47. Enzo
ENZO
“What are you doing?” I demanded as I walked into my office to find Jade holding my phone.
“Oh, uh.” Her cheeks flushed pink. “I was just putting something into your calendar. A meeting with Alan Winkle.”
I grunted, grabbed my phone from her, and stuffed it into my pocket before settling behind my desk. I tossed a file onto it, but before I could even open the damn thing, Jade slid in front of me and sat her ass on it.
I stared up at her as she leaned in.
“You still haven’t talked to me,” she murmured, her eyes searching my face. She reached out and adjusted my tie.
“There’s nothing to talk about.” I pushed her hand away, and she jutted her bottom lip out.
“What about us? You said you wanted me.”
I said nothing as I stared back at her. I had the sudden morbid thought that she’d look damn good in a casket. Fuck me for that.
“There is no us,” I said firmly.
“Enzo—”
I sighed and rubbed my hand down my face.
I’d reached the point where I knew I wanted back with Rosalie, but I had no fucking idea how to leave my life behind and join her and the guys.
It wasn’t something I could just do. It would take many steps.
I’d obviously keep my company since I suffered to have it, but the mafia life…
Fuck. It meant giving up what my parents died for.
“I’m seeing someone,” I said.
Jade stared at me for a moment before speaking. “Is that who you were with the other day? In your bedroom?”
“Yes.”
She was quiet again. I wanted her to get off my desk so I could get back to work, but I knew she could be a little dramatic, and I wanted this matter to be dealt with swiftly.
“I-I’m OK being on the side. We see each other daily. I can give you everything you need, Enzo. Like right now…” She slid onto my lap and straddled me. “I bet I’m better than she is.”
“Jade, I am only going to tell you this one time,” I said, my voice soft.
“Yeah?”
“Don’t fucking touch me.”
She blinked at me.
“Get the fuck off my lap.”
When she didn’t move, I stood abruptly and put her on her feet.
“You may not know this about me, but allow me to give you a lesson. When I am with someone I love, I am with them. In all ways. I am not interested in side pieces. Only my girl. So whatever you think is going on here, it’s not.
If I led you on at some point, that’s on me, and I’m sorry for doing so, but I am not interested. ”
Tears filled her eyes as she stared at me.
“Is it that singer? Bishop? She was at your house with Cole… Does he know you’re fucking his girlfriend? Does her husband know?”
I sighed. “Jade, don’t start. It’s not like that.”
“But it was her, wasn’t it? I’m sure her husband would like to know she’s fucking both of you! I heard you.”
“Jade, don’t,” I warned. “Whatever you think you know, you don’t. Don’t run spouting off shit.”
She shook her head at me, tears on her cheeks.
“You said you’d think about us. Did you? At all, or did you just climb into bed with the first whore who would spread her legs for you?”
I didn’t even think about it. I reached out and wrapped my hand around her throat and squeezed.
She tried to breathe, but I’d cut off her air supply. Her face darkened as she clawed at my hand.
“Never talk about my girl like that,” I snarled. “Do you hear me? I will fucking gut you and burn your fucking body while you scream for me. Do you understand?” I released her just enough for her to answer me.
“Y-Yes,” she rasped.
I released her fully, and she stumbled away from me.
“Enzo,” she sobbed. “Please….”
I shook my head. “Go home. Take a few days off.”
“No. Please! I-I love you—” She tried to reach for me, but I backed away from her.
“Jade. Go. You need to leave. Neither of us is calm right now, and I know what I’m capable of when I’m pissed. It’s in your best interest to go while you still can.”
“Because you do love me and are trying to fight it?” She stared at me with big eyes and tear-stained cheeks. “I’ll go so you can pine for me. I love you, Enzo. I do. I’ll wait for you.”
I blinked at her. She’d clearly lost her mind, but because she left my office quickly, I didn’t bother correcting her. All I knew were two things. One, I’d need a new assistant because there was no way in hell she could keep working here.
And two…
I desperately needed to see Rosalie.
I went home that night to find E hanging out with Riot. Cole was still at the hospital on his long shift.
“Hey, man. How was work?” E asked as Riot hugged me. I gave Riot a big hug and kissed his forehead.
“It was shit. I have to fire Jade,” I muttered.
E raised his brows at me. “What happened? I mean, I think she needed to be let go a long time ago, but indulge me.”
“She’s just… I fucked up with her, and she’s a little obsessed. I can’t deal with it.”
E nodded, his green eyes fixed on me. “So… Rosalie, huh?”
“Yeah. Rosalie. You?”
“Always,” he muttered. “I just have issues with things.”
“We should talk about it,” I said. “Because I know their stipulations. I don’t know how the hell I’m supposed to leave everything. Or you. You’re the fucking sugar daddy.”
He let out a sigh. “I don’t know either, but maybe we can negotiate.”
I nodded. “Maybe.”
“Well, if anyone can make it happen, it’s you,” E continued. “I think Cole is as good as in. He’d drop us like a bag of shit for Rosalie these days. He’s having another baby and has Ellis.”
“I know,” I murmured. I paused for a moment. “I’m going to go see Rosalie.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I need to talk to her.”
“OK. Uh, be careful. Shit’s dodgy right now with Virelli, and god knows what else.”
“You know I’m careful. I’ll have Christian and Memphis drive me.”
E seemed agreeable, so I went to my room, showered, and dressed in a black button-down and black pants. I fixed my hair and breathed out. I could do this, whatever the hell this was.
I bid E goodbye and hugged Riot on my way out. Memphis and Christian had the SUV pulled up in the garage for me, so I got into the back and gave them Rosalie’s address that I’d gotten from Cole. He’d texted it over to me earlier that day when I’d asked him.
When we got to the address, which was surprisingly close to our place, I got out and went inside. I went to the floor she was on and stood outside her door. I wanted to bring her flowers, but I knew Ryder was here, and she didn’t want anyone to know things were going on between us.
I knew that was because she didn’t want everyone worried and coddling her, but it did sting a bit. She still didn’t think I was a sure thing, but I understood why she thought that.
I breathed out and knocked on her door. A moment later, Ryder pulled it open and stared at me.
“Why are you here?” he asked, his voice monotone.
“I came to see Rosalie,” I said.
He eyed me for a moment before stepping aside.
I walked into the apartment and looked around.
It was a nice place. Large. Cozy. A lot different than her L.A.
home, and definitely different from my place.
My place was colder and more impersonal.
This was decorated with warm colors and an inviting vibe.
Rosalie looked up from the couch, surprise on her face.
“Hey,” she said, getting to her feet.
“Hey,” I replied, suddenly feeling nervous. I glanced at Ryder. He raised a brow at me.
I didn’t know him, but I knew he would definitely be a pain in the ass.
“Uh, I thought I’d visit you,” I continued, looking back at Rosalie.
“Oh? Um, OK. Do you want a drink?”
“Sure.”
I sat on the leather wraparound couch as she went to the kitchen. It was an open floor plan, so I could easily see her and Ryder.
Ryder leaned into her, his hand on her waist as they spoke. I narrowed my eyes. They were exceptionally close. Too close.
Ryder pulled away from her, and I watched as he slid his shoes on and grabbed a set of keys before leaving, locking the door behind him.
Rosalie returned to me with a glass of lemonade for each of us and settled next to me on the couch.
“Thanks,” I said, taking a sip of the juice. The sweetness teased my tongue. “Wow. This is really good.”
“Yeah? Ellis and I found a recipe. She loves it.”
I smiled. “I can see why. It’s amazing.”
She gave me her sweet smile and looked at her hands folded on her lap.
I placed the lemonade on the coffee table.
“How long have you and Ryder been together?” I asked softly.
She snapped her head up and stared at me, her green eyes wide.
“What? H-How—”
“I know you,” I said gently. “I know what you look like when you’re in love.”
Her cheeks flushed pink at my words.
“Do your guys know?”
“Yes,” she said softly. “Cole doesn’t. Please… Don’t tell him.”
“Rosalie,” I murmured. “He needs to know.”
“I know. I just… I don’t know how he’d react.”
“He’d probably be understanding. He loves you. He wants you. I’m pretty sure he’d eat shit if you asked him to. His world revolves around you and Ellis. And now the baby.”
She nodded, looking back at her hands.
“It’s new, Enzo. Ryder and I. I don’t want anything to mess it up. Cole is already irritated with Ani. I know he doesn’t like Ry. I only want to try to get everyone accustomed to one another. Am I wrong for it?”
“You are for keeping it from Cole,” I said. “You need to tell him. Even us. We should talk to him.”
“I know.” She looked sad as she stared at her lap.
“Hey, look at me,” I said, reaching out and tilting her chin up. “I’m not going to tell if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m your secret keeper, remember?”
“Are you?” she whispered.
“I am.” I rested my forehead against hers. “I want to be if you’ll let me.”
“I want you to be.”
“Then I am,” I replied softly. I took her hands in mine and held them. Instead of my ring on her finger, she wore three other men’s rings. Married. She was married.
“I miss you,” I whispered. “I have missed you every day of my life for over five years.”
“Really?” She pulled away and stared at me with those big green eyes.
I nodded. “Yes, Sunshine. It’s been killing me.
I drink too much. I smoke too much. I work too much.
” I shook my head and looked away from her.
“If I had another aspect of my life, like women in it, I’d fuck too much.
I’m not living. I’m simply existing, hoping that someday something finally breaks my way. ”
“Enzo, you have to make the break happen. If you want me, you know what you need to do.”
“I know, but it’s not so easy to walk away. I suffered for this kingdom. I bled for it. People I loved died for it. It would all be in vain. It’s hard for me to let it all go so that it means nothing.” I looked down at her hands in mine.
Fuck, her hands looked good in mine.
“What do I do, Rosalie? How do I…? Fuck. How do I do this? Any of it? I thought I could get through this life without you and find you in the next, but I can’t.
I fucking can’t. I need you like air. You are everything, and I am the nothing that broke your heart.
I don’t want to be nothing anymore. I want to fix us.
I want to prove to you that I’m not that piece of shit who broke your heart.
Fuck, it wrecked me to walk away. It’s still wrecking me.
It’s so much shit in my head and heart… I’m just lost. I’m so fucking lost.”
She leaned in and hugged me.
I let out a whoosh of air and clung to her. I’d felt so empty the last few years, and I knew it was because she was the piece I needed to feel whole.
I’d been burying it all down, ignoring it, pretending it didn’t exist, but once I let it in, it flooded everything within me.
There was no going back, but I had no idea how to go forward.
“Tell me what to do,” I whispered.
She stared back at me with a pained expression on her face.
“I don’t know,” she murmured.
I brought her hand to my lips and kissed her knuckles.
“Then tell me you still love me and want me. That you’ll wait for me.”
Her green eyes searched mine, so much torment in them.
“Sunshine….”
“I love you and want you,” she said softly. “I will wait for you.”
I crushed my lips to hers, kissing her deeply. She hesitated for a moment before she kissed me back, and that was it. I had no fucking idea how I was going to come out of any of this, but I had to try. For her, I had to.
She was everything to me.