Chapter 5

Chapter Five

" T ell me again why we're here?" Alessandro asks, a red solo cup clutched in his hand. The same red solo cup he's been holding since we arrived an hour ago. He looks like the average college student, enjoying whatever contents are inside that cup as he sips at the rim. Anyone watching would think he's drinking. I know better.

Alessandro will nurse that same cup all night, looking the part while staying completely sober. He won't allow himself to let loose or relax in the slightest. It's the whole heir apparent thing he has going on. Ever since he was born, he's been groomed to one day lead the family empire.

It won't be for a really fucking long time, God willing. But the keys to the kingdom, so to speak, will land in the palms of his hands when his father, my uncle, either dies or retires. Like I said, it won't be for a long-ass time, because my Zio Theo took over from my nonno not all that long ago himself.

Alessandro takes his role in the family seriously. Anyone would think he's the underboss already. He's not. My Zio Luca stepped up to that position until Alessandro graduates and is ready to claim the title.

"Because we're college kids and this is a college party. It's literally expected of us to attend, get fucked up, and have fun." I smirk at him.

"You're a fucking idiot. What are we really doing here?" he asks, seeing right through my bullshit. It's not just Alessandro who doesn't like the whole college party experience.

I do, however, like to party and have a good time. I'd just prefer to do it at a more discreet establishment. Somewhere not filled with college students with mobile phones that can video record my every move.

I look over the crowd of bodies and notice the one girl I've been waiting for. "Is that Pacey?" I lift my cup towards the door, and Alessandro snaps his head in that direction.

"Yeah, what is she doing here? She hates parties," he says.

"No idea. Where's Cassidy?" I ask him.

Alessandro runs his free hand through his hair. "She's with my mom and sister," he groans. "Some shit about a girls' night."

I hear him, but my focus is solely on the girl Pacey is dragging in behind her. She's a fucking knockout, a fact every asshole with a dick seems to be noticing too.

"Who is she?" my cousin asks.

"Who?" My eyes turn to him.

"The chick with Pacey, the one you can't stop staring at?" he says.

"How do you know I'm not staring at Pacey?"

"Because you've been there, and if you wanted to revisit that, you would have by now." Alessandro smiles at me.

"Maybe." I lift a shoulder. When I look back to where my little agent was, she's gone. I glance around but still don't see her. "I need a drink," I tell my cousin before turning towards the kitchen. If I'm going to endure the torture of being in this frat house, then I need some alcohol in my system.

Alessandro follows me. "Really, you're going to pretend that us being here has nothing to do with the chick Pacey turned up with?"

"I'm not pretending shit." I pick up a bottle of whiskey from the counter and pour a healthy serving into a red cup.

"Riiight, so you didn't ask Pacey to make sure she was here?" Alessandro lifts a single brow in question while his lips fight the smile I know he's holding back.

"Pacey has a big fucking mouth," I grunt.

"Word of advice? If you want something kept in a vault, don't go telling my girlfriend's roommate. Those two talk constantly about everything," he says.

"I'll keep that in mind, for future reference," I groan, bringing the cup to my lips as I swallow the amber liquid. I relish the burn as it runs down my throat.

"Sooo, who is she?" Alessandro asks.

"You mean you don't already know?"

"Didn't care enough to dig. Should I?"

"Nope." I look through the crowd. I don't know where the fuck Pacey and Kayleigh disappeared to. They're here somewhere and I'll find them eventually. Right now, I'm content to numb the fucked-up feelings I'm having because that's a whole lot easier than acknowledging them.

Some jock slams into Alessandro's back, forcing my cousin to knock into me. I catch him and my cup hits the floor. I shove Alessandro to the side while my right hand forms a fist before I swing out and connect it with the idiot's jaw, sending him flying off his feet. He lands on his ass, and the whole house goes silent. It's as if everyone is aware of the incident all at once. This is why I hate these parties. Too many fucking eyes.

"Watch where you're fucking going." I pin the guy on the floor with a glare. When I look up again, my eyes connect with hers. Kayleigh, my little fucking agent, fuckable agent…

Nope, not going there. I spin around and storm out of the room, the crowd of partygoers quickly clearing a path for me to pass.

Alessandro is right behind me. "You good?" he asks.

"Peachy," I grunt.

"Yeah, you sound it." He chuckles.

"I dropped my fucking drink."

An hour later and two drinks in, Pacey comes running up to me. "Enzo, Jesus. I've been looking everywhere for you." She sounds breathless, and I'm immediately on alert.

"What's wrong?" I look behind her, expecting to see my little agent friend but she's not there.

"Someone put something in Kayleigh's drink. I need help getting her out of here," Pacey says.

"What do you mean someone put something in her drink?" I jump up from my seat and scan the room. "Where is she?"

"I left her in the bathroom upstairs to come get you. I told her to lock the door. She's had one drink. That's it, and she's slurring and falling down."

I'm already running up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time. I start pushing doors open. It's not until I try the fourth door that I find her. Except she's not alone.

"This room's taken. Find another one, bro," a guy calls out. A guy who has his grubby fucking paws all over Kayleigh.

I grab the back of his shirt and yank him off her, watching as her body plops to the floor. "What the fuck?" I hiss. Her eyes are open, but she's not there. "What did you give her?"

"N-nothing. I swear." The guy pales as he looks at me.

Good. He should be fucking scared.

"She's not even conscious. What the fuck were you going to do in here?" My fist connects with its second face for the night.

Alessandro and Pacey shove past the crowd that's now hanging around the open door. "Get rid of him before I fucking kill him." I shove the would-be rapist towards my cousin, knowing all too well how Alessandro's going to deal with the guy. Then I bend down and scoop up Kayleigh's limp body.

"Where are you taking her?" Pacey asks.

"Home." I walk out of the frat house with Kayleigh in my arms, so fucking vulnerable. She mumbles something incoherent before her eyes close, and her head falls against my chest.

Kayleigh doesn't stir as I put her in the passenger seat of my car, nor when I set her on my bed a quick drive later.

My eyes catch on the black leather attached to her thigh. Lifting her skirt slightly, I unclip the holster, removing the knife its holding in place. I slide the small blade into my pocket.

"That would have actually been useful if you weren't drugged out of your mind." Moving down her legs, I grab one ankle, then the other as I remove her boots, chuckling when I find another concealed knife. "What else are you hiding?" I ask her, knowing full well she's not going to answer.

I tug the blankets over her and look down, debating if I should leave her here to go and deal with that fucker who would have taken advantage of her. Tonight could have gone a lot worse and she doesn't even know it. My chest aches at the thought of what could have happened.

"Piccolo ladro, it isn't yours to take and yet you've gone and stolen it anyway," I whisper. "Piccolo ladro," I repeat the words, little thief , as I walk out of my bedroom. I have two guest rooms in this apartment, so why the fuck did I put her in my bed?