Chapter 15
ENZO
I don’t know why the hell I decided to set this meeting up for tonight, especially when I don’t even want to be there.
But business must go on as usual, even if I’m dealing with my own personal shit at the moment. Lately, I’ve been preoccupied with thoughts of my girl every single day, and it’s just pissing me off that I haven’t been able to find her yet.
I’ve got to give it to her asshole of a father. He hid her pretty well. Even though it’s taking me more time than I would have liked, I know I’m going to find her eventually.
I always get what I want, and right now that’s her. Once she’s in my grasp again, I’m never going to let her go. Her father and Salvatore be damned, because she sure as fuck isn’t going to marry that piece of shit anymore.
She’s mine.
As soon as I find her, I’m claiming her.
Even if it ultimately starts an even bigger war between her piece of shit father and us. I’d gladly spill blood for her.
I’ve experienced what life is like without her these last couple of weeks, and I have to say I don’t fucking like that shit one bit.
It was just supposed to be one night.
One night to scratch the itch between us, but then it turned into two, which then went to a week, and then more of me sneaking into her house because we couldn’t get enough of each other.
I’ve been an absolute grouch since she’s been gone. So grumpy that even my men try to steer clear of me these days.
I let out a long sigh as I step into my room, having just finished showering. It’s time to get this show on the road as well as my head in the game.
I push all thoughts of her out of my subconscious as I try to clear my mind.
I have to go into this meeting fully focused, or I could end up dead.
Always expect the unexpected, because assholes are always trying to double-cross you.
And I don’t know… but my sixth sense has been tingling all day.
I’m going to have to be extra vigilant tonight.
I pull on a pair of black cargo pants and a white tank top, then put on my bulletproof vest. After that’s secured in place, I throw on a black T-shirt over it all to hide the fact that I’m wearing my vest tonight.
One of my companies has developed a bulletproof jacket laced with a secret material woven into the fabric that’s even stronger than Kevlar, and it’s nowhere to be found on the market.
It’s made in a way that no one can even tell that you’re wearing it, since it’s not bulky like the regular ones.
This is one secret product I think I’m going to be keeping to myself.
I grab my combat boots and put them on, then put on a pair of black gloves and finally my jacket.
After that’s done, I strap one of my knives to my ankle, a gun to my shoulder holster, one behind my back, and one on the inside of my waistband by my hip, along with some extra magazines of bullets in my cargo pants pockets.
Once I’m done arming myself and ensure I have everything I need, I head out the door and down the elevator to the garage.
I hop into my SUV and pull out a second later, heading to one of our warehouses. I keep glancing around my surroundings, double-checking to make sure I’m not being followed. When I get there, I park, step out of my vehicle, and head for the door.
“Everything good here?” I ask the soldier standing guard at the door as I approach. He opens it for me, and I stop to speak to him.
“We’re good, boss. No sign of trouble. It’s been quiet.”
“Perfect,” I tell him as I finally walk past him and head inside.
No matter where we are, I always have a few of my men patrolling the perimeter. You never know who could be watching.
It’s always a toss-up between my enemies and the Feds.
Though no one knows where my active warehouses are, since we move base constantly.
One can never be too cautious. Last time the Feds managed to find one of them, it was already empty.
No sign of anything illegal, like no one was ever there to begin with.
“Right on time, boss. We’re almost done and will be ready to leave soon,” Aldo, my head of security, says as I walk over to where he’s standing with a few of the guys.
The warehouse is buzzing with activity. I check the guns that are ready to go, and once they pass my inspection, my men begin loading them into the crates.
When they’re done, we have four crates of semi-automatic rifles.
A few of them lift the crates and take them out through the back door to put them into two SUVs.
I watch to make sure it’s all secure, and when we all head back inside, I check my watch and see we have half an hour before we need to leave.
“Thanks, guys. Everything looks good. Does everyone have on their vests?”
“Yes, boss!” they chorus around the room.
“And are you all sufficiently armed?”
“Yes,” they all say.
“Good. I want everyone to be extra vigilant and keep an eye on things tonight. Watch your sixes and each other’s backs. I have this feeling that something is fucking going to go down, and I want as few casualties on our side as possible.”
“We’ve got it covered, boss.” Jack, one of the guys, says.
“Alright, men, listen up! We’re going to go over the plan one last time just to make sure everyone knows what they have to do.
You guys have been split into teams. Team One, you are to keep the boss covered at all times tonight.
Team Two, you know where your sniper positions are.
Get there as soon as possible. If you see anything that doesn’t look right, shoot to kill.
Team Three, you guys will wait for the call before bringing in the merchandise, and Team Four, which is the rest of you, will fan out around the perimeter.
Is that understood?” Aldo speaks, pointing out the teams as he goes.
“Yes, sir! We’re ready,” they all reply.
“Alright. Let’s roll,” I say, looking at my watch and seeing it’s time to go.
The men on Team Three, who are taking the guns, head out the back once more to get into their SUVs, while the rest of us head out the front to get to ours. Team One, plus Aldo, stick with me in my SUV, not that I need them to stick to me, but try telling these assholes that.
“Team Two, you guys in place yet?” I inquire through my earpiece. They left a few minutes before we did, so they’d be in place before we got there.
“Affirmative, boss.” They reply.
Once Aldo hears that they’re already in place, he speeds up a little.
“Copy that,” I respond.
“We’re almost there,” Aldo says a few minutes later, like I can’t see that for myself. I have to resist the urge to roll my eyes at the man.
“Protect yourselves, stay focused, and try not to get killed,” I tell the guys in the car with me. “Don’t worry about me.”
“Yeah. Sure thing, boss,” Aldo grunts out, and I know the asshole didn’t listen to a word I just said.
“Everyone else in place?” I ask into my earpiece.
“Yes,” each team utters one after the other in my ear.
“Stay sharp, men.”
I step out of the vehicle, with the guys doing the same before they flank me, standing just a step behind me. The place is just like where you’d expect shady deals to go down.
The air smells of salt and rust, with a faint scent of rot beneath it all.
The few street lights around the place cast a dim orange glow around us.
There’s a distant clang as the hulls of the few boats here knock against the dock.
The sound is a little too loud in the otherwise quiet atmosphere that surrounds us.
The old industrial buildings, shipping containers, and crumbling concrete piers are the only things around, besides the dark water ahead.
Gino Gambino is already here and steps out of his vehicle. What the fuck kind of name is Gino Gambino anyway?
“Mr. Andretti, nice to see you again,” he tells me as we walk toward each other, meeting in the middle. He puts his hand out for a shake.
“Nice to see you too, Gino,” I tell him as I shake his hand. A flicker of annoyance crosses his face at me using his first name before it quickly disappears. “How are the wife and kids?”
“Good. Good,” he tells me. I don’t even care, but I’m trying to be nice and make small talk, since my dad says I scare people when my face is set like I constantly want to murder someone. “How are your parents?”
“They’re good. My father sends his regards,” I say.
“Tell him we’ll have to set up a golf session soon,” he replies.
“Will do. Now, enough of this chit chat. Let’s get down to business,” I tell him, tired of the small talk already.
“Did you bring the merchandise?” he questions.
“Obviously,” I deadpan. “Why else do you think I’m here? Where is my money?”
“Three point five million, correct?” he asks.
“That’s the price we agreed on, isn't it? I’m not in the business of double-crossing my clients,” I tell him, already wanting to shoot him just on the principle of him being an annoying old bastard.
“Right. Right. I apologize. That’s not what I meant at all,” he quickly reassures me, before lifting a hand up to motion one of his men forward. His guy walks up to him and hands him two briefcases. Gino then gives them to me. “It’s all here.”
“Forgive me, but you wouldn’t mind if I double-check, would you?”
“Of course not,” he says, in what is obviously an insincere tone.
I hand the briefcases to Aldo, who takes them back to our SUV and quickly counts the money. “It’s all here, sir.”
“Thank you, Aldo.” I bring my phone up to my ears as I dial the guys. “Bring the merchandise over.”
A few seconds later, they drive in and stop a few feet away from my SUV before getting out and heading to the back to open their hatches.
“This is everything I asked for?” Gino asks.
“Of course. You’re more than welcome to check them,” I tell him. He walks over to my guys. They’ve already pulled the tops of the crates off, and Gino inspects all three of them.
“Get these into the van,” he tells his men once he’s done checking everything. “Thanks. Everything looks great.”