Chapter 17
ENZO
I’m a bastard for pretending to need Jenna’s help, but having her fuss over me is something I’m instantly addicted to.
I pull my gun out from where I’ve been lying on the damn thing and place it beneath the pillows so it’s out of sight.
Unlocking my phone, I bring up the security feed, and my eyes feast on Jenna for a while.
Tao linda. Watching her is the only thing that brings me peace.
My eyebrow lifts when her phone beeps, and she sits up.
Who is contacting her?
It better not be a man. I’ll kill the bastard just like I did the others.
I become unreasonably jealous, and when she clears her throat and puts the phone to her ear, I begin to climb out of bed so I can take the device from her.
She listens for a few seconds, then her voice is soft as she says, “I’m fine, Mom. I’ve just been busy.”
Oh. It’s her mother.
Relieved, I relax back against the pillows, then I’m surprised as I listen to Jenna having a full-blown conversation with her mother.
I quickly realize they're talking about money, and when Jenna lies to her mother, I wonder why.
Honestly, I forgot about her mother.
Jenna climbs off her bed, and when she sneaks toward my room, I quickly put my phone down and pretend I’m asleep.
When I don’t hear her come inside, I crack one eye open. There’s no sign of my little angel, so I check the security feed again.
Finding her in the living room, I watch as she grabs the blanket from the couch before coming back upstairs.
Her features remain tense, and as she comes down the hallway, I set the phone down again and close my eyes.
When Jenna enters the room, I feel the tension in the air ease. It’s as if she’s the embodiment of peace for me.
She gently places the blanket over me, and the caring act softens my heart. I think she moves my phone to the bedside table, but I can’t be sure, then the next second, her palm settles over my forehead.
She definitely cares about me.
After she pulls her palm away, it sounds as if she’s moving the chair before everything becomes quiet, but I can still feel her close to me.
I focus on keeping my breaths even and my features expressionless while I wonder what she’s doing. Minutes pass before I hear her move, and when it sounds like she’s running, my eyes open and snap to the door in time to see her disappear.
I quickly pick up my phone to check the security feed again, and see Jenna lock her door before she climbs back into bed, pulling the covers over her head.
What happened?
I rewind the footage to where she pulls the chair closer and sits down, then she stares at me, one expression after the other flitting over her face.
At first, there’s admiration, and dare I say, even desire, which makes her blush.
The corner of my mouth lifts, and I feel a little better knowing I have something to work with.
Jenna pulls her legs up and curls into a ball while still looking at me.
Confusion tightens her features, but soon afterward, her expression grows tense until she looks downright terrified of me.
Foda-se! Why?
I go back to the current feed and find her still hiding under the covers.
She’s like a scared little bunny, all cute and fluffy, but skittish and difficult to catch.
Letting out a sigh, I place my phone on the bedside table and close my eyes. I drift on and off for a couple of hours before I give up and climb out of bed.
I check on Jenna, seeing she’s fallen asleep and has kicked off the covers.
I head downstairs to get the luggage the guards brought over from the motel and carry it back to the bedroom. Not caring about keeping the wound dry, I take a quick shower before getting dressed in a suit.
I tuck my gun into the back of my pants and let out a sigh. Feeling more refreshed, I wonder what I’m going to do now that I have to lie low for a while.
Shrugging, I sit down on the armchair, and I’m just about to continue watching Jenna sleep when a horrified scream knocks the air from my lungs.
I react instantly, running the short distance to her door, and finding it locked, I don’t think twice and throw my body against it.
When it doesn’t open, I quickly check the footage, and seeing Jenna is still in bed, tossing and turning while crying, I pull my gun out from behind my back and fire a shot at the lock.
Finally, the door shudders open, and I rush inside.
Jenna shoots up in bed, her face filled with shock while her breaths burst over her lips in panicked puffs, her cheeks wet from crying.
I reach her in two seconds and grab her to me. When I get to hold her trembling body, I let out a harsh breath.
Meu corac?o!
“It’s okay,” I say, my tone dark and threatening. “I’m here.”
Instead of fighting me, she loses control over her fragile emotions and begins to sob in my arms. I hold her for a minute or so, but when she doesn’t calm down, I pull back so I can frame her face with my hands and make her look at me.
Everything in me stills when I see the shame and trauma in her eyes. Recognizing the look I had for many years, I have an idea of what happened to Jenna.
I might be wrong, but I think she’s been raped, and if the bastard who did that to her is still alive, I will set him on fire just like I did with Martim.
It’s the most painful way to die.
I lean closer and press a kiss to her forehead, then keeping still, my lips brush against her skin as I vow, “No one will ever hurt you again. I’ll keep you safe as long as there is breath in my lungs.”
Jenna’s arms dart around me, and she grips me tightly, and there’s so much pain in her voice when she whimpers, “Promise you won’t hurt me.”
Knowing she doesn’t talk easily and that she’s choosing to say this to me, I take it very seriously.
I pull back and lock eyes with her. “I promise. I’d put a gun to my head and end myself before I cause you any harm. You are unbelievably precious to me. Meu corac?o. Meu amor. Meu anjinho.”
Hope trickles into her beautiful eyes, and it makes me feel like I’ve finally done something right for once.
“Where is everyone?” I hear Cassia call, and it shatters the moment between Jenna and me.
JENNA
Where Enzo’s expression was tender a second ago, it’s now grim, like he’s about to kill someone.
I pull away from him and climb off the bed just as Cassia appears in the doorway.
As her eyes flick between Enzo and me, he growls, “Your timing sucks. Next time, call before you come over.”
“That’ll be the day,” she snorts, then her gaze settles on me. “Are you okay?”
Not by a long shot.
I gesture for them to leave and point at the bathroom.
“Okay. I’ll wait in the kitchen for you,” Cassia agrees. When she turns to go, but Enzo remains sitting on the side of my bed, she says, “Come, Enzo. Stop hovering around Jenna.”
His features turn even harsher, and when he grabs his gun from where it’s lying on the covers and climbs to his feet, I actually fear for Cassia’s safety.
“Santiago sent antibiotics for you. He’s gone to the factory to make sure everything is okay there, and Dominik is taking care of the…” Her eyes dart to me before she looks at Enzo again. “Let’s give Jenna space. We can talk downstairs.”
Hmm.
Enzo glances at me as they both leave, and I wait a few seconds before I hurry to the door. I get down to the floor, and crawling on my hands and knees, I move closer to the banister.
“Dominik has paid off the senator. The bodies you left in the middle of the road have been disposed of. You really made a mess, you know?”
“Don’t blame me. The stupid bastards attacked me,” Enzo growls.
Gosh, if he ever uses that tone with me, I’ll wet myself right on the spot!
“Here’s your meds. Complete the course,” Cassia tells him.
“Thanks.”
“How are things with Jenna?”
“None of your business.” Enzo lets out a sigh. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I’ll take over from here on out.”
Cassia bursts out laughing. “Keep dreaming. I’m here for Jenna, and I’m not leaving until I’ve talked to her. Alone. So, you can make yourself scarce.”
Who is Cassia that she’s not afraid to stand up to Enzo?
I crawl back into my bedroom before getting up so I can change out of my pajamas. Like always, I put on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, and I tie my hair up in a ponytail.
Gosh, the past few days have been a rollercoaster ride and a half.
I can’t believe Enzo shot my door to get into my bedroom.
Is it weird that I appreciate the comfort he gave me?
Probably, and it’s even weirder that you actually believed him when he promised he wouldn’t hurt you.
While I brush my teeth, I wonder about the relationship between Enzo and Cassia. And who are the other three men I saw last night?
One of them must be Santiago.
Once I’m done, I take a deep breath and grab my phone from my bed before leaving the bedroom. Heading downstairs, I go to the kitchen. There’s no sign of Enzo, and I find Cassia sitting at the island, sipping on a cup of tea.
“I made you some.” She gestures at the other cup, and I notice my notepad and pencil lying beside it. “Come sit.”
She waits until I take a seat before she asks, “How are you holding up?”
I shrug out of habit. Putting down my phone, I pick up the pencil and write.
I’m just very confused.
She gives me an encouraging look. “You can ask me anything.”
How do you know Enzo?
“We work together,” she gives me the same answer as when we met, but then she adds, “We’re in an alliance of five people. You saw the other three men last night.”
Not knowing what that means, I ask more questions.
What alliance? Are you a criminal too?
Cassia reads what I’ve written before she meets my eyes. “How much has Enzo told you?”
He’s an assassin and something about a criminal organization in Portugal. He also said he won’t let me go and that I belong to him!!!! I think he’s insane.
Instead of taking me seriously, Cassia bursts out laughing, and I scowl at her.
“Oh no, I’m not laughing at you.” She shakes her head. “You just summed up Enzo in a nutshell.”
So he’s insane????
“Well, I wouldn’t say that, but he’s definitely a little unstable.
But then again, so are all the men in my world.
” She gets up and comes to sit beside me, then places her hand on my arm.
“Seeing as Enzo’s told you what he does for a living, I’ll be honest with you.
I’m the head of the Greek mafia. I’ve killed before, and I will again. That’s just how it works in our world.”
My eyes grow wider with every word she says.
Holy crap on a cracker, I seriously am the worst when it comes to people. I thought she was just one of those rich women who loves dressing up.
“Don’t panic,” she says as she moves her hand up to my shoulder. “I’m not a threat to you at all and consider you a friend.”
I quickly scribble over the paper.
But you’re all criminals!!
She nods. “Yes, we are.”
I shake my head at her as I write some more.
What am I supposed to do? You told me I’d be safe here, and I believed you. How could you bring me here and make me think I got the job of a lifetime?
Cassia takes a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “Everything I told you was the truth. I only omitted who Enzo is.”
Throwing my arms in the air, I get up, grab my phone, and walk away from her before I lose my temper.