CHAPTER 6: THE UNWANTED GUEST

The figure in front of Enzo and Sienna was hardly visible in the faint light from the lone bulb hanging in the middle of the room. His presence was laden with danger as his shadow swept over the floor.

The breath caught in Sienna's throat. She shifted closer to Enzo out of reflex and muttered, "Who is that?"

When he heard her query, the man's grin got bigger. "Oh, don't worry, my love. I'm just your father's old pal.”

Enzo's voice was cold as ice, and his palm was hovering over his revolver. "No one considers you a friend. Mateo, what are you doing here?”

Mateo, trying to look innocent, arched an eyebrow. "What, Enzo, won't you give me a hearty welcome? I thought the hostility was over.”

Enzo snarled, his muscles tensing, preparing to flex, "Answer my question."

Mateo laughed, amusement shining in his eyes. "I was informed about the girl. When you do something like this, word gets around quickly. You are aware of the city's operations. The vultures circle as soon as you introduce a new player, especially one like her.”

Enzo's mouth clenched. "You're here to collect, then?"

Mateo grinned more broadly. "You know how it is. She has everyone's attention. She is the final piece needed to complete many unresolved issues. I just wanted to stop by, greet you, and take her away from you.”

Panic rising, Sienna's stomach flipped as she looked at Enzo. Despite his placid exterior, she could see the fury in his eyes.

With his voice falling into a menacing tone, Enzo remarked, "I don't think you understand the situation. I've got her covered."

Mateo shrugged, his eyes angry yet his posture relaxed. “Adorable as it is, protection is meaningless when everyone in the city is aiming at her. Enzo, you can't guard her at all times. You will eventually slip.”

"Unlikely," Enzo said icily. "And you ought to know not to attempt something like this on my property."

Mateo's expression hardened and his smile vanished. "Enzo, you're doing something wrong. The heat isn't worth the girl. Give her up, and this will be finished tonight.”

Sienna's heartbeat accelerated. She began, "Enzo—" but he interrupted her with a quick look, his attention blazingly fixed on Mateo.

"I said no," Enzo reiterated, moving slightly forward to keep Sienna out of Mateo's line of sight. "Get out while you can."

Mateo's voice fell to a threatening growl as his hand jerked at his side. “Do you still believe you have the upper hand here? Enzo, you are no longer in charge. The city is evolving. The new players don't give a damn about the old rules.”

A sneer formed on Enzo's lips. "I’m still here. That’s all they need to worry about.”

Mateo suddenly reached for his jacket, but Enzo was quicker, pulling out his gun and aiming it at Mateo's chest.

Enzo said, "Don't," in a dangerously composed tone.

Mateo gently raised his hands in a false surrender, his eyes narrowing as he froze. "Easy, Enzo. I know you won't shoot me. Not here, not now.”

"Want to put that theory to the test?" Enzo kept his gaze fixed on Mateo while his finger lingered over the trigger.

Mateo smiled again, but this time it was icier. “Always the tough guy, huh? Alright! You wish to keep her? Be my guest. But know that she's mine the moment you make a mistake. And, there is nothing you can do to prevent it.”

"I wouldn't bet on it," Enzo said coolly.

Mateo laughed softly and took a step back, his hands still up. "All right, Enzo. This round is yours. However, you have just made both of you targets.”

Anger flashed in Enzo's eyes. "Leave."

After a brief moment of hesitation, as though he was thinking about taking a chance, Mateo turned and walked toward the door, his stance still irksomely nonchalant. He paused just before stepping outside, looking over his shoulder.

Mateo said, "Enjoy your little haven while it lasts," with a cold smile. "Because it isn't going to last."

With his gun still securely in his hand, Enzo let out a breath as soon as the door closed behind him. Sienna stood still, her heart thumping.

"Enzo…" she muttered, her voice wavering.

"Are you alright?" Enzo inquired, his fierce glare softening slightly as he turned to face her.

Despite not knowing if she was persuading either of them, Sienna nodded. “Who was that? Why did he—”

"He is one of the players in this city," Enzo interrupted her. "Small-time, but risky enough. He enjoys stirring things up, particularly when there is a benefit.”

"And I'm the benefit?" As Sienna inquired, her stomach twisted with unease.

Enzo grew gloomy. "You are, for the time being. I won't allow him to touch you, though.”

With his words weighing heavily on her, Sienna swallowed hard. "I'm not understanding. Why do they all want to kill me? This isn't worth the trouble for my father.”

Enzo holstered his gun, groaned, and ran a hand through his hair. "You don’t know the extent of your father's obligations. Sienna, you are not just leverage. You present an opportunity for them.”

She felt her heart sink. “An opportunity? For what?”

Enzo looked directly into her eyes, his intensity nearly unbearable. “For control. Of him. Of the partnerships he's established. The key is you, and everyone wants a piece.”

It was all so overwhelming that Sienna's brain whirled. The stakes were much higher than she had ever imagined, and she felt like a pawn in a game she didn't comprehend.

"What about you?" she said softly. "Why are you protecting me?"

Enzo took a while to respond. When he did speak, it was in a low, almost conflicted voice, and his silence spoke loudly. "I told you. I don’t abandon people under my care.”

Her heart thumping in her chest, she pressed, "That's not a real answer."

Enzo's countenance was unreadable as his jaw tightened. “Perhaps not. But at the moment, it's the only one I have.”

His phone chimed before she could continue. Enzo's face darkened instantly as he looked at the screen.

"What is it?" Observing the change in his attitude, Sienna inquired.

As he put the phone back in his pocket, his whole attitude changed to one of danger and coldness. "We must relocate. Right now.”

Sienna felt her heart leap. "Relocate? Where? What happened?”

For the first time since they first met, she noticed a glimmer of concern when Enzo's eyes met hers.

“Mateo wasn't bluffing. People are coming after us right now.”

Adrenaline flooded her veins, causing her pulse to speed. "What are you saying?"

As he took her hand and guided her to the rear exit, Enzo's steady voice accelerated. "I just received a warning from an insider. Mateo has already informed them. They know our whereabouts.”

The breath caught in Sienna's throat. "So, what do we do?"

As they slipped into the shadowy alley behind the building, Enzo's grasp tightened around hers, dragging her along. Despite his low voice, he was determined. "We vanish. Once again.”

An automobile screeched to a stop in front of them as they entered the alley. A number of armed men leaped out as the doors blasted open, their weapons drawn and pointed straight at Enzo and Sienna.

A voice rang out from the darkness, "Well, well." "Enzo, it appears you didn't make it very far."

When she saw Mateo emerge from the car, his grin was bigger and more sinister than before, Sienna's blood ran cold.

"It looks like round two is about to start."