CHAPTER 5: THE WOLF AT THE DOOR

Enzo's eyes flared dangerously. "Luca, define 'everyone’.”

Luca's voice was tight, and his face stern. "Every contact with ears in the right places, every crew that has ever had a grievance with us. Enzo, they all know she's here.”

Sienna's mind was racing, and her heart was thumping. "How? I haven't even—”

With a hard voice, Luca interrupted her. "It doesn't matter how. They're coming; that's the point. For her. For us.”

Enzo turned away and paced for a while, obviously going over a hundred possible outcomes in his head. At last, he paused and turned to face Luca. "How long do we have?”

Luca ran a hand through his hair and shrugged. “Maybe a few hours. Depending on their speed.”

Sienna stepped forward and spoke in a halting voice. "What do they want with me? I am nobody.”

Luca snorted and shook his head. "My love, you are no longer nobody. You’re leverage. A negotiating chip. You were used by your old man.”

She felt sick to her stomach at the recollection. "So they're coming to—what? Make me turn against my father?”

"That's one theory," Luca said with a shrug. “Or they just want to hurt Enzo. Your father may have more enemies than friends, and they may be trying to collect on debts.”

Enzo's voice cut through the air like ice. "None of that matters now."

Luca looked to him and furrowed his brows. "Boss, what is the play?"

Enzo glanced at Sienna for a moment, then back at Luca. "Once it gets dark. We take her to a safe place.”

Luca scoffed and folded his arms. "Safe? Do you honestly believe that anywhere is secure when half the city is after her?”

Enzo shouted in a threatening voice, "She's under my protection. And no one will touch her as long as she is with me."

The heart in Sienna's chest thumped. She couldn't decide whether his remarks were frightening or comforting. "What if they find us?"

Enzo avoided eye contact with her. "They won't."

Luca gave a somber laugh. "Enzo, confidence is cute, but it's not bulletproof. We must approach this with intelligence.”

Enzo stepped closer and hissed, "I'm not asking for opinions, Luca." His voice lowered to a deadly calm. "I give the orders."

Luca pulled at his lips in a sneer as he lifted his hands in submission. "All right, all right. You are the boss. However, don't say I didn't warn you when things start to go wrong.”

Enzo continued to glare, but he returned his focus to Sienna. "Go upstairs; in the second bedroom on your left, you'll find some female clothes. Pack a bag. You'll have to pack light.”

Her throat constricted. "Where are we going?"

Enzo said, "A place they don't expect," with a fierce look. "Go now."

With a nod, Sienna hurried back to the elevator.

As she disappeared inside the doors, Luca shook his head and gave a faint whistle. "Are you sure this will work?" As he inquired, there was a hint of doubt in his voice.

Enzo frowned. "Do you have a better idea?"

"Ditch the girl," Luca remarked plainly as he leaned against the wall. “She’s not worth this heat. We let her go and move on after things have calmed down.”

"Let her go?" Enzo's words drifted off. "To what end? For all the scumbags in this city to kill her?”

Luca opened his lips to speak, "Look, let me just say—" when Enzo interrupted.

"I never desert those under my care. You know that.” Enzo stated in a firm tone.

Luca shook his head again and chuckled. "Enzo, you've softened. You wouldn't have hesitated in the past.”

Enzo tightened his jaw but said nothing. Instead, he quickly knocked back another drink that he had poured for himself.

With a softer tone, Luca went on, "You're making a mistake. She is not one of us. She will never be.”

Enzo's eyes jerked upward. "You think I don’t know that?"

"So why jeopardize everything for her?" Luca pushed. "Everyone in the organization is watching you. If they perceive weakness—”

"They won't," Enzo cut in, his tone deadly cool. "Because I'm strong."

Luca rubbed the back of his neck and moaned. "Anything you say, boss. But when this blows up, don't I didn't warn you.”

Enzo's eyes hardened. "I won't."

With a tiny bag thrown over her shoulder, Sienna stepped back into the room as the elevator dinged. She was obviously aware of the tension in the room because she stopped for a time, glancing between the two men.

"Is everything okay?" she inquired warily.

Enzo snarled, "All right," and reached for his coat. "Let's go."

Grinning, Luca pushed himself away from the wall. "Enjoy yourself, children. While you are playing house, I will keep the ship going.

Enzo struck him on the side of the face with lightning speed and without warning. "Don't ever forget who's the boss"

With a gasp, Sienna covered her lips with her hands.

Luca touched the side of his face but did not wince.

"You know what to do if anything changes," Enzo said over his shoulder as he turned to the door.

Luca saluted languidly, his grin never taking off. "Don't worry, boss. I'll keep things in check.”

As Enzo and Sienna ventured out into the night, the tension was evident. Sienna is still in shock about what transpired in the penthouse.

"Are we going to act as though you didn't just hit this guy?" Sienna demanded trying to match his speed.

Enzo rounded on her so quickly that she collided with his steel-hard chest. "Never meddle in my affairs." Enzo growled in a deadly calm voice,

The coldness in his voice made Sienna shudder. Silently, she put her arms about her body and followed. She sensed that they were being watched, even though the streets were dead quiet.

"Where are we heading?" She queried, her voice barely audible.

"Somewhere that very few people know of." He responded as they got to the waiting car.

Sienna frowned and slid into the passenger seat. "What if they find us there?"

Enzo was slow to answer. He clenched his jaw, flipped on the engine, and sped off into the night. "They won't."

With her arms folded, Sienna whispered, "You keep saying that. But you don't know for sure."

He gave her a sidelong glance. "I've kept my thoughts to myself, which is why I have survived this long. I’m always five steps ahead.”

"Always?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because you don't seem to be ahead at the moment."

Enzo laughed solemnly. "You'd be surprised."

Sienna groaned and looked out the window. "This is absurd. Everything.”

Drearily, Enzo said, "Welcome to my world."

Sienna exploded with rage and shook her head. "I didn’t ask for this! I didn't ask that my dad—”

"Sell you out?" Enzo completed for her in a cold tone. "You didn't. That doesn't change the fact that he did, though.”

She bit her lip, her hands trembling in her lap. "What's going to happen to him?"

Enzo's gaze returned to her, his expression opaque. "That is no longer your concern."

"Not my concern?" She repeated, her voice trembling. "He's my father!"

"He's the one who put you in this situation," Enzo said plainly. "The sooner you recognize that, the easier things will be for you.”

Sienna's hands clenched as her anger surged. "You think I don’t know that? You think that I don't despise him for it?”

Enzo said nothing, focusing on the road ahead. But she could feel his grip tightening on the steering wheel and a slight tension in his jaw.

She let out a tremulous breath after a few seconds of stillness. "What are your plans? Keep me hidden forever?”

Enzo's lips curled into a little smile. "Not forever. Just until this is resolved.”

“What would happen if it didn't?” She exerted pressure.

"It will. I’ll make sure of it," he said with assurance.

Despite her doubts, Sienna didn't pursue the matter. On the edge of the city, the car skidded to a stop in front of an unremarkable structure. Enzo walked out and gestured for her to come.

Sienna felt her heart thumping in her chest as they walked into the darkened building. She was sure that there was no going back now, but she had no idea what lay inside.

When they reached the top floor, the door cracked open, and a shadowy figure was waiting in the middle of the room.

The figure whispered, "Enzo," in a low, threatening voice. "It was wrong of you to bring her here."

Enzo's hand automatically went to his handgun. "What are you doing here?"

The figure stepped forward, his face coming into view—a cold, calculating smile playing on his lips.

“I’m here to finish what her father started,” the man said, his eyes locking onto Sienna with chilling intensity.