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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章 20: | Mafia 101

𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐀

"Oh, my God!" I groaned in frustration. "You are the most stubborn, hot-headed guy I have ever met."

"Compared to who?"

"What?" I couldn't believe this guy.

James rubbed his jaw. "You said I'm the most stubborn, hot-headed—"

"I know what I said, goddammit." I just couldn't fathom why this man got to me so badly.

"So, who are you comparing me to when you say that?"

"Jesus. What does it matter?"

"Vanessa?" James kept his gaze locked on mine, his smothering orbs boring into mine.

"What?" I groaned and he arched a brow.

"Why are you acting so crazy right now?"

"I'm acting crazy? You are the one asking me crazy questions!" I pulled my palm down my face.

And then the corners of James' mouth began to slowly creep up into a smug grin. The darkness in his eyes disappeared, replaced with an impish glint as he stared at me. It was like he just realized he knew something I didn't.

"Can I get you a drink?" He was still smiling, and all my focus was drawn to his mouth, full lips making me wonder what they would taste like. How they would feel pressed hard against mine. What was I thinking? A few minutes ago, we were in the middle of a situation which could have ended in mayhem and bloodshed. Yet here I was, thinking about how it would feel to have James' tongue down my throat. Nice.

A voice came from behind me. "Vanessa."

Fuck.

I turned slowly, knowing there were two very protective and probably very angry Italian men waiting for me to explain what the hell just happened.

"Antonio," I started, but he held up his hand, silencing me like a damn child.

"Get your stuff. We're leaving. Now." He turned and stomped off.

Daniel glanced over my shoulder at James then his gaze settled back on me. "A cop?"

I shook my head. "It's not what you think, Daniel."

"What am I thinking, Vanessa, huh?"

"Enzo was being an asshole. James was just—"

"Just what? Acting like the jealous boyfriend?"

"No. Of course not."

"It sure fucking looked that way."

The second James stepped up behind me, I felt him. All my senses tuned in to him, and my entire body reacted. My fingers craved to touch him. My skin hungered to be touched by him. And my thighs longed to be wrapped around his waist while my body welcomed him inside. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to get my racing hormones under control. It wasn't exactly the right time for me to be horny.

"Listen, man," James started, but I spun around and held up my hand.

"Just…please. Leave it alone, okay? You've done enough." I didn't look at him. I didn't even breathe because I was too afraid my body would betray me by showing exactly how he affected me. His scent, his presence, those damn eyes—it all teamed up in a bid to lure me in like a damn fish on a hook. It was embarrassing to have a man affect me like this so damn easily.

He didn't say a word—thank God—so I turned and stomped past Daniel, heading up the stairs to get my stuff as per instruction by my control freak brother.

This night got sucked into a big black hole of giant fuck-ups. I should have listened to my instincts and stayed at home. And I needed to stay away from Detective Gunner—far away.

*****

𝐉𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒

That certainly went well. Not. This entire night did not go according to plan. I planned to sit at the far end of the bar and quietly observe the Bolognas. All I wanted was to try to get a new piece to the puzzle of what the fuck was happening in this town.

Ending up watching Vanessa—and only her—for the bulk of the evening was not part of the plan. And neither was talking to her or almost kissing her in the middle of a damn nightclub filled with hundreds of people. But I couldn't help myself. She demanded all my attention the second she walked through those goddamn doors.

There was something about her that made me want to be close to her. And that something left me no choice but to approach her. The moment I was near her, feeling her breath on my skin, I fell under her spell.

And her scent? Dear Lord, that sweet smell of cinnamon and vanilla made me crave to taste her. Fuck a nibble, and fuck just a sample of her full lips and sensual body, I wanted to completely devour her until there was nothing left. All I could think about when I stared into her dark eyes was how badly I wanted to take everything she had to offer and make it mine by marking her, by fucking her until my name was engraved into her goddamn soul. And something told me that was exactly what she wanted too—to be claimed. Until that jackass, Enzo decided to show his ugly face.

What I didn't plan on doing was shoving Enzo Morello's face into a damn wall. But the son of a bitch pressed all the wrong damn buttons. And what got to me was seeing the effect his asshole attitude had on Vanessa. It was clear as fucking daylight every word that came out of Enzo's mouth rattled her, and for that reason alone I wanted to tear the fucker apart.

The question was, why would I feel the need to do that? Why did it bother me so much that Vanessa seemed to have a history with Enzo? Something happened between them. It didn't take a detective's intuition to figure that one out. But whatever happened caused some pretty deep scars for Vanessa, that was for sure.

And because I had to act all chivalrous like a knight in shining fucking armour, I managed to get my ass right in the middle of this mess. A cop associated with his mafia target's daughter might as well walk around with a big, red flashing sign over his head saying, "Here I am. Kick my ass, fuckers."

And why the hell had she acted that way? Like I was the one who did something to piss her off?

"Fuck!" I almost knocked a tray of shooters out of a waitress's hands. "Shit, sorry," I groaned and helped steady her, ignoring the stare of death she shot me.

My sweeping gaze found Vanessa on the top floor. Antonio and Daniel were already descending the stairs, and it was painfully obvious Antonio was extremely pissed off. And why wouldn't he be? The first thing you learned in Mafia 101 was never to fraternize with the enemy, which in this case was Enzo Morello. And then there was that shitty rule of not having any kind of relations with a cop, and after what went down, I was pretty sure Antonio and Daniel were under the impression something was going on between me and Vanessa. Which there wasn't…was there?

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