Chapter 16 – Enzo #2
I grab both her wrists, spinning her until her back is to my front and her hands are firmly pinned behind her back. Drew takes a step toward me, but Stavros clicks, which reminds him to stay put, halting his progress. Althea shakes her head at Drew.
“I’m fine,” she says softly. She is anything but fine. Althea has no idea of the danger she’s put herself in—put us in.
“If you didn’t have anything to do with him, then how did you know he was the one who shot Santo?” I growl in her ear, keeping my voice low.
“I heard him talking about it.” Her tone is cold, and her body rigid beneath my touch.
“And?” I push, needing her to tell me what she knows but not wanting to know the truth.
If she was involved in the hit put out on Naz and Santo, I’ll have no choice.
Our laws are set in stone. Though we don’t harm women usually, if she betrayed the family and tried to kill the Don and his brother, justice will have to be served.
And I’ll be the one to have to serve it.
“I was going to tell you.” Her voice is softer now, but still cold.
“I needed more information. I was going to ask The Bishop about it and then tell you what I learned, but then bullets were flying through the air and some asshole used me as his shield. It kind of changed my plans a bit in that moment.” She’s seething.
I can feel her heartbeat against my chest.
“What the fuck are you doing with The Bishop, little devil?” The endearment slips past my lips, sounding more like a plea than a question.
“I-it’s a family matter.”
Is she fucking with me?
I spin her to face me, her hands still firmly in my grip. With my free hand, I squeeze her face hard. My grip on my sanity slipping with each passing breath. So many unanswered questions.
Is Caspien Drakos working with The Bishop to take us down?
Was Althea sent to spy on us and feed information to The Bishop for her father?
Or is Caspien using us to fuck with the cartel for some fucked-up reason, putting the Venatti family in the crosshairs of their war?
“What family matter?” My tone is lethal. The rage I’m feeling is so deep my body shakes with it. “What are your father and The Bishop up to?”
“ What ?” Althea’s head snaps back as if I slapped her. “Fuck you, Enzo.”
I want to roar at her. But the sirens in the distance mean we need to get the hell out of here now.
“ Fine . Have it your way. But make no mistake, you’re going to tell me everything I want to know,” I growl. “Get them in the car,” I order Stavros. “And get me the fucking zip ties.”
“You’re not serious,” she complains.
“You were about to pull a knife on the Don of my family, baby. I’m not taking any chances with you.” Althea lets out a long, exaggerated sigh.
God, that sass and attitude. I need to get us out of here and get Althea someplace I can work my magic and break her down. Before long, I’ll have her bent to my will and singing like a fucking canary.
Or moaning like the good little whore she is.
I bend her over the front seat, tying her hands firmly behind her back before sitting her in the front seat and latching her belt over her lap. A strand of loose hair has fallen in her face, and when I reach up to tuck it behind her ear, Althea flinches.
“Jesus, baby. I’m not going to hurt you,” I tell her, unable to keep the frustration out of my voice. The fact she even thought I could, guts me.
“I know what you do. Who you are,” she says venomously. “Don’t act like you have a shred of decency in you now. I heard what Nazario said.”
“Yep. He told me you’re mine to handle.” I can’t help the smirk that breaks free on my face. I close her door and make my way to my side, then pull out my phone and call Charlie, our personal airplane pilot. He picks up on the second ring.
I drop into my seat, skipping the pleasantries and order, “I need the jet ready as soon as possible. I’ll have Stavros text you the flight plans.
And Charlie,” I say, glancing at Althea over my shoulder as I back the SUV out of the lot.
“I’m going to need my black duffel bag from my locker and make sure the bar is stocked properly. It’s going to be a long flight.”
“Understood, sir.” We hang up, and I make eye contact with Stavros in the rearview. “We’re going back to The Mansion. I need to collect a few things and settle things with Naz before we take off.” I caress Althea’s cheek with the back of my hand. She pulls back from my touch again.
This will not do.
A second later, Stavros says, “There’s something I forgot back there, boss.” My brow creases. Then, I watch in the mirror as Stavros elbows Althea’s guard in the side of the head, knocking him out cold.
Althea screams at the unexpected move, shifting in her seat. “What the hell, Stavros? Drew wasn’t doing anything.”
“He disrespected the head of the family back there. He’s damn lucky I didn’t shoot him for that shit.
” Stavros shrugs. “This way, he won’t say anything else to piss me off on the way to The Mansion, and if Nazario happens to run into us, he’ll know I did my job.
” Althea glares at Stavros, but he simply smiles back at her.
“It’s no worse than what you did to me, Miss Drakos. And I was being polite.”
“Fuck off, Stavros.” She huffs. He laughs.