Page 66 of Wrong Pawn. Right Capo.

“Dragging innocent people into your vendetta and calling it strategy. You think that makes you strong? Smart?”

“It makes me a fucking winner.” His voice slices the space between us with intensity, but I don’t back down.

“A man who thrives on the destruction of others is nothing but a coward wearing a crown,” I say, matching his intensity.

“Watch your tone, Elena.” He slams his fist on the desk beside us, but the sound is completely drowned out by the rush of adrenaline pounding in my ears.

Tears burn my eyes, but I don’t let them fall. “Is that why you brought me here? So that I can hate myself more while you play god with stolen money and a black heart? Or did you bring me here to have a front row seat to my humiliation?”

Silence passes, and my heart picks up when his jaw clenches. “I brought you here to protect you,” he says eventually, his voice lower now.

“Protection?” I laugh dryly, holding his gaze with my hard, unyielding eyes. “So that’s why you lied to me and played me to get information out of me?”

“It had nothing to do with you.”

“Bullshit, Adriano! You used me. You saw me as a loophole, and you didn’t hesitate to exploit that because you were so clouded by revenge. Oh, and while you were at it, you thought why not fuck me into submission while you tore my life apart?” My voice breaks, much to my distaste. “But did you ever stop for one second… just one second, to understand how that would make me feel?”

“Your father—”

“My father was a devil, and trust me, you don’t hate him half as much as I do. But now, you’re no different from him. You never were.”

His mouth opens, then he closes it, his eyes turning cold and his posture stone-still.

“Actions and consequences, Elena. This is not some damn fairy tale.”

His words pierce through my chest, pain spreading through me like a poison I’ve been swallowing for weeks. But I nod in defeat. I don’t know what this confrontation was supposed to bring, but this immense feeling of self-betrayal isn’t what I expected.

“Action and consequences…” I whisper hoarsely, my eyes staring at nothing in particular. That’s all it’s ever been about. “Fine...”

Then I lift my gaze to his with a numbness that feels worse than pain. “Here’s mine.”

I turn on my heel and head for the door, but his voice stops me, flat and entirely cold.

“Here, you’re the safest you’ll ever be.”

I want to turn around and ask him if he truly cares or if he’s just mocking me, but my heart can’t bear it.

“I’m done being your leverage,” I say, keeping my back to him. “You already took everything from me. I won’t let you watch me break.”

Then I storm out, slamming the door behind me as the tears finally spill over, my chest heaving with every sob.

***

My arms close tightly around Enzo’s neck.

His arms wrap gingerly around my waist with a small wince, and that’s when I lose it. I break down in sobs, my chest heaving as the tears completely overtake me.

“That’s okay, my darling, I’m here now, and I’m safe.”

I wish I were crying for Enzo. I can’t say why my heart feels like it's bursting open with sadness, but as long as I’m with him, I know I’ll be okay.

He pulls me away to wipe my face when my sobs subside to sniffles.

“Hey, are you okay?”

My lips spread out in a wide smile as I nod, trickles of tears still slipping down my cheeks. “I’m okay now that I’m sure you’re safe.”

His eyes narrow, searching my face. “Did that bastard hurt you?”