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I don’t bother with pleasantries when I get to the club. Instead, I make my way straight to Massimo’s office. If he’s asked me to be here, then I know he’s here too. A different guard, but a familiar one, pats me down, and sends me up when I’m all clear. Only a complete idiot would carry a fireman to visit Massimo Moratti on his turf.
I knock on his door and after waiting a few seconds, I swing the door open. He’s alone in the office, going through a folder on his desk. He glances up as I walk in, “Oh good, you’re here.” He sits back and folds his arms over his chest with a smug look on his face. This can’t be good.
“What was so urgent I needed to be here as soon as possible? Has Carlos started causing trouble already?”
“It’s not Carlos causing me worries these days. It’s you, Ezra.”
“Me?” I give him an innocent look.
“And I think I’ve figured out why.” He pushes the folder to me. I hesitate then glance down to see a picture of Charlotte and me walking out of the clinic in Burlington. My stomach churns as my heart drops into my stomach.
“What is this? You had me followed?”
“Of course, I did. You were acting out of character. I needed to know why one of my best assets wants to leave me. Congratulations by the way. I hear it’s twins.”
My hands form fists around the photograph as I take an angry step toward him. “If you touch a single strand of hair on her head, I’m going to fucking kill you,” I growl.
“Now, now, Ezra, as long as we have our mutual agreement, Charlotte and your twins are going to be fine. You see, her safety depends entirely on you and any decisions you make. As you most likely know, my men have eyes on her twenty-four seven, all they need is an order from me and poof.” He snaps his fingers.
“You motherfucker. Is this how you repay me after everything I’ve done for you?”
“I think you’re forgetting who did what for whom.” His expression closes off as he rises to his feet. I’m even more angry that I have to tilt my head up to meet his ice cold glare.
“You think you’d be where you are now without my help? You were lost in your addiction when we met, and I helped you get out of that vicious cycle! You want to repay that by betraying me? There is no leaving this organization, Ezra. “If you try to go against me, you’re going to lose everyone you’ve ever loved, starting with sweet, innocent Charlie. I mean…she can’t bethatinnocent if she let you knock her up.”
I lunge at him with a growl and the door swings open behind me almost immediately, followed by the distinct sound of a gun cocking. “Stand down, Ezra,” Massimo warns as he drags my hands off his lapel.
I turn away from him, fuming, and stomp out of the office, avoiding Crew’s apologetic gaze. Everyone in the organization’s loyalty is to Massimo above anybody else. I know that.
Someone tries to talk to me as I make my way through the club. I shrug his hand off my shoulder. “Not now,” I force myselfto say. Thankfully, no one else tries to stop me as I walk out into the afternoon sun.
Fuck. How do I misdirect Massimo’s attention from Charlie? I already know how. “Fuck!” I hit the steering wheel of my truck as I get in, angry with myself for being so careless. I should have known Massimo would do some digging. I should’ve been more careful. I should’ve kept my distance from Charlie.
I drive home, my mind racing as I try to think of a way out of a mess that doesn’t involve me having to take a step back from Charlie. But try as I might, I can’t seem to find any other answer. As long as Massimo thinks I care about Charlotte and our babies, he’s going to use them as leverage over me. I’ve done the same thing to many others before.
My options are to protect Charlotte by either getting her to move here, or move to Burlington, which doesn’t do much to guarantee her safety, since Massimo has more power there than both Alex and me, or stay away from her and the babies until I find a way out of this mess.
I don’t know how I end up at home; one minute I’m on the road, beating myself up for the mess I’ve gotten into and the next I’m pulling into my driveway. I slam my way into the house, going straight to the basement and the supply of drinks I’ve been meaning to dispose of. Just one shot to slow my racing mind, so I can make sense of this mess and make a plan.
I open a bottle of vodka and pour it into the first glass my hand reaches: a wine glass. I gulp it down, enjoying the harsh burn down my throat before it hits my belly with intense heat. I remove my jacket and slip off my shoes as I tip the bottle over the empty glass one more. I drink it slower this time, already feeling the alcohol hit my bloodstream.
When I’m done with the second glass, I put the vodka bottle under my arm and climb up the stairs to the living room where I slowly drain the bottle. After each shot, my mind continues torace. With no solution in sight, I reach for another. I sprawl out on the floor, enjoying the way the room spins pleasantly around me. The world seems to come to a halt briefly. At last, peace.
I can barely remember why I’ve been cutting back…I haven’t even had a drink in months. This is great. For once, I’m not knee-deep in anxiety over what to do about my life, how to keep my loved ones safe, or how to stop being such a screw up. Right now, all that matters is that I feel calm.
All I can focus on is the steady beat of my heart; the only thought keeping me awake is my excitement to see Charlie again. I may regret this choice in the morning, but that’s a feeling I’ve come to know well. When you can’t ever seem to make the right choices in life, regret becomes your old friend.
CHAPTER 26
CHARLIE
“Ihave to admit she’s good, but I’m not so sure it’s a good idea to work with someone so close to home. What if it doesn’t work out, and it ruins the personal relationship?” Ella frowns.
We’re in a conference room on our office floor at Square Construction, going through Autumn’s portfolio.
“I get your hesitation, but I seriously doubt that would happen. Are you not seeing what I’m seeing here?” I point at the photo of the space she built in the backyard of one of her clients, complete with a gazebo, koi pond, and putting green. “Look at this masterpiece.”
Ella sighs, “I mean, we haven’t seen a company come close to her creativity and turnover rate,” she grudgingly admits.
