章 18: | Creepy Looking Guy
𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐀
Detective James looked surprised, like really, really surprised in a "what the fuck" kind of way. I couldn't say I blamed him. If he was really as clued in about us and them, the infamous Boston crime families, he knew exactly how screwed up and wrong it was for me to have any kind of history with one of the Morello brothers.
I scowled at him. "Don't you dare judge?"
"Not judging at all. You gotta do what you gotta do…or who you gotta do." He snorted, and I frowned at his attempt to crack a lame-ass joke.
"I need to get out of here." I was about to turn and head up the stairs when that voice stopped me dead in my tracks.
"Vanessa Bologna."
I winced at the painfully familiar tone, and I couldn't shake the chills it sent down my spine. I had no choice but to face him, and the moment I looked into his eyes was like a punch in the gut, leaving me without a damn breath. Every memory I'd tried to suppress for the last four years came flooding back, wreaking havoc through my insides like a hurricane. The dark eyes that once had the power to enthral me with a single glance now seemed hard and cruel, suited for the cold bastard I now knew he was.
Enzo smiled like an arrogant son of a bitch. "Vanessa, you look as lovely as ever."
If I weren't struggling to get a sufficient amount of air in my lungs, I would have spat in his face.
"Hello, Enzo." I straightened and squared my shoulders, trying to act as confident as possible, even though I felt like I'd rather become one with the floor beneath my feet.
"It's been what? Two, three years?"
"Four."
He acted surprised. "Has it been four years already? My, how time flies these days."
"It sure does."
Our eyes remained fixed on one another, and I could almost see the memories of that night playing inside his head. The filthy, dirty, sordid memories of what was supposed to be something beautiful, something I now knew I never should have shared with him.
Then his gaze slipped to James. "And who might you be?"
Oh, dear God, earth swallow me now.
James placed his hand at the small of my back and leaned forward, extending his hand toward Enzo for a handshake. "James Gunner."
Enzo glanced down at James' hand like it was infected with Ebola, then back up at his face. After about two seconds, James realized Enzo did not intend to shake his hand and pulled back. By now, I no longer had a spine, but rather a giant block of ice lodged in my back keeping me upright. I knew there was a chance Enzo would show up. What I didn't know was Detective Gunner and that smug grin permanently plastered on his face would show up at a damn nightclub, of all places. And I did not think I would be caught in the middle of the world's most awkward moment ever.
"Is he with you?" Enzo nodded toward James.
James stepped forward, and I was sure Enzo would interpret that move as a challenge.
"Actually," James started, "he is right here, and he doesn't like being referred to in the third person when, in fact, he is right in the middle of the damn conversation."
Enzo also took a step closer, putting his eye to eye with James, and the legion of idiots he arrived with formed a half moon behind him, ready to attack like a pack of wild dogs. Within a nanosecond, all the air got sucked out of the club, and I was holding my breath like I was waiting for the entire world to come to an end.
Dramatic? Maybe.
But I knew Enzo, and the way James straightened, not backing down, made me think the battle of the fucking Titans was about to commence.
Enzo lifted his chin as he glared at James. "If I had any desire to talk to you, Mr Gunner, I would. But I don't go around making conversation with Africans."
Fuck.
James slanted his head. "That's a damn shame because I'd love to converse with your Italian ass and toss in the words 'fuck' and 'you.'"
The way James carved a glare on Enzo's face, and the way his jaw ticked with tension, I was about one hundred and thirteen per cent sure he was a second away from conversing with his fist against Enzo's jaw—which would be a bad thing. Bad.
"Do we have a problem here, gentlemen?" Antonio's voice broke the tension like a wrecking ball through a building as he stepped in next to me. I wasn't sure whether I was relieved or more anxious that Antonio had decided to join our little gathering of guaranteed carnage.
Neither James nor Enzo even attempted to respond. It was like they both had turned into giant concrete walls. Something told me that even though James was outnumbered by an entire gang of ruthless Italians, he would not back down. This may seem brave to some, but to me, it was just plain stupid…and suicidal.
"James." I took hold of his elbow, but he didn't move an inch. I placed my other hand on his arm and tried my best to urge him back. "Look, please."
At first, he didn't budge, but then he relaxed a little and took a tiny step back.
"Well, I never thought I'd see the day Detective Gunner backed away from confrontation."
Everyone turned simultaneously, and there stood this creepy-looking guy with a beer in his hand, a smug grin showing off a gold filling between his two front teeth.
Enzo's eyes widened as he looked at James. "Detective?" Then he looked at me with knowing eyes. I ignored it and tightened my grip on James' elbow.
"Fuck off, Rio." Antonio stepped forward. "Take your cheap-ass beer and move the fuck along, you low-life piece of shit."
Enzo didn't say a word, but I noticed him nodding slightly at this Rio guy before the weirdo disappeared into the crowd.
"Dating a detective now, hey, Vanessa?" Enzo sneered while he straightened the collar of his grey suit.
I was just about to correct him, to tell him James and I wasn't dating, when James loosened his elbow from my grip and placed it firmly around my waist, pulling me against his side. My breath hitched, and I almost stumbled over my own damn feet.
"What happens between me and Vanessa is absolutely in no fucking way any of your business, Morello." James tightened his hold around my waist. I tried my best to ignore the heat that flared where our bodies touched. It spread up to my chest, and I felt my neck and cheeks flush almost instantly.
Well fuck! It seemed no matter I hard I tried, detective Gunner was going to somehow still affect me. I should be running away right now. But it seems my body had other plans. If I didn't find a way to escape this attraction soon, I and a lot of people will be in deep deep shit.
章 19: | Initial Intention
𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐀
Enzo narrowed his eyes as he glanced from me to James, and then down to where James' hand rested on my hip. I didn't know if it was just the tension and angst that currently swirled all around us, but I was pretty sure I saw Enzo's nostrils flare, his lips moving like he was biting the inside of his cheek.
Was he jealous? Of course not. The thought was completely absurd since Enzo Morello was incapable of feeling anything for anyone. And for him to be jealous would mean he had to feel something. Again, absurd.
Enzo looked back up at me and smiled maliciously. "I guess once you've experienced the thrill of breaking the rules, you'll always crave that exhilaration, won't you…little lamb?"
The moment those words came out of his mouth, it felt like every drop of blood drained from my body. Shudders wracked through me as my legs grew weak. If it weren't for James gripping me so tightly against him, I would have been flat on my ass on the floor.
Little lamb. Hearing him say those two words were more painful than I ever could have imagined. And the way he said it, the amusement in his tone, was like he was out to remind me how easy it was for him to trick me—to hurt me.
At that very moment, I was so consumed with hate, hurt, and disgust, that every ugly emotion this man had stirred inside me drove me to do the unthinkable. I loosened myself from James' grip and stepped right up to Enzo, keeping my gaze locked on his like I was somehow able to convey my hate for him simply by looking him in the eye.
That damn arrogant smirk remained on his wicked, cruel face, and all I could think about was how much I despised him.
"Why don't you do the world a favour, Enzo, and go fuck yourself." As if my words weren't enough, I slapped the son of a bitch right across the face.
Gasps erupted all around me as his face jerked to the side, but I didn't give a shit. I didn't care that I just bitch-slapped Enzo Morello. All I cared about was somehow letting him feel just a shred of the pain he had caused me so many years ago.
Enzo placed his palm over his cheek and glared back at me. The threat in his eyes was clear. I had stepped over the line, and there was no way he'd let that go unpunished. But I didn't even see it coming. It happened so fast—Enzo lifting his right hand and aiming at my face.
"Vanessa!" Antonio grabbed my elbow and pulled me back.
James lunged forward, grabbed Enzo's arm, and twisted it around his back before slamming him face-first against the wall.
The entire club had come to a standstill as they watched the chaos erupt.
Enzo's idiot squad all reached for their guns, but then Daniel, who appeared out of nowhere, and Antonio both pointed guns at them. Dear God, complete anarchy had broken out in a matter of minutes. Weapons were loaded and aimed, and James had Enzo's face pushed against a wall.
The music stopped abruptly, and all I could hear was my heart rampantly beating inside my chest. Everyone was looking at us, but no one dared to make a move, to challenge our family or the Morellos. This wasn't the kind of war anyone wanted to be a part of.
Enzo struggled against the grip James had on his arms, but James just pressed harder against him. My heart was a millisecond away from exploding.
James leaned closer to Enzo's face. "You listen to me, you worthless cocksucker. You better stay the fuck away from Vanessa, or you'll have me to deal with."
"Are you threatening me?" Enzo spat out with his cheek glued to the wall.
"You bet your ugly Italian fucking ass I am. If you value those tiny shrivelled balls of yours, you'll pretend this woman doesn't even exist. And if I suspect you're anywhere near her, I will cut out your testicles, shove them down your throat, and then piss on your goddamn forehead. You feel me?"
Oh, Jesus Christ. What the hell was James doing?
Daniel grabbed James by the shoulder and pulled him back but James didn't reduce the glare he sent at Enzo. About ten minutes ago, James was a very attractive detective. He actually is an incredibly sexy, hot-as-hell man who would cause my panties to hit the floor in record time. But right now, he was like an animal. What was it about men getting all protective and turning into alpha males over a woman who didn't give a shit or swoon over them? It was just surreal how these men behaved around me. Even my brothers.
Enzo dusted off his jacket and straightened his collar while the rest of his entourage flocked around him. Funny how a man with a crew of minions still got face planted against a wall by one very determined man. And by the way that Enzo glowered at James and then turned his stare of death on me, he knew he was about three seconds away from getting his ass handed to him.
Good news—now Enzo knew to be more careful about just tossing his arrogant comments around. Bad news—Enzo wouldn't let this go that easily. I was one hundred and sixteen per cent sure Enzo would want James' head on a stick by this time next week.
Shit.
Enzo's stare settled on me, and I could feel it slither over my body. "A detective, Vanessa? That's a new low, even for you."
James jerked forward, but Daniel kept a tight hold on him. All I could do was look back at Enzo without saying a word. It was my fault. I brought this all onto myself by falling for his lies years ago. Even though I'd like to, I couldn't put all the blame on Enzo. Yes, he was an asshole with no heart, but I had my damn stupidity to blame too. I guessed I should be thankful he hadn't used my past against me—yet.
Enzo let out a maniacal laugh before walking off. With his back toward me, I finally managed to take a breath.
When Daniel let go of James, I walked up to him. My initial intention wasn't to lash out at him. But the minute I got close and stared into his eyes, I couldn't help myself. I started poking my finger right in the middle of his chest as I stepped forward, forcing him to step back. "What the hell were you thinking? Do you have a goddamn death wish, Detective?"
"Are you kidding me?" James pointed in Enzo's direction. "That fucker was begging me to kick his ass."
"So what, you just go around kicking every arrogant prick's ass who happens to come your way?"
He paused and narrowed his eyes. "Is that a trick question?"
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