Chapter 32 (Enzo)

I walk past the main stage, heading for the back offices. No matter how many times I come here, it always feels different. More uncomfortable. The girls on stage don't do anything for me - they look bored and strung out. And the men watching them are just fucking pathetic. I'd much rather have real intimacy with someone I care about than watch some stranger gyrate for cash.

I find Giacomo in his office, a young stripper perched on his lap. She's pretty - a black girl with a nice body. But the vacant look in her eyes makes my skin crawl.

"Enzo," Giacomo says, not bothering to move the girl. "What brings you to my humble establishment?"

"We need to talk," I say flatly.

Giacomo waves a dismissive hand. "Can't you see I'm in the middle of a conversation with Candi here?"

The girl on his lap frowns. "My name is Sierra."

Giacomo blinks, momentarily thrown. "Right, Sierra. Sorry, which one is Candi again?"

"Candi's the one with the big tits and the heart tattoo on her ass," Sierra supplies helpfully.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. "Look, this is important. I need to speak with you. Alone."

Giacomo sighs dramatically. "Fine, fine. Sierra, be a dear and give us a moment. I'll make it up to you later, sweetheart."

Sierra slides off his lap, pouting. "Yes, Daddy," she simpers, making me cringe internally.

As soon as she's out the door, Giacomo's demeanor changes. "This better be good, Enzo. I was about to get my dick sucked."

I grit my teeth, reminding myself why I'm here. "It's about the girl. Aura."

Giacomo leans back in his chair, eyebrow raised. "What about her? Having trouble breaking her in?"

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. "I want to buy her."

For a moment, Giacomo just stares at me. Then he bursts out laughing. "You're shitting me, right?"

I shake my head. "I'm serious. Name your price."

Giacomo's laughter dies down, replaced by a calculating look. "Why the sudden interest? Don't tell me you've gone and fallen for the little bitch."

"It's not like that," I lie smoothly. "I just see potential. She's smart, beautiful. Could be a real asset if handled properly."

"And you think you're the one to handle her?" Giacomo sneers.

I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. "I've made progress with her. Built trust. Seems a shame to throw that away."

Giacomo studies me for a long moment. "How much are we talking?"

"Ten grand," I say, then quickly amend, "Twenty. She's worth at least that much on the open market."

Giacomo's eyes narrow. "You seem awfully eager. Tell you what - I'll consider it. For forty grand."

I nod, trying not to show my desperation. "Done."

Giacomo leans forward, his expression turning serious. "Why do you really want her, Enzo? And don't give me that bullshit about seeing potential. I know you better than that."

I hesitate, weighing my options. Giacomo isn't one for subtlety or mind games. Maybe honesty is the best approach. "I like her," I admit. "I want her."

Giacomo snorts. "You mean you want to keep fucking her without having to share."

I clench my jaw, reminding myself to stay calm. "It's more than that. But yeah, I guess that's part of it."

"Jesus Christ," Giacomo mutters. "I knew I shouldn't have assigned her to you. You've gone soft."

"I haven't gone soft," I snap. "I'm offering you good money. Forty grand is more than fair."

Giacomo shakes his head. "It's not about the money, you stupid fuck. It was a test. I gave her to you because I knew the others would just beat her and rape her. I thought you had potential. Talent. This was supposed to harden you up, not turn you into a lovesick puppy."

I stand up, unable to take any more of this bullshit. "Are you going to sell her to me or not?"

Giacomo's eyes flash with anger. "No, I'm not going to fucking sell her to you. And you're going to do your goddamn job and break her like I told you to. You've got three days."

My blood runs cold. "Three days? I thought I had weeks."

"Plans change," Giacomo says coldly. "Three days, Enzo. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

For a split second, I consider pulling my gun and ending this right here. I could draw faster than him, put a bullet between his eyes before he even realizes what's happening. But then what? His men outside would gun me down before I made it ten feet. And Aura would be left alone and unprotected.

I stare at Giacomo, my mind racing. Buying her freedom isn't an option. And now our time has been cut drastically short. This is so much more fucked up than I realized.

"Oh, and one more thing," Giacomo adds, a nasty smile playing at his lips. "Your old pal Tommaso stopped by. Seems he thinks you might be going soft too. Wanted to give me a heads up."

I feel like I've been punched in the gut. "What? No, that's bullshit. Tommaso doesn't know what he's talking about."

Giacomo shrugs. "Maybe, maybe not. But it makes me wonder what you might have said to make him so concerned."

"I didn't say shit," I growl. "Tommaso's got his own agenda."

"Well, whatever his reasons, consider yourself on notice," Giacomo says firmly. "You've got three days to prove you're still the man I think you are. Don't fuck it up."

I stare at him for a long moment, my mind whirling. Then I turn and walk out without another word.

As I stride through the club, my thoughts are a jumbled mess. Tommaso betrayed me. Or at least, he thinks he's looking out for me by undermining my credibility. Either way, it puts me - and Aura - in even more danger.

I need to move fast. Get back to the apartment, grab Aura, and figure out our next move.