Chapter 6
ENZO
When I hear car engines, I get up from the couch and move to the large floor-to-ceiling windows that span over the two floors.
I watch as three SUVs pull up to the front of the house, then I walk to the door and open it for the men.
One breaks away from the group, and when I recognize him, I shake my head. “What are you doing here?”
Santiago grins at me. “I heard you needed backup, so I came.”
“I didn’t say I needed backup.”
“You’ve requested over twenty men in total. That’s a clear cry for help,” he taunts me, and as he reaches me, he grabs my hand and shakes it. “I’m bored and could do with some action.”
I suck in a deep breath and let it out slowly, but then I see Dominik, and my eyes narrow. “You too?”
“Apparently, I’m bored too.” He gestures at Santiago. “He dragged me here.”
I pull my hand free from Santiago’s and quickly shake Dominik’s. “If you tell me Leo and Cassia are also here, I’m not going to be happy.”
“They’re at the motel.” Santiago smirks at me. “We’ve taken over the place, and we’ll be staying for a while.”
I shake my head at the man. “Seriously?” I glance between the two men. “What about your wives and kids?”
“They’re having some girl time and couldn’t wait to be rid of us,” Dominik mutters.
“Think of it as a little family reunion,” Santiago says, letting out a chuckle. “It’s been months since we last saw you in person.”
“I’ve never missed a meeting,” I mutter. Glancing at the ten guards, I order, “Scatter out over the property. We’re not expecting any company.”
They all jump into action to secure the grounds.
Santiago pats my arm. “We came all this way. Are you going to let us stand outside or invite us into your home?”
“It’s not my home,” I grumble, but I step back and gesture for them to go inside. “Are Leo and Cassia really here?”
“Yes.” Santiago glances at the décor. “Not exactly what I pictured your home would look like.”
“The house came furnished. I’m waiting for my furniture to arrive.”
Dominik sits down on the armchair, then asks, “Want to catch us up with what’s happening between you and the MC club?”
Santiago keeps snooping around, and leaving him be, I take a seat on the couch and lock eyes with Dominik. “I paid them a visit yesterday. A couple of bullets flew, and I gave them a warning to stay away from my factory and trucks.”
“Do you think they’ll listen?” he asks.
I shake my head. “That’s why I put in the order for the men. I expect them to retaliate.”
“This place is pretty remote,” Santiago mentions. “You should join us at the motel. We’re stronger together.”
“Let me think about it,” I reply.
“How are things at the factory?” Dominik asks.
“Good. The workers feel safer with the guards there to protect them, so manufacturing is well underway. The first few trucks should go out for deliveries next week.”
“What are you making at the factory?” Santiago asks.
“The usual. Tech products. Watches. Electronics. Branded goods.”
Dominik gives me an impressed look. “I hear there are trillions to be made here in the US.”
“You heard right.”
“Are you still a one-man operation?” Santiago asks.
“I have people in Lisbon and Africa,” I tell them.
“We know you have people who work for you, but you have no one you trust by your side,” Dominik says. “I have Evinka. Santiago has Pedro. Leo has Massimo, and Cassia has Knight. It’s been years, and you’re still alone. It makes you an easy target.”
I lock eyes with him as I reply, “I have the alliance. It’s all I need.”
“No man is an island,” Santiago sighs. “All you do is work, kill, work, kill. You never take time off to rest.”
“Stop worrying about me,” I mutter a little too harshly. “I like being on my own.”
“What about John?” Dominik asks. “He’s been with you for years.”
“I trust that man as far as I can throw him.”
Santiago raises an eyebrow at me. “Why keep him then?”
I shrug. “He gets shit done.” Wanting them to stop worrying, I mention, “I got some rest the past week.”
Jenna’s pops into my mind, and remembering how terrified she was when I stopped at the gas station has me clenching my jaw.
Both men’s eyes narrow on me, and Santiago asks, “And?”
“And…” I let out a sigh as I lean forward, resting my forearms on my thighs. “There’s a woman.”
“Ooooh.” Instantly, a grin spreads over Santiago’s face. “Now we’re getting to the good stuff. Is it the woman you had the team do a search on? Jenna… Jenna Dotson.”
“Yes. She works in Aurora.”
When I don’t continue, Dominik asks, “But?”
“She doesn’t speak.” I look at the Slovakian, who’s one hell of a brilliant man. “She isn’t mute, and she’s very anxious and shy, so it’s going to take me some time to make her comfortable with me.”
Santiago finally sits down and glances at me. “So, you plan on staying here for a while?”
“As long as it takes to get her to trust me. She lives alone in a dump, and I’ve thought about kidnapping her, but if I just take her, I’m afraid it will do irrevocable harm to her fragile mental state.”
Santiago’s expression turns serious. “From what you’re telling us, it sounds like she’s been through some kind of trauma.”
“I think so too,” I agree. “But it can be anything from being abused to God knows what.”
“Patience wins the race,” he says, then he grins at me. “What are we eating?”
Unable to tell the men to leave like I would do with any other person, I suggest, “We can go out for a late lunch. I’m sure Leo and Cassia would like to join us.”
“Know any good places around here?” Dominik asks.
“No.”
Santiago lifts an eyebrow at me. “Then where do you suggest we eat?”
“Fine,” I grumble as I climb to my feet. “I’ll make something. Call Leo and Cassia and tell them to come over.”
“Whatever you’re preparing, make a lot of it. I’m hungry,” Santiago says as I walk to the kitchen.
I open the fridge and look at the steaks and chicken while thinking what will be best.
I hear the men come up behind me, then they peek into the fridge.
“We’re in America. We can have a barbecue,” Santiago mentions.
“Chicken and steaks. What do we add as side dishes?” I ask.
“I’ll tell Leo and Cassia to stop at a store for bread and salad ingredients,” Dominik replies while pulling his phone out of his pocket.
While he makes the call, I take all the meat out and set it down on the counter.
I had to drive two and a half hours to find a meat market that sold Wagyu, and I planned to make it for Jenna.
My eyes flick to the men, then I say, “I have plans for tonight, so this impromptu barbecue has to be over by seven.”
“A date with your woman?” Santiago asks.
I shake my head. “I like to watch her while she works.”
“Every night?” The corner of Dominik’s mouth lifts, and when I nod, he chuckles. “Didn’t take you for a stalker.”
I shrug. “It’s to keep her safe. The first night I got to town, a creep took a photo of her. I killed him and found hundreds of photos on his phone.”
Santiago gives me a curious look. “How many people have you killed since you’ve been here?”
“Just one. I think.” I begin to open the packs of steaks. “I’m not sure if I killed any of the bikers. I shot four and ran one off the road, so who knows.”
Dominik sighs. “Why do I get the feeling there’s going to be a lot of killing before you go back to Portugal?”
“At least you won’t be bored,” I mutter, making the men laugh.
Santiago opens the back door and takes a deep breath as he looks at the lake. “Are we barbecuing outside?”
“Sure.”
He disappears out of the house, and silence falls between Dominik and me. We’re both naturally quiet people, so it isn’t uncomfortable.
After a few minutes, during which I remove all the meat from the packaging before throwing some spices on, Dominik says, “I understand why you like to work alone.”
My eyes flick to his.
He crosses his arms over his chest and leans back against the counter. “Evinka and I grew up in an orphanage.”
I nod. “I’m aware.”
“You and I have similar pasts, Enzo.”
I shake my head. “I beg to differ. You had food, clothes, water, and a roof over your head.” My gaze meets his. “You had Evinka.”
He thinks for a moment, then nods. “All true.” Uncrossing his arms, he pushes away from the counter and comes closer to me.
I know he hates interacting with people. Maybe more than I do, so I take it seriously when he places his hand on my shoulder and a sincere expression settles on his face.
“You’re not alone, Enzo. We all came here to show you how important you are to the alliance. Santiago is right. No man is an island. Let us be the family you never had.”
“Family is overrated.” It’s my go-to response, and I regret the words once they hang in the air between us. Shaking my head, I let out a sigh. “I trust the alliance.”
Santiago appears in the doorway while brushing his palms against each other to get rid of some dust.
“I know, but we can give you so much more,” Dominik continues. “Camaraderie. Someone to lean on when things get a bit tough.” He gives my shoulder a light shake. “This alliance has held strong for over five years, Enzo. Let us into your life. You won’t be disappointed.”
Santiago comes closer, his expression serious. “You’re already family, brother. Stop being stubborn and accept it.”
We hear a car’s engine, and I say a silent prayer of thanks for the interruption because I need time to think about everything Dominik and Santiago just said.
A moment later, we hear Leo asking, “Where’s everyone?”
“In the kitchen,” Santiago replies.
“Which is where?”
Dominik walks to the doorway. “Over here.”
When Leo and Cassia come in, carrying bags, I gesture at the island in the middle of the kitchen. “Thanks.”
They set everything down, then Leo comes to shake my hand. “How have you been?”
“I’m good. You?”
“Same.”
Cassia steps closer, and I keep my touch gentle when I shake her hand. Since she took over as the head of the Greek mafia, she’s proven herself as a formidable fighter. It’s earned my respect, which I don’t give away easily.
“Never thought we’d have a barbecue with you,” she mentions as she glances over all the meat. “Anything I can help with?”
“No, thanks. You must be tired from traveling.” I look at Santiago. “Did you find a grill outside?”
He nods. “And chairs.” He tips his head toward the door. “Come, I’ll show everyone where we’ll be sitting.”
I pick up the plastic container holding all the meat and follow Santiago out of the house.
We follow the wrap-around porch until we reach a veranda where he’s set up everything.
I place the container on one of the chairs, then tell him, “You can start the grill while I fix the salad and get us something to drink.”
“No alcohol for me,” Cassia mentions. All our eyes snap to her, and she lets out a chuckle. “Yes, I’m pregnant again.”
The other three men congratulate her, and when it’s my turn, I ask, “Why are you here? You could’ve sent Knight in your stead.”
She looks me dead in the eye as she replies, “This is a family matter, and I’ll be damned if I sit on the sidelines. Besides, I’m only three months along and can still kick ass.”
I take in the determined look on her face, then nod. “Okay.”
Without another word from me, I turn around and head back into the house. I quickly empty the shopping bags and notice Cassia got everything for a Greek salad. I toss the ingredients together in a bowl and place it in the fridge.
I check the time on my Rolex, and seeing there’s only two hours left before Jenna starts work, I let out a sigh.
I’m going to be late tonight.
I grab a couple of waters, sodas, and beers, then head back outside. As I near the veranda, Santiago says with a chuckle, “If Dominik gets Grace pregnant one more time, she might kill him. I think she’s reached her limit with four kids.”
“I actually had a vasectomy,” Dominik informs us. “Snip-snip and the problem is gone.”
I set all the drinks down on the open chair and take a few steps backward, crossing my arms over my chest while I glance at the surrounding area, taking note of where the guards are stationed.
“I want five kids, then I’ll think about stopping,” Cassia mentions.
She has to make sure her line continues after the bratva wiped out her entire family years ago.
Santiago looks at everyone as he says, “Adan and Nadia keep us busy, but my Ciara wants another, and what my wife wants she gets.”
“I’m turning thirty-eight,” Leo mutters as he helps himself to a beer. “Haven brought it up the other day and used it against me, saying we don’t have all the time in the world and should start having kids.”
“So, are you?” Cassia asks while grabbing a bottle of water.
“Yeah. She’s stopped contraception, so we’ll probably try to get pregnant once I return home.”
“Can we change the topic?” I ask.
“Why? You don’t like talking about babies?” Santiago teases me.
“No, I don’t.” I glance at the lake.
For a moment, it’s quiet before Leo says, “Catch us up on what’s happening with the MC club.”
Santiago starts grilling the meat while I share everything I know, and by the time we eat, it’s already eight o’clock.
I feel uneasy as I look at the other alliance members, and no matter how hard I try to focus on the conversation, I can’t stop thinking about Jenna.
It’s like I’m having withdrawals, and I need to lay eyes on her to take the edge off.