19. Zeno
CHAPTER 19
ZENO
“I ’m not gonna lie, Lil. The exit strategy can be pretty fucking deadly. But you already know that. This is just who we are. It’s in our blood. You can fight it, but at the end of the day, family comes first.”
“I guess I’ve spent the past year fooling myself into believing I broke away from it all.” She lets out a deep breath. “But everything good comes to an end, right?”
“Not true. You just have to adjust your perception of what’s good.”
She nods. “Maybe…”
“No, definitely,” I say. “And I know that from personal experience.” I wink at her and a pink flush dots her cheeks.
I dip my head toward hers, grazing her lips with mine. I palm the back of her head, separating her lips with my tongue. She grips the sides of my shirt, eagerly attacking my mouth with the same yearning that festers deep within me.
I lose track of all time as I drink her in, pressing my fingertips into her hips. A loud and sudden ringing makes her jump back with a loud gasp.
So much for distractions.
Lily pulls away, breathless. “I have to get that. It could be my brother or my dad.”
“Yeah, sure,” I say, watching her rise to her feet and grab her phone from her bag.
“Hello?” she says, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. I watch as she slowly turns in a circle, her hair hanging loosely over her shoulders. Her makeup has faded over the past hours, her face the young and seemingly innocent one I first saw at the hotel.
The one that didn’t make me look twice.
Now, I think I could only stop looking if my eyeballs were pulled from the sockets.
And even then, I think they’d find their way back to her.
She’s magnetic, passionate, and unbelievably beautiful, inside and out.
I don’t know how the fuck I missed all that the first time.
Must’ve been sidetracked by the ‘People Suck’ t-shirt.
“Is there anyone else who can go?” Lily asks. “It’s just not really a good time, Allie.”
A short pause follows and Lily’s eyes drop to the pavers lining the patio. “Okay,” she finally says. “Give me twenty minutes.”
She clicks off the phone and turns her dark eyes up at me. “Zeno, I have to go to the shelter. The manager’s car broke down and the other volunteer called in sick. The doctor on call can’t get there for another few hours. There isn’t anyone else to take care of the animals.”
“Are you fucking crazy? You can’t leave. There’s no way, Lil.”
“Look, I understand the concern, but I have no choice. I’m the only one. It’ll be quick, I promise. But I have to go.”
She rushes back into the family room where Bruno, Aldo, and Chloe are congregated.
“Lily,” I call out as she hurries toward the door. “Stop.”
She turns to look at me with a lifted eyebrow. “Look, I get that this seems really stupid, but it’s my job and my responsibility.”
“What’s going on?” Aldo asks.
“Lily needs to get to the animal shelter. But you guys need to sit tight. I’ll take her and bring her right back.”
“Are you insane?” Chloe shrieks. “Lil, you can’t be serious. There are killers out there! You can’t leave!”
I pull out my phone and dial Sergio’s number while Lily tries to calm Chloe down.
“You got something?”
“Not yet. I need to leave for a little while. Lily has an emergency at the animal shelter she works at and I’m gonna take her.”
“This is a bad fucking idea, Zeno. What happens if Rayleigh pulls something while you’re gone, huh? Or the people watching you make a move? A kill move? Then what?”
I shrug. “Then I’m dead and your problems are solved.”
“Goddammit, Zeno,” he yells. “Why the fuck are you always pulling this kind of shit? Why don’t you ever listen? Why can’t you follow fucking orders for once in your life? Lay low, stay away from Salesi’s daughter, but no . If Alek Severinov finds out what you’re doing…what you did…Jesus Christ,” he mutters.
“Look, it’s who I am,” I say. “And this time, there’s no hell fire to rain down on you. I’m taking the cloud with me.”
“You’d better not fuck up anything with this syndicate, Zeno. We need Salesi. I’ll lock you in the fucking vault if he walks.”
“Serge, don’t get your dick in a twist. We won’t be long. Mike has eyes on Rayleigh. She’s the key.”
I click to end the call and pull my keys from my pocket. Lily gives Chloe a quick hug and takes my hand. I rush her down to the garage and find one of the hotel SUVs. I open the door for Lily and run around to the driver’s side. I turn on the ignition and race out of the lot, stabbing some numbers into the keypad next to the locked exit gate. As soon as they creak open wide enough, I press my foot on the gas and head toward the shelter.
“I’m really sorry for dragging you out. I just…this is something I have to do.” She sighs, leaning back against the seat. “Do you know why I chose this profession?”
“Because people suck?” I quip, disappointed that she doesn’t even crack a smile.
“Because for my whole life I’ve never been in control of anything. I’ve never been the one in the driver’s seat. I’ve always been the passenger. God, I’ve hated it so much.” She sighs. “I just wanted to be in control of something and do as much good as possible. That was supposed to be my new chapter. And now look at me. I’m rushing to the shelter, risking that something bad will happen on the way because the control I was so desperate to grab onto doesn’t really exist.”
I lace my fingers with hers as I speed through a yellow light. “You may have been a passenger in the past, but you’re no bystander. I think that’s what I love most about you.”
Her head whips toward me and I swallow a groan.
Shit. Did I really say love?
“You know,” I say. “Like, really admire.” I roll my eyes as I stare out the window.
Real smooth, Zeno.
Lily smiles. “Thanks,” she says in a soft voice.
“I just meant you don’t stand down. You get right in the face of danger.” I pause for a second. “Okay, maybe that’s the part I don’t really admire so much, but that inner strength you have? You’re fierce, Lil. And it’s sexy as hell.” I squeeze her fingers. “We’re gonna fix this thing with Messina. We’re gonna win and I believe part of the reason is because we have you. That Salesi blood? You might not love that it runs through your veins, but it’s our advantage over those assholes.”
A little giggle slips through her lips. “Not the only one, I hope. It’s a lot of pressure.” She bites down on her lower lip. “Dammit, I still haven’t called Kat. She needs to know what’s going on right now.”
“Seems like Messina is focused on us, and I definitely don’t need any of the Severinovs nosing into my fight,” I grumble. “I say you call her when we get back to the hotel. Maybe .”
She snickers. “Okay.”
I swing the car around a corner and pull into the driveway behind the shelter. The parking lot is empty and shielded by a tall fence lined with tall evergreen trees. I pull up close to the back door and park the car out of sight. A few seconds later, she unlocks the door and we’re entering the back door of the shelter.
“Come with me,” she says, leading me down a hallway.
And in that moment, you can be sure I’d follow her just about anywhere.
We come to a room where a row of cages sit. She busies herself with filling bowls of food and water and slides them into the cages. Lily cleans out a few of the litter trays for the cats and goes to work on the dog cages. She disappears with a few on leashes and is back a few minutes later as I lug another bag of food across the room. I look up when she returns with the animals, a smile playing at her lips. “Almost finished.” Then she walks to the cage at the far end of the room and I recognize the pit bull from the other night.
She bends down and fiddles with the cage lock until it’s open. “Good morning, Vito,” she murmurs, rubbing the area under his chin. I’ve never been close to a pit bull before last night, but I’d always thought they were dangerous, predatory dogs.
Which I guess would be me in canine form.
“How’s he doing?” I ask, feeling a sudden urge to wrap my arms around them both. Just watching her cradle him does something weird to my heart. Something unfamiliar, something I’ve never felt before.
“He’s good,” she coos, rubbing the area under his chin. In the distance, I hear a door bell chime and she jumps up. “Oh, someone’s here! I need to get up front.” She looks up at me. “Would you mind taking him outside so I can go up front?”
My mouth drops open. “ Really? I’m, uh, not exactly an expert when it comes to dogs.” I look at Vito and he barks as if on cue.
“You’ll be great,” she says, grabbing a plastic bag and handing it to me. “Just stick your hand inside of the bag, grab the poop, pull it out, and tie it up! Easy-peasy.”
“I’m going to pick up dog shit.”
“Yes.” She flashes a bright smile at me. “It’s a day for new experiences.” Lily hooks Vito’s collar up to a leash and gives me a little push toward the back door. “You’ll be great. He may want to sniff around for a little while first, so just be patient if it doesn’t happen right away.”
I nod. I must really have it bad for this girl if I’m allowing myself to turn into a human pooper-scooper.
She gives my ass a squeeze as I head toward the door and my cock twitches. I grab her wrist and pull her close, whispering against her ear. “I’m gonna have to punish you for this later.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” she replies in a sultry tone. “Now go, before Vito’s dinner ends up all over the floor.”
I chuckle to myself as I push open the door and let Vito charge through it. He clearly understands the urgency of getting outside, which is a very good thing.
As soon as his paws hit the concrete, he takes off and my body lurches forward, a yelp slipping through my lips. He zigzags back and forth as if he doesn’t know where to go with his newfound freedom.
It must suck to be caged up like that. Poor guy.
He barks at a few birds who swoop down into the parking lot to feast on some garbage in a nearby dumpster. They dive for whatever crap they sniffed out and then flee the scene before Vito can leap at them. He watches them flutter their wings and then runs around the empty lot. We go in circles, over and over and over, and still…nothing. He hasn’t stopped for a single second and I’m about to keel over from exhaustion.
I collapse on the ground, yanking a bit on the leash as Vito continues his morning jaunt. “Vito! Dude, I need a break!” I gasp. “Can’t you just do your business so we can go back inside? It’s like Africa hot out here.” I try to avoid being outside in Vegas during the day since the temperatures at this time of year rocket into the one hundreds.
Dry heat is still fucking hot, no matter what people say.
He stops and stares at me, a low growl rumbling through him. He creeps toward me, a menacing look on his worn face, and the fact that he’s an attack dog hits me just as he leaps into the air. His loud barks pierce the air, and I cover my head as he dives in my direction. I’m pretty sure I’m about to be shredded by Vito’s sharp fangs within the next few seconds, and I seriously doubt covering my head is gonna prevent any amount of damage.
Seconds later, the barking continues and I’m still in one piece, still with the leash wrapped around my hand.
I lower my arm to peer around and start to pull myself to my feet. “Hey, Vito, buddy. Let’s just go ins?—"
The sound of squealing tires against the pavement behind me makes me do a double take, and the barking gets louder as Vito drags me toward the blacked-out van entering the parking lot. He runs like there’s a lit candle shoved up his ass, dragging me behind him.
I tug on the leash to keep him away from the van with only one thought racing through my mind.
They found me.
Goddammit! I got lazy. I lost focus. I fucking failed my family. Again.
I grab for my gun and silence a groan when I remember that it’s still under the driver’s seat of my car. Not in my waistband where it needs to be right at this second.
I let go of the leash as two guys dressed in black jump out of the van, now blocking the exit to the parking lot. I scramble to my feet, my pulse throbbing against my neck as I charge for them.
Fuck it.
If they came for me, they’re gonna get me.
Lily is inside of the shelter. I have to keep her safe. That means keeping them out .
Vito attacks the men, digging his teeth into the calf of one of them as he fumbles with his gun. He points it at Vito and cocks it just as I launch my body at his.
He fires a shot into the air and two more follow as we roll around on the ground. I pound my fist against his jaw as Vito feasts on the second guy’s arm. The guy kicks, his legs flailing as he tries to get a grip on his own weapon.
Gunshots explode into the air as I fight them from my disadvantaged position on the ground. A whimpering sound follows and my throat tightens.
Did they shoot Vito?
Bastards.
I punch the one closest to me in the balls with every ounce of strength I can muster, sending him crashing to the ground with a loud roar. I roll around and jump at the second guy, locking my arm around his neck and tightening my grip so he gasps for air like a fish out of water. Just a few seconds more and his eyeballs will pop right out of his damn sockets.
His arms and legs kick and swing but I hold tight, cutting off all air.
Another shot explodes and a sudden fire ignites, raging through my shoulder. The force sends me flying into the cement wall before I crash to the ground, my skull cracking against the gravel. Searing pain tears through my flesh, shooting down my arm. I clench my teeth, rolling onto my back, my vision blurred from the sudden blast.
I blink fast, trying desperately to process what the fuck just happened.
My gaze falls to a pair of metal-tipped black boots before traveling upward to find a familiar face staring down at me.
Dark, ominous eyes, murderous expression, gun clutched tight and pointed at my forehead.
“Zeno Villani. I’ve waited a long time to meet you.” Domenico Messina lowers himself next to me, his black eyes demonic as they bore into my shattered body.
“I hope I was worth the wait,” I rasp, cringing as I try to move.
“I’m throwing a party and wanted to invite you in person.” He grins at me, tapping his gun against my head.
“My calendar is pretty full these days,” I mutter. My arm is like lead. I can’t move it or my body, for that matter. “Try scheduling time with my assistant. She might be able to pencil you in, you know, when hell freezes over.”
He lets out a sinister chuckle. “I figured you’d say that, so I did something to convince you that my invitation is not the kind you decline.” He holds up a phone in front of my face, flashing a picture that makes my heart damn-near stop. “I’ll bet that’ll make you clear your calendar pretty fucking quick.”
I expel a sharp breath, an icy cold sensation snaking through my insides as reality detonates like a dirty bomb.
And I’m ground zero.