but she shrugged her shoulders, plucking the crisp bills from Vanessa’s outstretched fingers.
“Oh, you have a man?” Vanessa asked, leaning forward. “Shit, sorry, I didn’t know. You look too young to be settled down.”
She’s so smooth. Like a lion stalking its prey.
Cami handed her the change and smiled. “It’s fine. We’re… on a break right now.”
Vanessa looked at me, then back at Cami. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. What happened?”
I can’t believe this.
Cami eyed Vanessa suspiciously, then dragged a hand through her hair with those hot pink talons that looked like they’d hurt if she used them against you.
“I’m sure you don’t wanna hear about my love life, honey. I wouldn’t, not if I was here with Lee.”
Vanessa stared daggers at her, before downing her drink in one.
Damn.
“Let me guess, he’s married?” Vanessa drawled, signalling to the other woman for a drink. “Been there, done that.”
Voices sounded behind us, and I turned to see about five men pile in, all looking eagerly at the stage.
“You got it in one,” Cami confirmed with a sigh, adjusting her cleavage before moving over to the men who were now at the bar.
“That?” Vanessa hissed to me, her grip on the whiskey glass turning her knuckles white. “He cheated on my best friend for that?”
“Look, I don’t know what you’re trying to achieve, but we should go before you let that demon of yours out.” I pointed to the door. “Please, can we leave?”
But Vanessa wasn’t even listening to me. She was watching Cami like a predator watches their prey, tracking every movement, tilting her head as she did.
“Lila filed for divorce.” Vanessa glanced at me, shaking her head. “Because of her.”
Oh, boy.
This would only end in blood or tears. Probably both.
“Fuck,” I muttered, wondering how my best friend would react to that. He loved Lila, that much I knew, but seeing this Cami girl made me question his sense. Why would he risk his marriage over this…woman?
“Yeah.” Vanessa gulped down her second whiskey then stood, muttering something about the restroom.
“I’ll wait here,” I called after her, even though she didn’t look back.
“Another drink?” the other bartender asked, and I nodded. It was going to be a long night.
I’d barely finished my drink before Vanessa marched out of the restroom, her eyes wild.
“We’re leaving.”
I frowned and pointed at my drink. “Can I finish this?”
“No, Enzo.” Vanessa stormed past me, leaving a cloud of her sweet perfume in her wake.
Vanilla with hints of jasmine and rose. Flowerbomb. Her favourite perfume.
I downed the rest of my drink in one and set the glass on the counter of the bar. Vanessa had serious issues, dragging me down here, trying to get me to flirt with the homewrecker, then demanding to leave as soon as I had a drink.
What was her problem?
“Vanessa,” I hollered after her, having to jog to catch up with her. I turned back to the bar to see only one bartender watching us leave, and I wondered where Cami was.
She was a stripper, so maybe she’d gone to change. I didn’t have Victor down as a stripper kinda guy, but then I never thought he’d cheat on his wife either. You think you know your best friend…
Outside, the damn cold air nipped at me, and I saw Vanessa waiting by my truck, hugging herself.
“Where’s the fire?” I called out to her, searching for my keys.
“Just unlock the truck, Enzo.”
I rolled my eyes and unlocked it, watching as she jumped in and clipped her belt on.
“Why are you so eager to go?” I asked her as I twisted the key in the ignition. “You wanted to come and check her out, then leave? That’s not like you at all.”
“Just drive.” Vanessa stared out the window, refusing to look at me.
I studied her, trying to work out what had happened, because I knew Vanessa—and something had happened. “Okay, but—”
“Enzo,” Vanessa’s voice cracked a little, lowering when she said, “Please, just go.”
I stared at her, unsure what to do with this softer version of the firecracker I’d known since my teen years.
The affect her vulnerability had on me was insane, like she spoke to my soul.
I didn’t question it—I hit the gas and got the fuck out of Dodge.
The night sky had appeared while we’d been in the bar, and I relaxed a little as the open road took us further away from it.
We’d been driving for half an hour before she said anything.
“I did a thing,” she said quietly, and I gripped the steering wheel tight.
I had no idea what she was going to tell me, but I knew it wouldn’t be a little thing. When it came to Vanessa, all bets were off. I glanced at her, her olive skin highlighted by the moonlight, her full lips pursed together as she gazed at me.
So beautiful.
Not now, Enzo.
“Do I want to know?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“Probably not.”
“But you’re going to tell me anyway, right?” I sighed, glancing at her.
“I may have hurt her a little.”
I snapped my neck to look at her, my eyes wide. She couldn’t be fucking serious. The car swerved as I stared at her, forgetting about the road.
“Hurt her? Who? Cami?” My voice rose with panic at the end of my sentence, and Vanessa nodded, her face devoid of emotion.
“I slammed her head into the hand dryer. She won’t know it was me.”
Slammed… Fucking hell, this woman was crazy. I pulled the car over, cutting the engine so I could focus on her.
The silence throbbed between us.
“Is she even alive, for fuck’s sake?” I snapped at her, furious I hadn’t noticed Cami leaving the bar area. Vanessa must’ve seen her and run after her.
Fuck!
“I fucking hope not, but yes, I’m sure she is.”
I stared at her. “Vanessa, this isn’t funny. Do I need to ring for a medic?”
Vanessa turned her attention to me. “Relax, Captain America. She’ll just wake up with a sore head is all. Much less than she deserves.”
I groaned. “Vanessa, I’m serious. If that girl dies—”
Vanessa leaned forward, her eyes blazing. “I’m not a fucking murderer, Enzo! I just gave her a headache; now can we drive?”
I sat back in my seat, unable to comprehend what was happening. Vanessa had assaulted that woman, and now she wanted me to drive away with her left out-cold on a restroom floor? I wasn’t that guy, and she knew it.
“We need to go back and check on her,” I declared, but Vanessa leaned over and shook her head, her hand on my arm. Her eyes burned like the whiskey she’d just drunk.
“No, we don’t. I told you. It’s just a headache.”
“Then you stay here and I’ll go inside.” I turned the car around as Vanessa yelled at me, but I ignored her. I had to make sure she was okay, homewrecker or not. If that girl died…I’d never forgive myself.
“How strong do you think I am, Enzo?” Vanessa muttered as I drove way over the speed limit. “Don’t you think I’d have known if I killed her?”
“This was too far, even for you,” I shot back. “A fucking hand dryer? It’s a solid machine!”
“I didn’t hear a crack,” Vanessa told me, still glaring at me. “You’re wasting your time. And mine.”
I ignored her as I drove back to the bar, my heart in my mouth. I was probably wrong, but fucking hell, I couldn’t rest easy until I knew how Cami was. I wouldn’t leave a stranger on the floor of a bathroom, and that’s what Cami was to me.
“You’re wasting time,” Vanessa said again, her arms folded as we pulled back up to the bar. I was half relieved not to be greeted by an ambulance or the cops, but then I panicked that no one had found her yet.
“Stay here,” I commanded, pointing at Vanessa. “I’m fucking serious—don’t move.”
Vanessa saluted me with her middle finger, and I slammed the truck door, jogging over to the bar.
Please don’t be dead, for fuck’s sake.
I pushed open the door to the bar, seeing two girls on the stage dancing in string bikinis. Neither of them were Cami. My heart was in my mouth as I scanned the bar, but then I saw her sitting at the end of the bar.
She had a bag of ice on her head, held there by the other bartender, and she’d been crying.
But she was alive.
I turned and walked straight back out the door before anyone saw me, vowing to deal with Vanessa later.