Chapter 3 Enzo
THREE
ENZO
“What a beauty,” Vander Veer said for the third time that night as he stared across the table at Rosalie.
She did look breathtaking in the little black dress Cole had bought her.
“She needs more diamonds, Lorenzo. Such a beauty should be frosted in jewels and extravagance,” he continued, his eyes raking over her again.
She shifted next to me, her eyes on the table. We’d finished dinner not long ago. She’d barely said two words the entire time, but I was OK with that. I knew she didn’t want to be here. To be fair, neither did I, but business was business, and she was a far better date than Cole.
“I’ll see to it that she has them,” I said before sipping my wine and hoping he’d change the subject.
We were in negotiations for more weapons, and I didn’t want to be rude, but I hated entertaining his ass.
He annoyed the fuck out of me. If I didn’t need his weapons for my growing army, I’d have already buried his ass. Literally.
“Rosalie. Tell me, you grew up poor and common, yes?” Vander Veer continued.
She stiffened beside me. “I grew up loved.”
Vander Veer chuckled. “Of course. But you don’t come from money. Your name is common. What do your parents do for a living?”
“My dad is in finance. My mom was a stay-at-home mother.”
“Very common. But we need the commoners for a kingdom, right, Lorenzo?”
I gave him a tight smile. “Rosalie isn’t a commoner. She’s going to be my wife. I expect you to show her some respect and not refer to her as common. She is exceptional.”
“Of course. I meant no harm. I was only trying to get to know her better.” Vander Veer gestured for more wine.
I glanced at Rosalie to see her scowling openly at him. I gave her hand a gentle squeeze, and she looked at me. A forced smile graced her pretty face.
Vander Veer drank deeply before smacking his lips.
“So. Marriage.” He stared right at Rosalie.
“You were lucky to snag a man like Lorenzo. He’s quite powerful.
Many of the young girls in our circle weep because they never had a chance.
He’s proven not interested in any of them, too.
” He let out a booming laugh. “My daughter is quite smitten with him. Lorenzo is so devoted, I couldn’t even pay him enough to leave your side.
Quite a lucky woman indeed!” He laughed again.
“It’s just as well. I think Celeste has a thing for your sugar daddy now anyway.
She said she spoke to him this morning. They’ve been texting one another for weeks now, according to her.
I think there’s something there.” He drank again.
“Excuse me.” Rosalie got to her feet just as I was about to launch into Vander Veer for talking shit.
“Where are you going?” I rose to my feet and reached for her hand.
“Ladies’ room,” she muttered, stepping away before I could touch her. I nodded to two of my men on the edge of the room, who followed her.
I sat, irritated out of my mind.
“Honestly, Lorenzo. I see the appeal. She’s a gorgeous woman, but she is just a commoner. You could have Celeste—”
“Listen,” I snapped, interrupting him. “You have insulted not only me tonight, but you’ve insulted my fiancée.
You’re lucky I don’t fucking drown you in your wine glass for the fucking blatant disrespect.
As for E and Celeste, she’s lying to you.
E isn’t interested in Celeste. He will never be interested in her.
If you say another word about my girl, you’re going to have a big fucking problem on your hands. Got it?”
His smile faltered, his face reddening.
“My apologies. I’ve had too much wine.” He put his wine glass down. “Rosalie really is exceptional. You’re right. I guess I’m only upset that you chose her over Celeste. I’m still open to negotiating a marriage.”
I opened my mouth to snap at him, but he rushed on.
“I understand you’re not interested, but perhaps Cole? Ethan? Even Fox. My daughter needs a strong prospect. She was seeing the Seeley boy, but that didn’t work out. She’s a bit… hard to handle. It takes a special man to keep up with her, so it’s been a struggle to arrange a proper marriage.”
“I have no one who would want to marry your daughter,” I said firmly. “This isn’t open for debate. I’ve told you before, my men are off-limits. That won’t be changing.”
He nodded and licked his lips. “I must be frank with you. This world will tear your woman apart, Lorenzo. She is soft. Too sweet. Too innocent. Our world wasn’t built for women like her.
Our world begs for a woman like her, only for it to be ripped away.
If you love her the way you say you do, you’ll let that one go.
She has wings you’ve clipped. She is meant to rule her empire, not hold your hand while you rule yours.
” He sat back in his seat, studying me as I breathed in and out evenly.
“You’d be wise to let her go before she’s taken from you. ”
“Are you threatening me?” I asked in a low, dangerous voice.
“I’m not,” he replied softly. “I’m only telling you a truth that you seem too stubborn to want to listen to.
She is meant to be free. You cannot clip the wings of beauty and talent and expect it to smile from its cage.
Marry Celeste. She is strong. She knows what it takes to be at a man’s side.
She is better suited for this life.” He got to his feet.
“My offer for the marriage will continue to stand. I’m going to excuse myself.
We’ll continue our weapons deal as promised, and maybe I’ll see you at your engagement party…
if it still happens. Have a good night, Lorenzo.
Consider my offer.” He turned and left, his men flanking him as he strode away.
I sighed and sat back in my seat, hating the prick even more. There was no way in hell I’d consider his offer. I hated Celeste more than I hated anything else in this world, and that was saying something.
Rosalie returned a moment later, my men taking up their spots again at a far-off table I’d reserved for them. I stood as she approached.
“Hey.” I took her hands in mine and kissed her cheek. “Want to get out of here?”
“Yes. After we finish that bottle of wine,” she said softly.
I chuckled. “I have a better idea.”
I snapped my fingers, and a waiter rushed over.
“I want three bottles of the wine to go and two glasses. Be quick about it. My girl wants to leave,” I said.
The man nodded. “Of course, Mr. De Luca.” He rushed off, and I turned back to Rosalie.
“I’m sorry for Vander Veer. He’s a prick.”
“It’s fine.” She nibbled her bottom lip for a moment. “He is a prick, but it seems like the world is filled with them.”
“It is,” I agreed. “But he had no right speaking the way he did. I’ve made my discontent known. All is well now, Sunshine.”
She offered me a quick smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“Don’t be like that,” I murmured, brushing my knuckles along her jaw. “I love you.”
“Even if I’m just a commoner?”
“Especially if you’re a commoner. You’re my sunshine. Always and forever. Come on. Let’s go have an actual good time. Fuck this place.”
Her eyes sparkled, the life dancing back in them.
Thank fuck. I hated to see her sad or upset.
I took her hand and led her out, grabbing the wine along the way. My men followed us to my new Escalade, and I helped Rosalie inside before I got behind the wheel.
“Where are we going?” she asked as we drove away from the city, my men following behind.
I didn’t answer her. Instead, I made a call to Jake.
“Hang back. I’ll be a while.”
“You got it,” Jake replied before I hung up and took a left well outside city limits.
“Enzo?” Rosalie murmured as I drove the Escalade down a narrow road that led deep into the trees.
“Shh, baby. Trust me,” I said.
She said nothing, her green eyes tracking the passing trees in the night.
We reached the edge of the woods, and the lake stretched in front of us for miles.
“Oh, wow,” she murmured, her eyes lighting up in the moonlight.
“Come on,” I said eagerly, opening my door. Quickly, I went around her side and helped her out before going to the back hatch and grabbing two pillows, the wine, and a large blanket.
I led her to the edge of the lake and made up the bed for her. We sat on it, and I popped the wine open and poured her a glass. She took it and sipped, her eyes fixed on the calm water.
“It’s so pretty here,” she commented.
“Not as pretty as you.”
She looked over at me and smiled. “You’re being lame, Mr. De Luca.”
I laughed at that. “It’s the truth, though. You are pretty. Beautiful. Gorgeous. We’re really lucky to have you in our lives. I want you to know how much I fucking love you, Rosalie.” I twined my fingers with hers.
“I know,” she murmured. “I love you guys, too.”
I leaned in and brushed my lips against hers, the sounds of the waves gently lapping at the shore.
“Only a few weeks until the engagement party,” I murmured. “Then only a few weeks after that until you’re my wife.” I kissed her again. “I can’t wait.”
She kissed me back for a moment before pulling away and staring out at the lake. She said nothing as she drank her wine, finishing it quickly.
“Are you OK?” I asked softly.
“Yes.” She nodded, her words soft. “I’m OK.”
I drained my glass before I cradled her face. “Sunshine, remember who I am.”
Her green eyes skirted my face as she looked at me.
“Your secret keeper. Talk to me. You’re unhappy. Let me make it right. Give me the chance to fix whatever is hurting you.”
She smiled sadly at me. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I studied her. She’d been so quiet lately. I had no idea what was going on with her. I wasn’t sure if it was because Fox had started to withdraw and was spending a lot of time locked in his room away from everyone, or what. I knew it certainly wasn’t helping.
“Are you sure you want to marry me?”
I blinked in surprise at her question.
“Of course, I want to marry you. You know I do. Why are you asking me that?”
“It’s just… maybe Vander Veer is right. I’m too common. I don’t fit in—”