Chapter 31 (Enzo)

I listen to her crying in the shower for over an hour, my heart breaking with every muffled sob. This whole fucking fiasco has gone too far. I need to make a move, and soon. For the first time since she came into my life, I'm not even thinking about making a move on her. All I want is to protect her, to make her feel safe again.

When she finally emerges from the bathroom, her smile is forced and brittle. She's trying to put on a brave face for my sake, but I can see right through it.

"Hey," I say softly. "You hungry?"

She nods, wrapping her arms around herself. "Maybe we could order in? I'm kind of craving Korean."

I hate Korean food, but I'd eat fucking shoe leather if it would make her happy right now. "Sounds perfect," I tell her. "Why don't you pick out a movie while I order?"

She chooses some sappy romantic comedy - another genre I can't stand. But I settle in next to her on the couch without complaint, keeping a careful distance between us. I can sense her reluctance to be touched right now, and my own anger is simmering just beneath the surface. Getting handsy is the last thing on my mind.

As the movie plays, I find my thoughts drifting. I need to come up with a plan, and fast. Giacomo isn't going to wait forever. If I don't deliver soon, he'll take matters into his own hands. And that's not an option I'm willing to consider.

I glance over at her, curled up on the other end of the couch. She's fallen asleep, her face finally peaceful. Carefully, I scoop her up and carry her to the bedroom, tucking her in gently. She doesn't stir.

Back in the living room, I pour myself a drink and start to solidify my plan. It's not going to be easy or comfortable, but it's our best shot at getting out of this mess alive.

Running is always an option, I suppose. We could pack up and disappear in the middle of the night. But Giacomo has connections everywhere. There's no guarantee we'd be safe, even if we fled to the other side of the country. And this is our home. I'm not sure she'd want to leave it all behind.

No, we need to face this head-on. I just hope I'm strong enough to see it through.

The next morning, I wake up early with the intention of making her breakfast in bed. But before I can even finish brewing the coffee, she appears in the kitchen doorway. She's wearing one of my oversized t-shirts, and damn if she doesn't look sexy as hell.

"Were you trying to cook for me again?" she asks, a hint of amusement in her voice.

I shrug, trying to play it cool. "Maybe. Why, you got a problem with that?"

She grins, padding over to the coffee maker. "No problem. Just wondering what your angle is."

"My angle?" I repeat innocently. "Can't a guy just make breakfast for his girl without having an angle?"

She raises an eyebrow. "Your girl, huh? And here I thought I was just your prisoner."

I wince internally at her words, but I know she's just teasing. "Hey now, I prefer the term 'involuntary houseguest,'" I quip.

She laughs, the sound warming me from the inside out. "Wow, big words for a thug. You been reading the dictionary or something?"

"Nah," I reply with a smirk. "Just expanding my vocabulary to impress all the ladies."

"Oh yeah?" She sidles up closer, a mischievous glint in her eye. "And how's that working out for you?"

I lean in, my lips inches from hers. "You tell me."

For a moment, I think she might kiss me. But then she darts away, grabbing a mug from the cabinet. "I think you need to work on your game," she says with a wink.

I laugh, shaking my head as I turn back to the stove. We eat breakfast together, the mood light and easy. But as we finish up, I know I need to bring things back to reality.

"I've got to go out for a few hours," I tell her. "Take care of some business."

Her smile fades slightly. "Is it dangerous?"

I consider lying, but I respect her too much for that. "It could be," I admit. "But I'll be careful."

She nods, biting her lip. "What should I do while you're gone?"

"Stay here," I say firmly. "Don't let anyone in, no matter what. If someone does manage to get in, hide. There's a false panel in the back of my closet. Use it if you need to."

"Won't it look suspicious if the door's unlocked?" she asks.

I shake my head. "Don't worry about that. Just promise me you'll do what I say."

She meets my gaze, her eyes steady. "I promise."

I reach out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Good girl."

She leans into my touch for a moment before pulling away. "Enzo," she says softly. "Are you sure you're not getting into something too dangerous?"

I give her my most confident smile. "Sweetheart, everything I do is dangerous. But I always come out on top."

She laughs, the sound tinged with nervousness. "God, you're such an asshole."

"Yeah," I agree. "But I'm your asshole."

We both crack up at that, the laughter a welcome release of tension. As I get ready to leave, I can't help but feel a sense of dread settling in my gut. But I push it aside. I have to stay focused if we're going to make it out of this mess.

I make my way to Giacomo's main base of operations - a seedy strip club in the southern part of the city. I'm relieved we didn't bring her here for those photos. The deli was bad enough, but this place... it would have given her a much clearer picture of what her life could become if Giacomo gets his hands on her.