Chapter 7
Rosie
Chewing on a carrot so Dad and Enzo will stay off my back, I look at the screen showing all the security feeds of Adriano’s club, the shipping yard, and the Rizzos’ property in Long Island.
Happy that nothing is out of place, I move on to Augusto’s house, Paradiso, and then Vitale Health. Seeing Raffaele is with Augusto, I shake my head.
After Raffaele started working as my underboss, he was hardcore at my side for six months, but then he gravitated back to Augusto because I’m too boring. Now he just checks in on me and attends meetings in my stead.
When I look at my parents’ place and see Mom, Grandma, and Grandpa sitting at the kitchen island, going over paperwork, I tune into their channel and say, “How are my favorite people this morning?”
Smiles spread over their faces, and they look at the camera. “We’re good. Taking care of the finances,” Mom answers. “How are things at the fortress?”
“Busy as always. I’m checking on everyone before I update my firewalls.”
“That means you’re going to work yourself to death again.” I hear Dad’s voice before he appears on screen. He gives me a look of warning. “Don’t overdo it and remember to eat.”
“Healthy food,” Grandma adds. “Not just candy and snacks.”
“When do I ever live only off junk?” I gasp.
Grandpa lets out a chuckle. “Just every damn day.”
“Do you want me to come over and help?” Dad asks while he begins to make coffee.
“Nah, it’s just the usual process. Nothing major. I’ll get it done in a couple of days.”
“Good. Then you won’t be too busy to come for lunch on Sunday,” Mom says.
Grinning, I chuckle. “Wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world. See you all Sunday.”
“Love you,” they all call out at the same time.
“Not half as much as I love you,” I reply before cutting communication.
I grab another baby carrot, and crunching down on it, I make sure the rest of my loved ones are safe before bringing up the cameras in Enzo’s apartment. I always leave him for last in case I get lost in staring at him.
Today, I’m in time to see him working out in his private gym.
Holy, abs.
The carrot is forgotten in my hand as I watch him bench press the crap out of the weights, sweat glistening all over his gloriously hot body. The way his abs contract, the muscles curved hard into his skin, practically makes me drool.
Jesus, there are three plates on each side. I don’t know much about weightlifting, but judging by the way every muscle in his chest and arms strains, it’s a stupid amount.
No wonder he can toss me around as if I’m light as a feather.
Hot damn, he can bench press me any day.
Like a woman who’s been dying of thirst in the desert, I drink in every inch of ink on his skin.
The Godfather covers his entire left forearm, from wrist to elbow. It’s always been his favorite movie and was the first ink he got at fifteen. On his right arm are various versions of the Joker, and I think it represents how unstable he feels.
My attention drifts to the massive piece covering his chest.
A dragon is spread across his pecs and shoulders, every scale inked with insane detail. Its wings stretch outward over the hard curve of muscle, while its claws look ready to tear through skin and bone.
The beast’s head is directly over his heart, jaws open as flames pour from its mouth with smoke snaking down his sternum. Beneath the dragon is an entire city consumed by flames.
It’s made to look like skyscrapers are crumbling, tiny details of destruction woven into every inch of the artwork.
The dragon towers over the chaos like some unstoppable force of nature while everything below it burns.
That tattoo is the reason I got a red dragon on my back. I’m well aware of the fact that it’s creepy, but I wanted to be linked to Enzo in some way.
Opening the communication line to his place, I press the button and clear my throat. “This is your daily reminder to be badass and safe out there.”
He sets the bar down, and sitting up, he lets out a chuckle. “Morning, Rosie.” I remember the carrot and take a bite so he’ll hear the crunch, which has him saying, “Carrots. Seems today is a day for miracles.”
Grinning, I lean closer to the microphone. “See, I eat healthy.”
He drinks some water as he stands up. “When did you last work out?”
“Can’t… got… ta… go… bye.”
“You can pretend to lose signal all you want,” he mutters. “I’m going to convert one of the rooms in the fortress to a gym.”
“There’s no space.”
“I’ll make space.” He walks to the kitchen and begins preparing a smoothie.
I struggle to keep from ogling every delicious part of his back and chest as I threaten, “I’ll block your entry code so you can’t come in.”
“I’ll use Christiano’s.”
Just as I want to say something else, he lets the machine grind and smirks at the camera while tapping against his ear, indicating he can’t hear me.
Two can play that game.
I connect to his home entertainment system, and the next second Lonely by Akon plays loudly in his apartment.
A rare smile pulls at his lips as he shakes his head at me, and then I’m in for the surprise of my life when he does a freaking hot two-step dance. The way his hips move makes heat flood every inch of me, and my abdomen clenches hard.
My voice is a little hoarse when I say, “Listen to the words, dumbass. One day you’re going to miss me.”
He pours the smoothie into a glass and heads to his bedroom. “Either you’re sticking around for the show or getting back to work.”
“What show?” I stupidly ask.
Enzo sets the glass down on the display case in his walk-in closet, and with his back to the camera, he pushes his workout shorts down.
“Oh, my God, Enzo!” I shriek before cutting the communication and camera feed to his security system.
With wide eyes, I stare at the black screen.
I can’t believe he just did that.
Enzo is always serious, but today I caught him in a rare playful mood, and now I have the sight of his hot, firm ass seared into my mind.
An alert draws me out of my thoughts, and seeing Gianna coming into the underground parking level, a grin spreads over my face.
I press the button for the speaker and say, “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes. Whatcha doing here?”
“I’ve come to kidnap you.”
My eyebrows lift. “To do what?”
She crosses her arms over her chest, and when I open the elevator for her, she shakes her head. “It’s been two months since we last hung out, and you need a haircut. Come down.”
I glance over the screens, and knowing Gianna will stand there until I give in, I put everything in sleep mode. “Fine, I’m coming.”
I grab the central remote, my phone, and tablet, then head downstairs. When I step out of the elevator, Gianna instantly spots the tablet and narrows her eyes at me. “Everyone can survive without you for a few hours.”
“It’s for my sanity. I’ll worry if I don’t have it with me.”
“You do too much,” she mutters as we walk toward the steel doors, then she waves a hand angrily over the length of me. “Just look at you!”
“Wow.” My eyes widen. “Are you telling me I look like shit?”
“Yes.”
I’m given a glare, and realizing Gianna is really upset and not joking, I say, “You worry too much, G. I just had carrots, so I ate something healthy.” Lying through my teeth, I add, “And last night I slept five hours.”
Nope, I look like death warmed up because I spent the entire night fighting a hacker who was trying to break past my firewalls.
Just as I think I should rather stay and work on my system, Gianna gives me another glare, silencing me.
I’ll visit with her for two hours and consider it a nap.
I follow her to the SUV, and Alessio comes closer, looking a little shocked. “Are you leaving?”
“I’m being kidnapped by Gianna,” I inform him.
“It’s about time,” he mutters before using the guard’s communication channel to say, “Rosie is on the move. Haul ass to the SUVs.”
Ten men hang back to protect the fortress, while the other fourteen get ready to leave.
When Alessio pulls out his phone, I snap, “Don’t you dare tell Enzo. He doesn’t need to know my every move.”
And I need some time to get over seeing his hot ass before I’m able to look him in the eye again.
When Alessio hesitates, I add, “I will fire you if you don’t listen to me. Give Enzo a break. Besides, I’m with Gianna, not on some random shopping trip.” I look at my friend. “We’re hanging out at your house, right?”
“Right.” She backs me up by telling Alessio, “I don’t want my brother spoiling our girl time.”
“Fine, but if he gets angry, I’m throwing the two of you under the bus,” my guard mutters while indicating for me to get into his SUV. “While on the move, you’re with me.”
“Yeah-Yeah.”
I climb into the back seat, and while we drive to Gianna and Riccardo’s house, which they moved into after getting married, I check my systems from my tablet.
On edge, I go over my firewalls again because one breach could bring the whole network down, and I’ll shit myself if that ever happens.
“We’re here,” Alessio suddenly says, and my head snaps up.
Shit, that was quick.
I get out of the SUV and follow Gianna into her house. When we enter the kitchen, I see the chair, scissors, comb, and towel ready for my haircut.
She’s been cutting my hair since I was fourteen because a hairdresser gave me a Lord Farquaah bob that traumatized me.
“Let’s wash your hair,” my best friend says.
I place my electronics down on the counter and bend over the sink. Gianna shoves a towel beneath me, and I take it to cover my face.
She keeps quiet the whole time she washes my hair, and only when she makes me sit on the chair and grabs the scissors does she say, “When are you going to stop pushing yourself so hard? You work day and night and haven’t taken a single vacation since you took over from your dad!”
My lips part, but I slam them shut again as she continues, “The family depends way too much on you. I’m going to give them all a talking to.”
“Okay.”
“Damn right, okay,” she mutters. “You’re not a computer, Rosie.”
“Welllll…”
“No joking,” she snaps. “I want you to take a break. Get everything done and schedule two weeks off. Your dad can take over.”