Bonus Chapter
Enzo
A year ago, the World Series was on at Pop Smoke, a military bar in North Carolina. Between tossing back cold drafts, I saw the resemblance between Jamie and that baseball star. Jamie had killed my question faster than when I’d asked about his nightmares.
I had no problem with the MacKenzies. In fact, Jamie was my brother. But as I watched Jordyn approach the table, I could read her lips. Some of what she said. A habit. It kept me safe when child insurgents—who hadn’t learned the art of being discreet—practically told on themselves.
I lifted the shot of vodka. Resnov Water. Tossed it back. Let it burn down my throat. Let the fact that I was drinking the libations of my enemy fuel my anger .
The father called the brothers over. Jamie had just disappeared with his bride, and I was proud of him. He’d become a man soon enough.
A few minutes after Lachlan excused himself from the table, Natasha took a few bites of her untouched wedding cake. She was chubby—chubbier than I was used to. Cute, though. I appreciated her restraint around Lachlan. That meant she was shy. I could prey on that.
She took another bite of cake, then stood from her chair and looped her camera around her neck. “Guess I better take more photos,” she murmured. Another bite finished off the slice of cake.
When she turned away from the table, she was at eye level with my chest. I blocked her path.
She smiled up at me through thick, natural lashes. Man, she was more gorgeous than I imagined. Soft in all the places that counted. Innocent. Kind. My chest hurt. I could tell she had an understated intelligence that I was sure she had to fight to show. Natasha asked, “You’re Jamie’s friend?”
Offering an award-winning smile of my own, my thumb brushed some icing from her bottom lip.
A red blush colored her cheeks. Gorgeous .
“Lorenzo G—” I cleared my throat. She didn’t need to know that my father’s name was Gotti.
Loui “the Legion” Gotti—the heavyweight champion. Not yet . “Lorenzo… Giani Ferri.”
When I kissed the back of her hand, she trembled slightly. I had the same effect on other women. But this one, I would ruin.
“Sit with me, Natasha. The lovebirds will be awhile.”
Like Jamie with Jordyn, I wanted to show this woman I could be her safe place.
I could love Natasha with all the pieces of my soul until she felt confident.
Until her nose was so wide open, all she would ever love was me.
And once Vassili Resnov lost his little girl to me—the way I lost the only shred of my papa to him in the UFC cage—only then would they both see the very darkness that consumed my mamma and me .
Fearless Entanglement, which features Natasha, Lachlan, and Enzo will release January 2026. Read the prologue now !