ENZO
A stranger I hardly knew sat on the edge of my bed, her presence more unsettling than the raging storm outside. Rain lashed against the windows, but it was the least of my concerns. She wore a torn blue dress that once looked elegant, now in tatters, and her hair was a wild mess, partly hiding her striking face. Cuts marked her arms and legs, painting a grim picture. I stood frozen, unsure how to handle the situation especially since she now knew my secret. God, I hated men who abused their wives. "Stefano, I need your help to investigate something. A man called Sylas. Once you are done, send his information to the police. Make sure nothing traces back-” I said as I stood by the window speaking to my Captain on the phone. A hand suddenly gripped mine and I turned to see the woman who had just entered my room. The look of fear in her eyes made something turn in my stomach. “ Please don't tell the police.” She begged, her voice barely audible. “F**k!” I said hanging up before I turned to her. “Fine. Tell me, Signora. What do you want me to do then?” “ I…….I” She stammered as she stood. “How do I know you're not lying? Everything you told me. Your husband said you were unwell.” I walked past her and sat down on the bed. Staring at her, I pulled out a cigarette lighting it. “Maybe all of what you said happened is just a fiction of your imagination.” “My imagination?” She scoffed, running a hand through her hair. Her cheek had a deep cut, but she still looked stunning. "It’s not. My husband wants to get rid of me so he can be with my sister. I can’t let that happen, not now, especially since I’m pregnant." Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I quickly dropped my cigarette into the ashtray, extinguishing it. “ You're pregnant?” I asked staring at her. The sound of my phone ringing suddenly caught my attention. Seeing Leonardo's name, I tensed up immediately knowing it was mafia business. Running two worlds wasn't easy. At day, I was the CEO of Santoro Empire and when I wasn't, I was the Mafia King that everyone respected. “ Change out of the dress you are wearing. You're pregnant. If you catch a cold, it'll be bad. You can change into any of my shirts.” I said, staring at Lauren, watching as she gave me a subtle nod before I got up. Heading out of the room, I closed the door, moving away from the hallway, and my expression changed as I answered the phone. Leonardo's voice came on immediately. “ Don, we have gotten the painting,” Leonardo said catching my attention immediately. “ Are you sure the painting is real?” I asked clenching the phone. “ The painting is real. However, we got word that the Ricciardi family has also sent their people.” Leonardo said. The Ricciardi family had been our bitter rivals for as long as I could remember. The painting Whispers of the Forgotten Sea held the key to the vault where Marcello had hidden our fortune after he ran away. I’d spent years hunting down every missing piece, and now, with the fifth fragment finally in my hands, I wasn’t about to let anyone steal it from me. “Let them come,” I said, my voice steady but laced with a promise of danger. “They’re on our turf now. We’ll handle them. Bring it to my house.” Suddenly, the door opened and my eyes darted to Lauren as she walked out shivering. My eyes darted to her as I saw her standing in my white shirt. She looked so small yet sexy in my shirt that I instantly wanted to protect her. She wasn't mine but there was something about her that I couldn't resist. “We'll talk later, Leonardo,” I said holding her gaze as I hung up. Lauren’s eyes met mine, and something about the way she looked at me didn’t sit right. It wasn’t just curiosity. It was as if she was wondering what to do next. I couldn’t let her leave, not even if I wanted to. She’d seen me standing on my own two feet. That alone could destroy everything I’d built. The world believed I’d lost my legs in that so-called accident. Someone in La Famiglia had orchestrated it, and I needed to find out who. Minutes later, we sat in the living room. Lauren’s eyes darted around, wide with wonder as she took in the luxury that surrounded her. Part of me wanted to set her free, to forget she’d seen me like this. But another part. The cautious, ruthless part knew I couldn’t. If she was a spy, letting her go could cost me everything. “I’ll leave in the morning,” she said softly, her voice breaking the tense silence. “Once Sylas goes to work, I’ll sneak out.” I shook my head slowly, the weight of her words sinking in. “I’m afraid that’s not an option,” I replied, my tone low and unyielding. “You know my secret now.” “ I won't tell anyone.” She said immediately, trying to convince me, but I knew better. “ I'll leave as soon as possible and you won't see me again. I won't tell a single soul.” “ You see, I wish it was as simple as that, but it's not. I can't trust that you won't say anything. My enemies are very dangerous people and I'm sure that someone must have watched you run in here. You're pregnant. For your own good, you should stay here.” I said staring at her. “Are you abducting me?” Lauren asked making me shrug my shoulders. Her question hung in the air like a loaded gun, daring me to answer. I leaned back in my chair, my gaze steady as I flicked the lighter in my hand, watching its flames go on and off. “I wouldn’t call it abduction,” I said evenly, my tone as cold as the storm outside. “I’m offering you safety. But if you leave, I can’t guarantee what will happen next. To you or your baby.” I said watching as her face turned grim because of my words. The lights flickered once, then went out, plunging the room into darkness. The storm outside raged louder, the wind howling as if it were warning us. Just as I reached for the lighter, a movement caught my eye making me stop. I froze, my heart pounding. Without a word, I motioned for Lauren to stay still. Her wide, terrified eyes locked onto mine as I silently moved toward the curtains. With steady hands, I pulled them aside just enough to see the figure moving toward the door. Gun in hand, I crept toward the door, every sense alert. My breath hitched when I heard it. A soft creak of the handle turning, slow and deliberate. I stopped, my finger hovering over the trigger. “Don't move,” I said aiming the gun at the intruder's head.LAUREN I stood there, frozen. The sound of the storm outside was drowned out by the pounding in my chest. Enzo’s back was to me, his focus entirely on the door as he gripped the gun with a steady hand. My heart raced, and I felt that familiar knot in my stomach. The one that I had felt a few minutes ago because of Sylas and Taylor. I was scared. Terrified, even. Why did Enzo have a gun? Who exactly was he? The question buzzed in my mind as I wat him grip the gun tightly. The door creaked. “Don't move,” Enzo said, making a shiver run down my spine. It wasn’t a suggestion. It was a command. The intruder slowly raised his hands, frozen in place, as Enzo stepped forward and snatched the gun from him. Without warning, Enzo struck him hard with the weapon, sending the man crumpling to the ground. I flinched at the sound, my heart racing as I saw the intruder fall to the ground unconscious. A few minutes later, the storm outside had quieted, and the lights flickered back on. I sat f
When we arrived at the shop, I got out of the car and watched as Enzo’s driver carefully helped him into his wheelchair. As I stepped into the antique shop, my chest tightened. The place was in chaos. Workers were everywhere, clearing things out. My books, my paintings. Everything I’d collected and loved was being packed up and hauled away.Then I saw it. My office. My things, my private space, all being dismantled. Panic rose in me like a tidal wave. Without thinking, I rushed forward and grabbed the arm of one of the workers, desperate to make it stop“ What do you think you're doing? This is my shop. You don't have the right to move anything.” I said, staring at the workers when suddenly, Sylas stepped out of my office, making me stagger in shock. What was he doing? Samantha didn't tell me he was here. “Lauren, I knew that you would come here the moment you heard that the antique shop was in danger. Too bad. This place doesn't belong to you anymore.” Sylas said making me clench m
My head tuned out for the rest of the conversation with the doctor. The only words that were stuck in my head were, “You're not pregnant,”. I didn’t know whether to be relieved or sad. Sylas and I had once talked about starting a family. I also thought it would be enough to make him love me but I was wrong. A part of me was relieved. After seeing what he and Taylor did to me, I realized that having his child wasn’t the best thing that would happen to me."I... I understand," I managed to reply, though my voice didn’t sound like my own.The call ended with a professional reassurance that they'd review their processes to avoid future mistakes, but that was a distant hum in my mind. My hand fell to my side, my fingers barely wrapped around the phone."Lauren."I turned, my gaze locking onto Enzo’s. His expression was unreadable, his cold eyes studying me with that unnerving intensity of his.“What did the doctor say?” he asked, his voice calm but commanding.I swallowed hard trying to hi
ENZO“Five million dollars?” Lauren whispered catching my attention as she sat beside me. Her hands her hands curled into fists in her lap. She was trying to appear calm, but I knew better. Was it because of her ex-husband? I had seen what that bastard had done to her. How he had taken everything she had built and left her with nothing. Now, he sat across the room with his whore on his arm, acting as if none of it mattered. If he was here on behalf of the Riccardi family, there was no way I was going to let him leave with the painting.“Five million dollars,” The auctioneer announced.“Ten million,” Sylas said without hesitation, making the crowd gasp.He had doubled the price without hesitation which confirmed my suspicion. He was here for the Riccardi family. My eyes darted to Lauren and for the first time, I noticed how elegant and sexy she looked in the red dress she was wearing. Her silky vibrant red hair was styled in loose waves that cascaded over her shoulder. And that dress.
LAURENA soft gasp escaped my lips the moment that I fell into the arms of Enzo Santoro. My heart raced. He was dangerous. Too dangerous and I knew better than to let myself trust another man after what happened with Sylas. Staring at him as I remained sprawled up on his lap, it felt like the entire world had faded around us. Enzo’s eyes remained locked on mine and I could see a slight smirk at the corner of his lips. That broke the spell instantly. Pushing myself off his lap, I tried to stand stably but my legs gave out again making me fall back onto his lap again.“Careful, sweetheart,” Enzo said as he stared at me.The heat of his touch made me suddenly feel aware of how close we were. My pulse pounded in my ears as his fingers tightened just slightly around my waist, steadying me. His smirk deepened, his dark eyes glinting with amusement.“I’m sorry,” I muttered as I stood up silently praying that my legs wouldn’t give up this time.“Oh, sorry Lauren. I didn’t see you there. You a
The next morning, the sharp thud of a door closing downstairs jolted me awake. Even from my room upstairs, I could feel the faint tremor it sent through the house. My eyes fluttered open, drawn to the ceiling as sunlight spilled through the windows. I didn’t need to guess who had just arrived. It was Enzo. After last night, I tried to forget about what had happened but I couldn’t. Sleep wouldn’t come and I was forced to get myself a glass of milk. Getting out of bed, I headed to shower and took a quick bed before heading downstairs to fix something to eat.Walking down the stairs, I headed into the kitchen. The scent of freshly brewed coffee along with cologne told me Enzo had been here a few seconds ago. The house was as silent as before with not even a single sound being made. My stomach growled in protest as I swung open the fridge, scanning its meager contents. Despite the hunger gnawing at me, an unsettling feeling coiled in my chest, making it difficult to focus on anything. I g
ENZOI f**king got blood all over the place. Gripping my g*n tightly in my hand, I stared at the kitchen floor muttering a curse under my breath as I walked over to the sink. Dropping the g*n on the counter, I opened the water and let it run over my hands. At first, I had no intention of killing him. Being alone with Lauren had got me in a f**king good mood, and the idiot just had to ruin it. “ Take this traitor away. You know what to do.” I said turning to Stefano and the men. As they took him away, I ran my hand through my hair before reaching for the pack of cigarettes from my pocket. Pulling one out, I placed it between my lips before lighting it up, inhaling deeply as the familiar burn filled my lungs. The weight of the gun on the counter still lingered in my mind, but I ignored it. Turning slightly, I noticed Lauren standing frozen by the cupboard. Her face had turned white and I could see her hands clenched. She was obviously mortified by what had just happened. A part of me
LAURENJake Donovan has been my long-time friend since I can remember. Back in high school, he had been my first crush before I got to meet Sylas. When he got promoted to detective, I couldn't go and meet him because Sylas had been too jealous and I wanted to please him. However, I could use his help now to win Enzo’s favor. I swallowed hard, watching Enzo’s expression shift as my words sank in. His grip tightened around the glass in his hand, knuckles paling. His intense gaze locked onto mine, studying me. The last thing I wanted was for Enzo to think I was some sort of spy for the police. I needed to know the truth about his dealings with my father's paintings. “Yes, Jake Donovan. He is just a friend. He can help get your sister out without digging too deep. He'll do whatever I tell him to.” I said trying to sound confident even though I knew I would need much more to convince Jake. Enzo's eyes narrowed at me and I could tell that he was not fully sure about my story. Watching as
“He said that? Enzo Santoro said that to you?” Jake asked before bursting out laughing. I nodded my head before reaching for my cup of coffee. I still had no idea where those paintings were and it was killing me. Enzo had not said anything either to me about what he found on the docks. He said he was in love with me but who knows if it was just a lie? “ What's wrong?” Jake asked noticing how quiet I had gotten. I sighed, staring into my coffee as if it held the answers I needed. “I just don’t know what to believe anymore,” I admitted. “He hasn’t said a word about what he found at the docks, and I still have no idea where those paintings are.”Jake’s amusement faded. “You think he’s lying?”I shrugged my shoulders leaning back. I had no idea what to believe anymore. My phone buzzed, and I reached for it, thinking it was Enzo. My eyes widened as I saw Don Alonzo's name at the bottom of the text. “ It's Don Alonzo. He says he wants to see me.” I said showing the message to Jake. “ D
LAUREN“Just a cat,” Enzo said sounding frustrated as he closed the door. Seeing him act so infuriated, I chuckled lightly covering my mouth the moment he turned to look at me. Reaching for one of the plates, I pretended to be serving some food. “Let's eat,” I said avoiding his gaze as he walked back to the table. ““If that cat wasn’t so cute, I would’ve shot it,” Enzo muttered, loosening his tie as he sat down.I rolled my eyes, placing a plate in front of him. “You really have a one-track mind, don’t you? Always ready to kill something.”He smirked, picking up his fork. “It’s a habit.”I sat across from him, twirling my pasta as the silence stretched between us. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it wasn’t exactly easy either. The weight of what had just happened. His kiss, the way I hadn’t pulled away, everything still lingered in the air. I wasn’t sure what it meant. Or if it meant anything at all.“You’re staring,” Enzo murmured, not looking up from his plate.I blinked, quickly ave
I arrived at the venue Dante had chosen. I wasn't afraid to walk into the lion's den alone or even the valley of death. Entering inside the private lounge, I glanced around spotting other people around. Nothing seemed out of place but I couldn't be sure. Dante was a slithering snake and his family were a bunch of psychopaths. Good thing, I was the king of psychopaths. I spotted Dante sitting at the corner. The place was dark just how he liked it. Dante liked to mess with people's minds. Just as I was about to go and meet him, I got stopped by one of his bodyguards. “ Is this how you treat the King of the Italian Mafia, Dante? Where is your respect?” I asked staring at him. Dante opened his eyes staring at him. Getting up, he walked up to me without a word and brought out a gun. I didn't flinch or show any sign of reaction at all. Suddenly, he aimed it at the bodyguard stopping me and shot. My eyes darted down watching as th bodyguard fell to the ground. “ Sorry for thinconvenienc
ENZO“I….I..” Lauren started as she stared at her hand. She was in utmost shock that she had dared to slap me. She was afraid. Walking towards her, I clenched my hand backing her until she fell on the couch. “ Did you just dare to slap me? Have I pampered you too much?” I asked. Lauren swallowed pressing her hand deep into the couch. Her silence irritated me. Leaning down over her, I used one hand to grip the couch while I fisted a bunch of her hair making her yell in pain. Her eyes held my gaze. I wanted to break that fiery gaze in her eyes. Seems like the soft approach was definitely not going to work anymore. “ Answer me!” Her breath hitched as I yanked her hair tighter, forcing her head back until her neck arched. A sharp gasp left her lips, her fingers digging into the couch.“ Next time you do this again, you won't like the outcome. Do you understand?” I asked staring into her eyes as if I was searching for something. Watching her nod, I let go of her hair turning my back
“What? You want me to go and talk to the Riccardi family? Are you f**king with me?” Rafael asked as he stared at both of us. I gripped Sam’s hand tightly. “You're a lawyer. Surely there is something you can do.” Rafael glanced at Sam. They had never met before but I knew he would help her. “ I think we should inform Enzo first. The Ricciardi's are not just people that you can go and meet. They are ruthless. If anything happens to you, I won't be able to explain to Enzo.” Rafael said. Sam sobbed catching my attention. Folding my arms, I sighed, frustration building in my chest. “Rafael, please. Sam’s family doesn’t have time. If Enzo finds out, he'll handle this his way, and we both know what that means.”Rafael’s jaw tightened. He knew exactly what I meant. Enzo didn’t negotiate, he used force. The Ricciardi's and the Santoro's have been at war with each other. A confrontation right now would be problematic. Sam wiped her tears, looking between us. “Please you have to help me. I'
Grabbing my coat, I slipped out of the house without telling Enzo. If he knew I was going out alone, he’d probably stop me, and I didn’t have the energy to argue. Walking out into the living room, I glanced around checking for Enzo. He was nowhere in sight. Heading to the glass table, I reached out grabbing one of the car keys and sliding it into my pocket. I arrived at the shop and switched off the engine. The shop was just in sight so I could walk down and quickly grab Sam's gift. Getting out of the car, I quickened my pace about you open the shop when a strong arm wrapped around my waist, pressing me against a solid chest. The scent of cologne was familiar, disgusting. “Lauren,” a voice rasped against my ear.My blood turned to ice as I heard the voice. Sylas.“Miss me, darling?” Sylas asked, his grip tightening around my hand. Panic surged through me immediately. I fought trying to free myself from his grip but he was stronger. A cold blade pressed against my ribs making me fr
LAUREN “Just kidding.” Enzo said playfully grabbing my hand. “Let's go back home.” A few days later, we stayed indoors while Enzo worked. He didn't leave the house for even a second and I could hear him whispering on the phone all day. Sometimes, he was frustrated while sometimes, he was just quiet. Sitting down in the living room, I could tell something was up. I just didn't know how to approach him. The first painting's encryption had been creaked. Soon, all the others would be creaked as well. By then, what happens? “ What are you thinking about?” Enzo appeared dressed in casual joggers and an old t-shirt. He was suspecting me, I knew. “ Just sorting all these taxes. Sam was supposed to do them but she is currently busy with her father’s birthday party and I don't understand a single thing. I just did the art.” I smiled. Enzo studied me for a moment, his sharp gaze unreadable. Then, he walked over and sat beside me on the couch, resting his forearms on his knees. “Let me see,
The night air was crisp against my skin as I stepped out of the wheelchair, phone pressed to my ear. Lauren stood a few feet away, watching me with a mix of curiosity and concern. I should be wary of her but right now, all I could focus on was Leonardo’s voice.“The encryption was cracked?” I repeated, keeping my tone even, though my pulse quickened.“Yes,” Leonardo confirmed. “It wasn’t easy, but we found something.”I gripped the phone tighter. “Explain.”“There was a set of numbers hidden in the painting,” Leonardo said. “At first, we thought they were nothing, but they match old nautical coordinates.”“Coordinates to where?” I asked.“A location tied to a smuggling route from decades ago. It was used by the Italian family in the 1900’s. Probably back when your grandfather was still active. The route was super safe until when the government discovered it.” A smuggling route. My jaw tightened. What could it mean? “ Have you sent people to take a look at it?” I asked running my han
ENZO “ Lauren,” Jake called out making Lauren turn to him. Annoying b**tard. I tried to keep my gaze neutral as the chatter around us went on but it was impossible to miss the way Jake was practically begging for Lauren's attention. I stared at Sylas instead. His wounds seemed to have healed. I would have loved to do more than scare him like I did last time but he had gone underground like a coward. “ Lauren, what's going on? Don't tell me that both men are here because of you. Isn't this your CEO boyfriend?” Taylor asked. Sylas's face betrayed his thoughts. He was jealous. I could see the way he was clenching his hand slightly. He still had no idea that I was Enzo Santoro. “ I have no idea what you're talking but so what if they are? You should be more concerned about yourself.” Lauren shot back. I glanced slightly at her. She had been about to leave when she bumped into me. Was it because of Taylor? I knew that she would have a difficult time but she had still assured m