Chapter 153: Confusing Emotions

LORENZO

Leaning against the van, my shin still throbbing from the unexpected kick, I couldn’t help the full-body chuckle that escaped me.

It’s funny as hell, the more I think about it, how she’d been shaking like a drowned kitten one minute, only to turn into a little tigress the moment she got her chance.

Her kicking me should have pissed me off, which it did, but Elena had just earned a little bit of my respect.

Elena Rossi was nothing as I’d imagined. All the time I took on the plane, I kept wondering what kind of woman she truly was-what secrets she kept hidden, and what made her special.

And honestly, she’s surpassed my expectations of her; she looks like she could break under the slightest pressure, and yet there's a quiet strength lurking beneath the surface, which only makes her more unpredictable and dangerous.

Elena was also younger than I thought she’d be, and so damn gorgeous my heart tripped all over itself, my head started pounding the first time I saw her.

I’d come thinking she was Luca’s lover, or maybe she had something going with the two of us. Although it sounds ridiculous as fuck, the gaps in my memories made thoughts like this hard to ignore despite their absurdity.

I can’t fucking believe I got her right where I wanted her, only to let her slip through my fingers.

I scrubbed a hand over my face, frustration curling into something darker. Since the accident, I’ve lived on fragments and reports, on Luca’s careful explanations of who I was the last couple of years.

But no one had ever mentioned her. In fact, Luca had denied her existence while also hiding the fact he’d been sending her money, hiding secrets from me, his Capo.

And yet despite his lies, my mind clung to her, and I couldn’t for the life of me understand why. I thought it was because she attacked me, and it was my need for vengeance and the need to know the truth of what really happened that refused to let me forget her.

But seeing her tonight, the shock on her face, those eyes, the look in them hadn’t been one of hate, at least not at first—something deeper flickered, and I needed to know what it really meant.

She’d looked at me with shock and something like hope, and the way she called my name?

It wasn’t how someone who wants you dead should have sounded, and that alone is messing with my head big time. I don’t fucking understand why this woman would look at me like she knew me, really knew me on a personal level.

Or, why she’d whisper my name like it meant something.

The drive back to the hotel helped clear my head. I didn’t bring any of my soldiers. They'll only get in my way, it's not like I'll need help taking care of a slip of a woman like Elena.

Besides, I only needed my gun and my switchblade, and I could go any fucking where I damn please.

I was almost at the hotel, but something kept bugging me, so instead of going back to the hotel, I made a U-turn and drove back to her place.

I parked the car across the street, down a couple of dimly lit buildings, and walked the rest of the way. All my senses were on high alert, the silence broken only by distant city sounds. I kept an eye out for any movement, ready for whatever might come next.

It’s an instinct born out of the worst moments in my life. Those instincts were constantly in survival mode. And just as I neared the man, I noticed them.

Two dark figures pretending not to watch the house. And they weren't mine or Luca's.

One leaned against a black van, hood up, a burning cigarette between his fingers. The second man was just getting out of the car and was walking away. From the looks of it, he’s probably going to take a leak.

From their positioning, I knew they were keeping an eye on Elena Rossi; they were directly across from her line of sight if she stepped outside.

I patted down my jeans and realized the zip ties I’d brought specifically for Elena but never had the chance to use were still on me.

I crossed the street, my steps casual and unhurried. I casually checked the street, and there were no pedestrians.

Although it’s dark, it’s still too early; if I’m not careful, someone might see something they’re not supposed to.

Either the dumb man had never staked out, or Elena’s uneventful nights had made him negligent.

Regardless, this was good for me. I was almost upon him, and the stupid shit had no fucking idea he was in danger.

“Got a light?” I asked, grinning, approaching slowly, too casually for him to suspect anything. I glance around, making sure I am out of sight of the CCTV.

“Fuck….” the man started, turning his head towards me. I closed the distance between us so fast he never had the chance to defend himself, clocking him in the mouth with my fist before he could utter a single word. The cigarette in his hand dropped on the pavement, still burning.

My other fist drove hard into the soft space just below his sternum, right in his solar plexus.

His breath exploded out in a choked gasp. Before he could recover, I pivoted behind him, hooked an arm under his chin, and tightened just enough to cut his blood flow without crushing his windpipe.

I silently counted the seconds, and then right on time, his body went slack. I lowered him to the ground, dragging him upright and propping him against his vehicle like he was just resting against tires, completely out of view.

The man was roughly around my size, so all I had to do was wait for the other man. I pick up the cigarette, lean against the car, and stare in the direction the unconscious man was looking at, mimicking his stance, but slightly looking away so the second man doesn’t see me first.

“This job sucks. I’ll take a cleaning job any day over keeping an eye on this traitorous bitch. Do you think Sergio would call us back if the bitch accidentally ended up dead?” the man said, rounding the corner of the car.

I was already moving, turning just as he came closer, his eyes widened with alarm, a split second before my fist slammed against the asshole.

The fucker stumbled back, disoriented. And because I found I didn’t like his voice one bit, I punched him again and again straight in the face, until blood spurted from his broken nose, for good measure.

I drove an elbow into his jaw. Bone cracked against bone. The man swung wildly, his hands flailing. I grabbed his wrist, twisted sharply, and used the man’s own momentum to slam him face-first onto the hood.

His body sagged, and I dragged him to join his friend. I pull out the two zip ties from my pocket and secure the men.

I searched the men swiftly and wasn’t surprised to find two burner phones, two guns, a small switchblade, and a dagger, but no IDs.

I tucked the guns in my jeans, snapped the SIM cards I’d taken from the phone, and pocketed the knife and burner phones, then I popped open the boot of their sedan and stuffed them inside.

I checked their pulses; they should be up in about an hour.

Only after both men were secured in the boot and I was seated in the driver’s seat did I allow myself to look up at the house. At her window precisely, I wonder if she’s asleep or if she’s awake, thinking about our encounter.

I will be back for you, Elena, and this time there’s no escaping from me.

I step on the pedal and drive down the street. I grab my phone and dial Rico.

“Rico, I need you to come pick up my car. I’ll send you the address.”

“Yes, boss.”

The casino was the best place I could think of to take these bastards. We’re going to have a long night talking while they tell me who the hell this Sergio is, because I have a suspicion that it’s the little cub of Carmello Vincenzo that dead asshole.

Seated on the edge of the desk in Luigi’s private office, I scroll through the pictures taken with the digital camera. They were all pictures of Elena: at school, at the hospital where she works, on the street. There were dozens of them.

I gritted my teeth so hard when I saw a picture of her in this tiny, red silk scrap, looking like a model advertising those sexy sleepwear. Her hair was loose and too perfect for someone who had just woken from sleep.

The photo was taken in her room. The low groan behind me reminded me of the two dumb shits I’d found watching Elena. These weren’t the men Luca had assigned to protect and watch over her. No, these were sent by the Vincenzos.

I placed the camera on the desk and turned to get a good look at them. My eyes narrowed on the sorry excuse of men, just as a knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” I ordered, without looking away from the men.

“Boss?” Frederico walked into the room. “I brought the footage they have of her. From everything we found, it’s proof these bastards are from the Vincenzo famiglia.”

I forced my expression into calm indifference, though inside, anger rose. I can’t even put my finger on why it matters that these men were keeping an eye on this woman. Or why I felt an inexplicable rage when the second man called her a bitch and talked about her dying.

And even though we were basically doing the same thing, I don’t like that. They’re watching her, keeping tabs on her coming and going.

“What about the two idiots that were supposed to guard her?” I replied, eyes still on the assholes squirming like worms.

“We found them, but they're dead.” Fucking dumb shits, turns out, my own men have also become lax in their duty.

“Have two soldiers replace them tonight.”

“Yes, boss,” Rico replied. I could see curiosity on his face, but I didn't fucking need to explain shit to him.

“Anything else?”

“Paolo has taken care of the car and covered any trace they might have left.”

I nodded, “Good, now go get me my sword.”

“Yes, boss.” He turned to leave, but then he paused at the threshold. “You want me to take them down to the basement? Less risk of anyone hearing them.”

My gaze flicked sideways, taking in the furniture and walls. If I moved everything back, I could do it here.

“There’s no need for the basement. Just get me a plastic tarp to cover the floors; I don’t want blood on the floor.”

He nodded and left. The men squirmed harder, moaning something I couldn’t hear and didn’t give a shit to know. I just flash them a dark grin.

This is one of my casinos. It might be under Luigi, but it's mine. And I can do whatever I want here. Besides, who will even dare to come here?

Getting them down to the basement will just waste my time, and I need to get back to my hotel and get some sleep because Elena and I have something to discuss tomorrow.

AN HOUR LATER

I roll my back and neck before leaning back on my heels, away from the mess I’d made. I lifted one bloody hand to wipe the sweat off my brow.

My eyes flick to Rico, who was leaning against the wall. “Get Paolo to help you with the clean-up.”

“Yes, boss.”

I stood up and stripped out of my blood-stained clothes until I was left with just my boxers. I wipe the sword clean, turn my back on the dead men behind me, and walk into the ensuite bathroom to clean up.