ENZOLauren’s scream still echoed through the room, her voice thick with grief and fury.“If you want me dead, just do it, you monster!” She said making my grandfather clock his gun. My eyes widened as I stood in front of both of them. Lauren had been crying for a while and had not stopped for a second. I didn't expect Don Alonzo to pull the trigger. I moved fast. Faster than I’d ever let myself in front of him. I stepped between them, my hand raised slightly toward Don Alonzo.“Enough,” I said, my voice low and controlled but barely.Lauren was behind me now, shaking, her sobs ragged. Taylor’s blood had already started to pool beside her feet but Lauren didn't care. Don Alonzo’s eyes narrowed. “Step aside, Enzo.”“She’s not your enemy.” I answered. “She’s a liar. And liars die.”“She’s mine,” I said, forcing the words out. “And that means she answers to me. No one else.”Don Alonzo’s jaw ticked. “She made you weak.”The tension between us skyrocketed as both of us stood. I knew wh
LAUREN -Three years later Taylor. Her face appeared in my dreams for over a month. I couldn't get her out of my mind or out of my memory. For the last few months I had been having the same dream. The dream I thought I had forgotten. Sighing, I got out of bed and went to the bathroom. It was already morning, the sun slipping through my windows. I went down to the living room after I was done to make breakfast. The house was quiet. I grabbed a pan and started cracking eggs into a bowl. The smell of butter and toast slowly filled the air. Then I heard it. The sound of little feet slapping against the floor. I tensed almost about to reach for the knife beside me when I heard her voice. “Mommy?” I turned around just as my daughter came into the kitchen, rubbing her sleepy eyes and holding her favorite stuffed bunny by one ear. Her curls were a mess and her cheeks still puffy from sleep. “Good morning, lovebug,” I said, crouching down. She shuffled into my arms and yawned agains
I swallowed feeling my throat tightening as I stared at Enzo. I quickly turned my gaze away not giving him enough time to see my face. “Sorry.” I muttered as I walked past him heading straight to my car. I put Aurora in her seat making sure she was secure before I got in. Starting the engine, I drove as fast as I could leaving before Barbara could show up. “Mommy, did I do something wrong?” Aurora’s small voice broke the silence in the car, soft and unsure.My grip tightened on the steering wheel. I forced my eyes to stay on the road, even though her question made my heart feel like it was cracking open. The image of Giovanni insulting my daughter and pushing her down made me mad. He was innocent. Two years ago, he had been nothing but a baby. “No, baby,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”She was quiet for a second, then I saw her fiddling with the hem of her dress in the driver’s mirror. “But you looked sad. And that man looked mad.”I blink
Slow music played on the background. Men and women moving around. I moved around the crowd with Miguel smiling as we talked and chatted. My hands clenched as I saw Enzo. I didn't want to alert Miguel so I stayed firm pretending not be okay. But my eyes kept drifting. I scanned the room searching for Enzo. To see if he has already come or if he was going to come soon. Although I was at the party, I didn't want to expose myself just yet. Now was not the time. “Lauren?” I heard someone call making me stiff. No one called me Lauren anymore. I turned to see Rafael behind me. He was dressed handsomely in his suit. Two years had gone by and I couldn't be more grateful enough. If he had not saved my life by coming to get me, I would have been dead. Enzo did not care. “Rafael,” I started as a small smile formed on my lips. “You're here too” “ Of course I am here,…..” Rafael said as he looked around before lowering his tone. “Why didn't you tell me you were back in the country, Lauren? You
ENZO“Did you really have to behave like that? You humiliated me in front of her again!” Barbara’s voice rang through the hallway, sharp and loud, chasing after me like it always did.I didn’t answer. I kept walking.I needed to see my son.I pushed open Giovanni’s room door and stepped into the warm room. It smelled like lavender and old storybooks. Toys were scattered on the floor. Tiny cars, a red ball, a stuffed lion missing one eye.He sat cross-legged on the rug, building something with blocks. His dark curls fell across his forehead, and his little brow was furrowed in deep concentration. When he looked up and saw me, his face lit up.“Papa!”I knelt down, letting him crash into my arms. His small arms wrapped around my neck, and for a moment, everything felt still.“How was your day, Gio?” I asked softly, brushing his hair back.“I made a tower. Mama said it could reach the moon.” He grinned, showing me a crooked stack of blocks that swayed with every breath.I chuckled. “It j
LAUREN “You want to take over the Italian Mafia? You?” Enzo asked in a mocking tone igniting the others to chuckle. I didn't care. I shrugged my shoulders walking past them to take my seat. Crossing my eyes, I held Enzo's gaze. “Why not? I have the money and the power. You can see what I've done with the place. My father was an Italian so that makes me half Italian. Is there another reason why I cannot be the leader of the Italian mafia?” I asked, my words silencing all of them in an instant. Their expressions told me everything. They'd rather support Enzo than me because I am a woman. These egotistical men couldn't handle being led by a woman and that was their problem. “ Just because you have picked a few tricks, doesn't mean that you can lead the Italian mafia, gurriera.” Enzo said making my hands clench by my side. “There are a lot of people far ruthless than you are.” I smiled staring at him. “Is that so?” I asked getting up to my feet. Signaling the bouncer at the door, I
“ Aurora, don't run around.” I said cautioning my daughter as we walked out of the hospital about to leave. Standing at the counter, I stared at the nurse handing her the prescription the doctor had given us. Aurora was asthmatic just like Giovanni. At first, she had not displayed any signs which made me happy however she started having shortness of breath last year. The doctor had said she should be careful and always have her inhaler on her. That was why I kept a watchful eye on her. She was my world. My baby. “ Aurora, make sure you don't lose your inhaler-” I started when I saw Aurora bump into someone. She stumbled back, but the man caught her before she could fall. His large hands gripped her shoulders gently, steadying her tiny frame. “Careful, principessa.” He said, his voice low. Familiar. Too familiar. My eyes lifted and my breath caught as I realized who it was. Enzo. He stood there in a dark coat, tailored and expensive, the collar turned up slightly against
ENZOI couldn't help but pace around in the warehouse. Leonardo had called me asking me to come and supervise over the productions of the weapons being made. My hands clenched by my side as I thought about what had happened at the hospital. Seeing the little girl who was obviously my daughter, I couldn't help but want to hold her once again. Even if it's just for a brief second. “ Boss? Enzo!” Leonardo called out bringing me out of my thoughts. “ What?” I asked staring at him. I glanced at the boxes where all the guns had been arranged. “Take them out for delivery.” I ordered. The rest of the men did exactly as I ordered carrying the boxes out while Leonardo stayed behind. I couldn't even describe what I was feeling. Anger, disappoinment and hurt. Not at Lauren but at myself. After I found out her identity as Marcello's daughter, I had felt betrayed and abadoned her. I didn't know she had been pregnant. “ Is something wrong? You have been absent minded since. Did something happen
ENZOI couldn't help but pace around in the warehouse. Leonardo had called me asking me to come and supervise over the productions of the weapons being made. My hands clenched by my side as I thought about what had happened at the hospital. Seeing the little girl who was obviously my daughter, I couldn't help but want to hold her once again. Even if it's just for a brief second. “ Boss? Enzo!” Leonardo called out bringing me out of my thoughts. “ What?” I asked staring at him. I glanced at the boxes where all the guns had been arranged. “Take them out for delivery.” I ordered. The rest of the men did exactly as I ordered carrying the boxes out while Leonardo stayed behind. I couldn't even describe what I was feeling. Anger, disappoinment and hurt. Not at Lauren but at myself. After I found out her identity as Marcello's daughter, I had felt betrayed and abadoned her. I didn't know she had been pregnant. “ Is something wrong? You have been absent minded since. Did something happen
“ Aurora, don't run around.” I said cautioning my daughter as we walked out of the hospital about to leave. Standing at the counter, I stared at the nurse handing her the prescription the doctor had given us. Aurora was asthmatic just like Giovanni. At first, she had not displayed any signs which made me happy however she started having shortness of breath last year. The doctor had said she should be careful and always have her inhaler on her. That was why I kept a watchful eye on her. She was my world. My baby. “ Aurora, make sure you don't lose your inhaler-” I started when I saw Aurora bump into someone. She stumbled back, but the man caught her before she could fall. His large hands gripped her shoulders gently, steadying her tiny frame. “Careful, principessa.” He said, his voice low. Familiar. Too familiar. My eyes lifted and my breath caught as I realized who it was. Enzo. He stood there in a dark coat, tailored and expensive, the collar turned up slightly against
LAUREN “You want to take over the Italian Mafia? You?” Enzo asked in a mocking tone igniting the others to chuckle. I didn't care. I shrugged my shoulders walking past them to take my seat. Crossing my eyes, I held Enzo's gaze. “Why not? I have the money and the power. You can see what I've done with the place. My father was an Italian so that makes me half Italian. Is there another reason why I cannot be the leader of the Italian mafia?” I asked, my words silencing all of them in an instant. Their expressions told me everything. They'd rather support Enzo than me because I am a woman. These egotistical men couldn't handle being led by a woman and that was their problem. “ Just because you have picked a few tricks, doesn't mean that you can lead the Italian mafia, gurriera.” Enzo said making my hands clench by my side. “There are a lot of people far ruthless than you are.” I smiled staring at him. “Is that so?” I asked getting up to my feet. Signaling the bouncer at the door, I
ENZO“Did you really have to behave like that? You humiliated me in front of her again!” Barbara’s voice rang through the hallway, sharp and loud, chasing after me like it always did.I didn’t answer. I kept walking.I needed to see my son.I pushed open Giovanni’s room door and stepped into the warm room. It smelled like lavender and old storybooks. Toys were scattered on the floor. Tiny cars, a red ball, a stuffed lion missing one eye.He sat cross-legged on the rug, building something with blocks. His dark curls fell across his forehead, and his little brow was furrowed in deep concentration. When he looked up and saw me, his face lit up.“Papa!”I knelt down, letting him crash into my arms. His small arms wrapped around my neck, and for a moment, everything felt still.“How was your day, Gio?” I asked softly, brushing his hair back.“I made a tower. Mama said it could reach the moon.” He grinned, showing me a crooked stack of blocks that swayed with every breath.I chuckled. “It j
Slow music played on the background. Men and women moving around. I moved around the crowd with Miguel smiling as we talked and chatted. My hands clenched as I saw Enzo. I didn't want to alert Miguel so I stayed firm pretending not be okay. But my eyes kept drifting. I scanned the room searching for Enzo. To see if he has already come or if he was going to come soon. Although I was at the party, I didn't want to expose myself just yet. Now was not the time. “Lauren?” I heard someone call making me stiff. No one called me Lauren anymore. I turned to see Rafael behind me. He was dressed handsomely in his suit. Two years had gone by and I couldn't be more grateful enough. If he had not saved my life by coming to get me, I would have been dead. Enzo did not care. “Rafael,” I started as a small smile formed on my lips. “You're here too” “ Of course I am here,…..” Rafael said as he looked around before lowering his tone. “Why didn't you tell me you were back in the country, Lauren? You
I swallowed feeling my throat tightening as I stared at Enzo. I quickly turned my gaze away not giving him enough time to see my face. “Sorry.” I muttered as I walked past him heading straight to my car. I put Aurora in her seat making sure she was secure before I got in. Starting the engine, I drove as fast as I could leaving before Barbara could show up. “Mommy, did I do something wrong?” Aurora’s small voice broke the silence in the car, soft and unsure.My grip tightened on the steering wheel. I forced my eyes to stay on the road, even though her question made my heart feel like it was cracking open. The image of Giovanni insulting my daughter and pushing her down made me mad. He was innocent. Two years ago, he had been nothing but a baby. “No, baby,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”She was quiet for a second, then I saw her fiddling with the hem of her dress in the driver’s mirror. “But you looked sad. And that man looked mad.”I blink
LAUREN -Three years later Taylor. Her face appeared in my dreams for over a month. I couldn't get her out of my mind or out of my memory. For the last few months I had been having the same dream. The dream I thought I had forgotten. Sighing, I got out of bed and went to the bathroom. It was already morning, the sun slipping through my windows. I went down to the living room after I was done to make breakfast. The house was quiet. I grabbed a pan and started cracking eggs into a bowl. The smell of butter and toast slowly filled the air. Then I heard it. The sound of little feet slapping against the floor. I tensed almost about to reach for the knife beside me when I heard her voice. “Mommy?” I turned around just as my daughter came into the kitchen, rubbing her sleepy eyes and holding her favorite stuffed bunny by one ear. Her curls were a mess and her cheeks still puffy from sleep. “Good morning, lovebug,” I said, crouching down. She shuffled into my arms and yawned agains
ENZOLauren’s scream still echoed through the room, her voice thick with grief and fury.“If you want me dead, just do it, you monster!” She said making my grandfather clock his gun. My eyes widened as I stood in front of both of them. Lauren had been crying for a while and had not stopped for a second. I didn't expect Don Alonzo to pull the trigger. I moved fast. Faster than I’d ever let myself in front of him. I stepped between them, my hand raised slightly toward Don Alonzo.“Enough,” I said, my voice low and controlled but barely.Lauren was behind me now, shaking, her sobs ragged. Taylor’s blood had already started to pool beside her feet but Lauren didn't care. Don Alonzo’s eyes narrowed. “Step aside, Enzo.”“She’s not your enemy.” I answered. “She’s a liar. And liars die.”“She’s mine,” I said, forcing the words out. “And that means she answers to me. No one else.”Don Alonzo’s jaw ticked. “She made you weak.”The tension between us skyrocketed as both of us stood. I knew wh
The drive was quiet.Too quiet.Enzo didn’t look at me once. His hands stayed tight on the wheel, his jaw locked, his eyes straight ahead. There was no music. No words. Just the low hum of the engine and the panic building in my chest.I sat beside him, trying to breathe normally. Trying to act like I didn’t feel the shift. Like I didn’t notice the way his eyes had gone cold ever since Leonardo had woken up.The meeting was been held in Don Alonzo's estate tucked behind heavy iron gates. Guards stood tall, guns in view. One of them opened my door. I stepped out, heart pounding.Enzo didn’t reach for my hand as he usually did. “ Enzo, I think we should go back home. I don't feel too well. Plus leaving Giovanni alone after he just recovered doesn't sit well with me.” I said trying to pull him back but Enzo dodged my touch. I thought he was going to leave but he suddenly Enzo walked back to the car before crouching down in front of me. He reached for my legs gently taking them out of th