Chapter 19 Maddie #2
"I’ll provide a driver for them. Antonio will do it." He gestures to the man in the front seat. "He speaks some English and will make sure they see all the appropriate tourist sites. He’ll make a wonderful tour guide."
"What appropriate sites?"
"Places where they won't encounter any of my actual business operations."
The car pulls up to his villa, and I notice several more cars parked outside. Through the windows, I can see men moving around inside.
"What's happening? Why are so many people here?"
"Security briefing. Everyone needs to know American tourists are in the territory and they're off limits."
"Off limits. Like I'm off limits?"
"Exactly like that."
We get out of the car, and he guides me inside with a hand on my lower back. The possessive gesture that usually makes me feel desired now feels like a reminder of ownership.
His study is full of men I don’t recognize. They all stop talking when we enter, their eyes moving from Enzo to me with expressions I can't read.
Enzo says something in Italian, and several of the men nod. One asks a question, and Enzo's response is sharp enough to make the man step back.
"English," Enzo commands. "Madison needs to understand the rules."
The room shifts uncomfortably. These are clearly not conversations usually held in English.
"The Americans arrive at seven," Emilio says. "Flight from Rome, rental car reserved under Sarah Phillips's name. Silver Fiat 500."
"Cancel the rental," Enzo says. "Antonio will pick them up. Tell them it's a service for friends of Madison."
"Boss," one of the men says carefully, "what if they refuse the car?"
"They won't. Madison will call her friend and insist."
All eyes turn to me.
"I will?"
"You will." He pulls out my phone from my purse. When did he take my purse? He hands it to me. "Call the lawyer friend. Tell her you've arranged transportation. Make it sound like a wonderful gift."
"And if I don't?"
The room goes completely silent. The men look between us like they're watching a tennis match that might end in bloodshed.
"Then your friends will have a very different experience in Sicily," he says quietly. "My territory, my rules. You can make this easy for them, or you can make it complicated. Choose."
The undeniable threat is clear.
Play along, or my friends might find themselves in the kind of trouble that American tourists sometimes find in foreign countries. The kind of trouble that the State Department can't help with.
"Okay, I'll call them," I say.
I dial Sarah's number, hyperaware of everyone listening to the conversation.
"Maddie! What’s up? Are you freaking out? I'm sorry for the surprise but—"
"Sarah, listen. I've arranged a driver to pick you guys up from the airport."
"What? No, we have a rental car already arranged."
"Cancel it. Trust me, the roads here are crazy insane and it's better to have a local drive you. They’re not safe. His name is Antonio, he's a friend, and he'll take you to the hotel where you're staying."
"Hotel? We thought we'd crash with you at your lottery house."
"No, my place is a nightmare construction zone right now. No hot water, exposed wiring, very not safe. But Enzo found you guys an amazing luxury hotel nearby. Pool, views, the whole Italian dream experience."
"Enzo? The mysterious businessman?"
I feel the weight of every gaze in the room.
"Yes. He's been very helpful. He has contacts and was able to find a hotel with empty rooms for a few days."
"Madison Sullivan, tell me more about this man you’re dating."
"It's complicated,” I say. “I'll explain when you get here. Just please use the driver? For me?"
"Fine, fine. But when we get there, I want all the details about Mr. Complicated."
"You'll get them. Text me when you land."
I hang up and hand the phone back to Enzo.
"Satisfied now?"
"Getting there." He turns to his men and switches back to Italian, issuing what sound like detailed instructions. The men nod and begin filing out, each one giving me a respectful nod as they pass.
Soon it's just us.
"Emilio will coordinate security," Enzo tells me. "Invisible but comprehensive. Your friends will never know they're being watched."
"This is too much. They're only here for a visit."
"Nothing in my world is too much. Your friends are leverage that enemies could use against me. Through you. That makes them my concern. If you care about your friends, you should be equally as concerned."
"But, no one even knows about us!"
"Everyone knows. The village, my associates, my enemies. You became visible the moment you became mine."
"I'm not—"
He cuts me off with a kiss that's pure possession, pure dominance. When he pulls back, I'm breathless and flushed and several degrees less angry.
"You are," he says simply. "And now your friends are under my protection too. Be grateful I'm handling this delicately."
"Is this your definition of delicately?"
"Madison." His voice softens slightly. "I know this isn't the kind of visit with your friends you wanted.
But this is what's necessary. Your friends will have a wonderful visit.
They'll see beautiful sites, eat magnificent food, and go home with stories about their amazing Italian vacation.
They just won't see anything that could put them or us at risk. "
"And if Sarah figures out something's off? She's smart, Enzo. One of the top in her graduating class."
"Then we'll handle that if it happens." He touches my face, the gesture surprisingly gentle. "Trust me to keep them safe. It's what I do."
"Keep people safe, or control everything?"
"In my world, they're the same thing."
Looking at him now, seeing the absolute certainty in his eyes, I realize this is the best I'm going to get. My friends are coming whether I like it or not, and at least this way they'll be protected, even if they never know they need protection.
"Fine," I say. "We do it your way."
"We always do it my way." But he softens it with another kiss, this one slower, deeper. "They're important to you, which makes them important to me. I'll take care of them."
It's as close to reassurance as I'm going to get from a man who sees the world in terms of territory and threats.
I just hope Sarah and Jessica never realize they're spending their vacation in a beautiful controlled simulation, surrounded by invisible guards, in the territory of a dangerous man.
Because if they do figure it out, I'm not sure even Enzo's protection will be enough to keep everyone safe.