Enzo #3
“Harper had a great sleepover with her Nonna and another woman who she considers a Nonna. It was your weekend, one you decided you didn’t want to exercise, so your mother did.
” I took a step closer, forcing Charles to look up at me.
The door behind me opened and closed loudly.
I didn’t take my eyes off Charles. “If I were you, I’d think very carefully about your next move. ”
“Very carefully,” Rafael pipped up behind me.
“No, I’d rather see what he thinks he can do. It would be entertaining,” I said, playing along.
“He isn’t very smart. It might be fun to see what stupid shit he’ll get himself into.” Sly joined in. “Then we can show him the error of his ways.”
“It would be a good learning experience, no?” Rafael said. I felt him come to my side. Sly flanked me on the other side. “Let him try so we can show him how Papa’s money can’t buy him out of the grave.”
That sounded like a great idea to me. Harper would mourn him, but I’d make sure it wasn’t long.
“Charles.” Minnie’s tone was harsh. She poked him in the arm. Charles stared at me, then took one step back. “It’s time for you to go. You have embarrassed me enough to last a lifetime. Don’t make the situation worse for yourself.”
“Fine.” He aimed his vicious glare at me. “This isn’t over.”
“I look forward to seeing what you think you can do,” I said, winking at him. Charles mashed his mouth closed, glancing at Sly and Rafael before sending his hateful glare back at me.
He walked around me, giving me a wide berth as he slammed the heavy door behind him.
Serena jumped from behind me, racing to Minnie. “Where is she?”
A door opened on the far side of the room. With the little scene Charles created, I hadn’t had a chance to see the suite they’d rented for the weekend.
The room we entered was large—dark wood offset by plush furniture in buttercream and soft neutrals, with windows lining the far wall letting in the light.
It screamed old New York money. I didn’t need to see the adjoining rooms to know they’d have a similar vibe.
One door was open. Serena was just inside the room, bent over, hugging Harper. Martina stood behind them, trying and failing to hide the anger on her face.
“How long was he here?” I asked Rafael who’d come to stand next to me.
“Maybe fifteen minutes, including the time you were here. We watched him head to the elevators, and I followed him,” Rafael said.
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
“He’s a problem.” Sly joined. “Ma is pissed. We’re lucky she didn’t cut him.”
“I want him handled,” I said. “Preferably without Serena knowing.”
She might get mad about me stepping in, but I’d seen the desperate look in Charles’ face. He was losing what mattered most to him, money and the prestige that came with it.
“I have some connections. I’ll call you when I know something,” Sly said. I cast him a side-eye because he was being helpful rather than difficult, which wasn’t like him.
“He made Ma mad.” Sly shrugged. The Vincis didn’t mess around when it came to family. I appreciated their vindictiveness more than ever.
“I’ll call Adrienne. I have to update Marcello anyway, and he’s never far from her when she’s home.” Rafael nudged me forward. “Go get your girls. I might as well make myself useful since I’m sticking around.”
I nodded and headed to Serena and Harper. This is why we wanted to rebuild the Cosa: for family, support, and money.
When I got closer, Harper picked her head up from her mother’s shoulder.
Her face was tearstained, red, and splotchy.
She ripped away from her mother and ran to me.
I barely made it to a crouch before she barreled into me, wrapping her arms around my neck and squeezing tight.
I hugged her back, feeling her body shudder as she took deep breaths. Each shudder killed me.
Her little body fit perfectly in my arms, just like her mother did.
I held her, trying to sink as much love and comfort into the hug as I could. She was scared because her poor excuse of a father had barged in and did fuck knows what until we got here.
“You okay?” I whispered in her ear. She shook her head and held me tighter.
All I wanted was to cocoon her in a protective bubble so all she felt for the rest of her life was love, happiness, and acceptance. To be spoiled and know that she was the best thing in my life.
It was one thing to scare Serena, who was an adult and understood his manipulations. But to scare Harper? She was too young to understand her father’s anger or why he showed up threatening her mother.
He’d sealed his fate. Before, it was putting him in his place. With the tiny girl in my arms whom I’d come to love as my own, I was going to make him pay.
“It’s okay. Mommy and I are here.” It was a punch to the chest, realizing how much I loved this little girl. How quickly and easily it came.
I looked over Harper’s shoulder to Serena, who looked surprised and had tears in her eyes. She gave me a watery, thankful smile.
As if she needed to thank me. She and Harper were my world. She’d get the picture soon.
I picked her up and walked over to Serena, who had a brave face on. I knew it was all a facade. She was scared. Charles had a unique hold over her, rattling her when nothing else did.
That was about to change.