Chapter 16: Chapter Sixteen

*Enzo*

I stand there in my room staring out my window into the night sky, holding a glass of brandy. I was more savoring it than drinking it, but I needed something to keep my nerves steady and calm. The entire day turned out to be…joyful.

Even after visiting her mother at the cemetery Gabby’s spirits had lifted and I couldn’t stop watching her. As we helped in the fields she had even been smiling while reuniting with Ernesto and his sons. They seemed genuinely happy to see her again and they never left her side.

I couldn’t say I wasn’t jealous. Jealous of exactly what, I was still trying to figure that out. I was a bit irritated because I wanted all her time to be spent with me like it was those two weeks that I was last here. But that wasn’t right or fair for me to wish or want that when I never even came back and broke my promise to her.

I was glad she had others to spend her time with, but she practically ignored me the rest of the day as she causally did what she was so used to doing here on the farm. My grandfather was eating it all up too. It was me who felt like the outsider, watching them as they all got along as if they were the ones that was family to him, not me.

I also didn’t realize just how much I had missed her smile, her laugh, and how much she had grown since I had left. It was hard to find that young girl she had once been, and it was even harder to not notice how much of a woman she had become in my absence.

“Sir, the documents you requested.” Charlie states behind me, making me turn from the window and in his direction.

He was wearing causal clothes now, but he still refused to drop the formalities. To him this was still work and until we got this mess taken care of, he wasn’t going to stop doing whatever it is that he needed to do. That night in the study was the one time I wished I had never been involved in.

The shit that Domenico had blackmailed Alejandro with was criminalizing and very damaging to his reputation if it ever got released to the public. But was it enough to get Gabby to stop marrying Dario? I highly doubt it. Alejandro could find ways to get rid of all the evidence and still force her hand in the marriage. All while sending out multiple hitmen to kill my cousin.

I take the documents from him and open the folder. As soon as I looked inside, I cursed, anger and dread shooting up my spine. I don’t bother with the rest. There was no point after seeing that first page.

“What have you found out?” I ask, giving him the folder back.

Taking it back he says, “Alejandro halted all his underground organizations for the time being and he even shut down his side businesses that may look suspicious. However, he’s still got the clubs running and charitable events are still in place. He’s no fool.”

I sigh, “No he isn’t. Knowing that if he did, it would look suspicious to the authorities and the higher companies that he’s been trying to do business with. It’s risky though since most of his illegal dealings that Dom was able to dig up happen to be within those establishments.”

“It’s a risk, but he doesn’t have a choice.”

I place my half drank cup on the table in my room and lean against the wall, crossing my arms in thought. “So, you saw the emails, don’t tell me you didn’t, because I know you. They may not know you’re a hacker in this household, but I do, and curiosity was never your strong suit.”

He doesn’t even bat an eye as he grins with a shrug. “You know you need me, and I abide to your grandfather’s wishes that he wanted to keep this between Giordano’s. It’s the reason you hired me, isn’t it? I did indeed see the emails.”

“And?” I coaxed.

He looks me straight in the eyes. “Your cousin is in deep shit. The things Russo stated aren’t just empty threats. He has every resource to make it happen and he’s one powerful motherfucker where your cousin will never be found.”

Fuck me. I was afraid of this. Rubbing my face I sigh in annoyance. “So, how do we counteract this?”

He suddenly looked very uncomfortable. My suspicion rose as I was getting ready to be defensive on what he was going to tell me next.

“I have one solution, but you’re not going to like it one bit.”

“I’m not taking her back to him so she can marry that perverted dickweed.” I growl.

His eyebrows shoot up with a bit of surprise and I wanted to curse myself. That wasn’t what he was going to suggest, and I just let him know a little more than I was willing to even convince myself on.

“Now that’s interesting, have to come back to that later. But no this isn’t about the girl.”

Embarrassment flushes my cheeks as I look away from him feeling stupid all of the sudden. But then he says something that really got my hackles twisted with rage.

“You can offer the California and Washington branch in return for your cousin’s life, along with burying the evidence that Domenico was able to acquire.”

“No.” Was my immediate response.

“You know he’s been after those lands since the profits has outshot his for the last five years, Enzo. You honestly think all those mishaps and accidents are just that? The man has been trying to get you out of business. If you offer them to him, you know he’ll take it.”

I was already shaking my head in denial. Those branches were mine and mine alone. I didn’t get help from anyone starting those up and I nearly shed blood, sweat, and tears to get them where they are today. And to just hand them over like that? To someone like Russo? Fuck that.

“Not even for Domenico’s life?” He asks softly and that made me freeze.

I sigh deeply, running my hands through my hair. Domenico was one of the only people in my family who I loved more than anything. He was like my little brother, and I would do anything to protect him. But this? To give my entire life’s work? Am I able to do it?

“You know we can always start over. We have the knowledge now and the resources.”

“And you’re absolutely sure there is no other solution to this problem?” I ask desperately.

“Not one I can find that will keep your cousin alive.”

I stood there thinking. And wondering how the hell my dumbass cousin could do this to himself, to me, to us. I really didn’t want to do it, but it may be the only way. Unless, by some miracle, another solution landed in our laps. But what was the likely of that happening?