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“Try me.”
I maneuver both of our bodies onto the couch. We have already removed the blood-stained rug from the house, but I’ve had the bloody patch cut out and framed as a trophy of how badass my future wife is. I think I’ll hang it up in our bedroom.
She sniffles into my neck a few more times, wiping her nose on my shirt. “You know what I was thinking about when I was in the store? It’s Matteo’s birthday in two weeks, and if I ran, you wouldn’t be there to celebrate it. That you should be with me when I’m picking out clothes for Matteo. This is where we belong.”
I hate the circumstances surrounding it, but my heart warms at hearing her say it. It’s the first time I’ve heard her describe this as being anything more than for Matteo’s benefit. Admitting she is supposed to be here by my side is monumental for her. And hopefully, it’s the end of her resisting me.
“This is exactly where you belong.”
When my phone rings, I’m tempted to ignore it. It isn’t Nina, she’s passed along her message and we won’t hear from her until the exchange tonight. Everyone else can wait.
Emma answers it for me, obviously more concerned that we’re going to miss something important. “Hello,” she says, her soft delicate voice wrecked by her tears.
I hear a male voice on the other line and I take it from her, catching the last couple of words. “…you’re safe.”
“Derek, want to explain to me what happened? You told me Emma and Matteo are safe and now my son has been kidnapped.”
Derek curses on the other line. “I knew something was wrong when I couldn’t get in contact with Emma. Listen, I can’t tell you everything but know there’s a rogue government agent. He’s the one who told Oleg’s family where they were. Be careful. I’m going to take care of things on my end, but it won’t be pretty. Get Matteo and lie low for a while.”
“You’re a government agent now? Makes more sense than a social worker. Why are you telling us this?”
“Not a government agent and consider it the last favor you’ll ever get from me. Lie low.”
Chapter Forty-Five- Enzo
Emma refuses to stay behind for the exchange, and while I understand why, I don't like having her here with me. Watching Matteo being dragged away from her was probably the most traumatizing thing she had ever experienced. Putting her in the same vicinity as Oleg and Nina is the last thing I want to do. I’d rather she be waiting safely at home.
I told her as much when she first asked to come along with me. Then she reminded me I said she was the safest at my side and challenged me to put my money where my mouth was.
Damn stubborn woman.
I love her so much.
We’re technically early, but so are they. Gone is the confidence that Nina normally radiates. She can’t fake it right now. She’s bouncing on her toes, her eyes darting towards us as she looks for her father. He’s tied up in the trunk of our car. The man gets to keep his life, but he isn’t getting luxury transport as well.
Her guard is here as well, looking much calmer. It’s the effect of having the woman you love in the same vicinity as you, an effect I know well. Maybe that’ll be his torture. I’ll make him watch as I destroy Nina for what she’s done to my family.
Normally, I wouldn’t touch a woman but that is because most don’t get involved in the family business. I’m an equal opportunist and if she feels like inserting herself, then she can bear the consequences of her involvement.
She and her father have made an enemy of the Lombardi family.
“Nina,” I greet icily. Matteo is nowhere to be seen, and if he’s in the car’s trunk, I have no problem opening fire. Neutral territory or not. I’ll pay off the supplier later if needs be.
“Enzo.”
She nods her head towards her guard, who walks to the car and opens the door. Matteo comes out, eyes wide in fear. He breaks down crying when he sees Emma. His body practically vibrates at the tension of wanting to run to his mother but knowing better. Everyone here will suffer for the role they've played in traumatizing my son.
“Send my son over and once I know he’s unharmed, I’ll give your guard the keys to my car. Get your dad and go. And don’t you dare think about contacting us again,” I order Nina, but I know she's not the mastermind here.
Nina looks to her guard for approval of the plan. “How do we know he’s alive in there?” her guard asks. Nina sucks in a breath like the possibility hasn’t occurred to her. It probably hasn’t. Men like Oleg believe they are invincible, so much so that they convince their families of the fact. It probably hasn’t occurred to her he’s capable of dying.
I use the key fob to open the trunk of the car, revealing Oleg tied up but very much still alive. Nina loses the little composure she was holding onto, slapping her hand over her mouth to conceal her gasp at the state of her father. “And if you think we were too rough on him, just remember, he was part of a kidnapping attempt on my fiancée and son.”
“Dad, why?”
Andy must be curious as well because he rips off the piece of take holding in the gag that had been keeping Oleg silent. “I wasn’t going to hurt them. Eric said you were holding them against their will and they would be happy to be removed from the property,” he says, looking directly at me.
“You probably should stop taking Eric for his word.” Not that he will ever talk to Eric again. He’s still alive, but his days are numbered.
