18. Enzo

18

ENZO

A fter Gabriella and I parted ways, I headed back home to kill some time before I return with the soup and crackers I promised. Tonight, I plan to make sure she rests and takes care of herself. She seems tired and a little rundown which bothers me. I hope it’s nothing serious, but when it comes to Gabriella, I can’t help but worry and want to make sure she’s happy and healthy.

She hurried me out and said she had an appointment. For a moment, I contemplated following her because it was clearly a last-minute meeting since she normally would’ve been working. But, I told myself it isn’t my business and to giver her privacy. I can always ask her tonight and I don’t see why she’d keep it a secret.

Everything Gabriella does concerns and interests me. Maybe it shouldn’t, maybe I’m jumping the gun here. I don’t know. Walking over to the large kitchen in my loft, I pull out a beer, crack it open and take a long swig. And then my musings start.

Dropping onto the couch, it occurs to me that I’ve barely known Gabriella for a couple of months and I’m so head over heels for her, it’s scary. She might not know it yet, but she has me wrapped around her little finger. I realized how I feel about her when I decided she was more important than Holloway Corp. I’ve never allowed a relationship with a woman to triumph over business.

Even though this is all new to me, it feels right. And it’s so damn refreshing to be able to leave work and go home to a flesh and blood woman. Okay, so maybe I’m putting the cart before the horse, but that’s my next goal. I want Bri to move in with me and I want to give this thing between us a shot. I want that amazing, gorgeous, intelligent, sassy woman to be my woman. My girlfriend, my lover, my other half—obviously better half—and whatever other title anyone wants to use. Hell, I want her to be my best friend.

I’m making her mine. Of course, she doesn’t know it yet, but that’s my plan.

I lift my feet up and drop them on the coffee table, crossing my ankles. A part of me is freaking out and nervous as hell. What if she isn’t on the same page? I’d like to think I could shrug my shoulders and move on, but this is Gabriella Bianche, not some random woman I briefly dated. If she turns me down, I’m going to be crushed.

“She’s not going to turn you down,” I tell myself and take another sip. “She can’t .”

Well, if she runs, I could always pull a move from Miceli’s playbook. He practically kidnapped Alessia, took her back to his place and then had a priest there the next morning to marry them. All for her protection, he said. Uh-huh, yeah, sure.

I’m not sure that would work, though. Bri is too fierce and smart. Not saying Alessia isn’t, but my Gabriella is so damn headstrong. She won’t be forced into doing anything she doesn’t want to do.

However, I could always persuade her with some orgasms. God knows, she likes those. The idea of me being the only one who’s had his mouth on her sweet pussy makes me damn happy. Dropping my head back, I groan, remembering how wet she was against my lips and tongue. She tasted divine and I can’t wait to devour her again. Before I know it, I’m uncomfortably hard.

Sitting up, I adjust myself and set the empty beer bottle on the coffee table. It’s already after four, so I decide to change into something more comfortable then head over to her place early. I’ll grab some soup on the way from the cafe down the street. They have a really good vegetable soup which comes with a chunk of warm, homemade bread. I’ll also stop and pick her up a box of Saltine crackers and more water with electrolytes to keep her hydrated.

Stripping out of my suit, I find a pair of worn jeans and a t-shirt and put them on. Then I pack an overnight bag because I don’t plan on leaving her alone tonight. I’m going to make sure she’s well taken care of and I’m going to fuss over her until she probably gets annoyed with me. But, hey, if she isn’t taking care of her health, then somebody has to.

Thinking back over our conversation earlier, she wasn’t exactly thrilled that I bowed out of the acquisition. Probably because the competitor in her strives to win, at all costs. I understand that better than anyone. So, imagine my own surprise when I told Doug I was no longer interested. I’ve always chosen work and making money as the most important things in my life, second only to my family.

Well, if things go according to my plan, I’m hoping Bri will become family sooner rather than later. As in…my wife.

I give my head a hard shake, toss my overnight bag over my shoulder, and it occurs to me that I might be heading fast into very dangerous territory. I’m no longer talking about falling in love. I’m talking about being in love. I’m thinking about her as mine and the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, through thick and thin. Thoughts like these should have me breaking out in a sweat and panicking, but quite the opposite is happening.

A sense of rightness and comfort and so much freaking love fills me. And, for the first time, I understand how Miceli and Vin fell so hard and so fast for their ladies. They both had issues and problems to deal with, of course, but they didn’t hesitate when it came to protecting the women they love. And, they also didn’t hesitate in making them their wife and, shocker, knocking them up. Miceli and Alessia have a handsome son and that little munchkin is the apple of my entire family’s eye. Hannah and Vin are expecting twins and I know it’s going to be a handful, but we’re all prepared to step in and help when they need it.

When I think about having a son or daughter, my chest tightens. Not because I think I’m ready for kids or that I even really want one, but because I imagine it will be half me and half Bri. And what could be more amazing than that? Creating something as precious as a baby from our love?

“Fuck,” I hiss and swipe up my keys. Either I’ve turned into the world’s biggest sap or I’m so in love with Gabriella that I can barely see straight. Suddenly I smile the biggest smile. It’s so damn huge that my poor face hurts.

I’m in love with Gabriella.

It’s the only explanation for the insane feelings and emotions swirling around inside of me. I’ve never been in love before, so I have nothing to compare this to. However, when I think about Gabriella, everything seems to light up within and around me and I almost feel…giddy. It’s like I can’t wait to see her again and be able to wrap her up in my arms. All I want to do is hold her, kiss her and take her straight to bed. But I also want to talk to her and get to know her even better. I want to have long, leisurely conversations with her and I want to find out her secrets and why she is the person she is. I want her to share everything with me—her heart, mind, body and soul.

Am I asking too much, too soon? Is she willing to take this kind of risk and open herself up to me? Christ, I hope so. Because when I think about my life, Gabriella is in it. End of story.

As a businessman, I’m used to taking risks. Some are more well-calculated and researched. Others are a gut instinct, and I’ve discovered my gut is rarely wrong. And, right now, my gut and heart are telling me that Gabriella is going to be mine. My brain just needs to catch up and stop having doubts.

After locking my door, I take the stairs down to the garage and think about how she seemed a little off earlier. I can’t help but wonder if she’s upset with me, mad even, for backing out of the Holloway deal. I don’t care, though. Staying in and risking losing her forever wasn’t worth it. Fuck Doug Holloway and his boy’s club. I don’t want or need it. All I need is Bri.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and send a quick text off to Gabriella: How are you feeling? I’m off to grab you some sustenance then coming over to make sure you rest. Although I might be persuaded to join you in bed…if you’re feeling up to it. (devil emoji)

I’ve never sent an emoji in my life. What is happening to me?

Completely tangled up in my thoughts about Gabriella, I’m not paying attention to anything else. Including the two dark shadows that move up on either side of me. I’m barely five steps into the garage when something zaps me and I go down hard, dropping my phone, and the side of my face hits the pavement.

What the fuck?

I try to get up, ready to fight off my attackers, but confusion fills me when I realize that I can’t move. My muscles refuse to work. Panic shoots through me and no matter how hard I try to get up, my body refuses to cooperate.

Unable to defend myself or move at all, I see a pair of boots step into my view. I also hear voices when they begin to talk and it takes me a second to recognize who my attackers are—Tommaso and Romeo Bianche.

Fuckers. A heavy boot kicks me in the ribs before they jerk me up off the ground and start dragging me toward an SUV. They must’ve hit me with a taser. I’m so angry right now, my vision blurs, the edges a hazy red. What a bunch of cowards. They didn’t want to risk fighting me again because I’m a lot fucking tougher than I look in my designer suit.

I want to start talking shit, but the trash talk stays in my head because I can’t speak yet. Every muscle has shut down on me and it’s a scary feeling. But, from what I know, the effects shouldn’t last longer than?—

They shove me into the back seat and, once again, my entire body jolts as it’s shocked by the taser for a second time. Fuckers aren’t taking any chances this time around. Unfortunately, Angelo is nowhere around to help me out.

I’m on my own.

“How’s that feel, Rossi?” Tommaso asks nastily. “You’re lucky I didn’t tase your dick. I will, too. So behave yourself or you’re getting an electric jolt right in the crotch.”

He cackles as if that’s the most hysterical thing in the world and Romeo joins in with the laughter. I’m not sure how long this paralyzing sensation is going to last, but I think it should start wearing off within a few minutes. As long as they don’t tase me again.

They flip me onto my back and I watch helplessly as they zip tie my wrists together. I suppose I still have my feet free, so that’s a good thing. Because right now, I’m one step away from kicking one of these two in the mouth and hopefully cracking a bunch of teeth out.

I can’t do it yet, though, and it’s better if I pretend to stay immobile for as long as possible. Within minutes, I begin feeling a tingling sensation in my fingers and I manage to clench my hands into fists. I have no idea where we’re going or what crazy plan these two psychos have come up with, but I’m confident in my fighting skills.

Of course, they need to give me a fighting chance or I’ll be going nowhere fast. Just as that thought goes through my head, Romeo turns around in the passenger seat, lifts the taser and gives it a little shake.

“Ready for some more, Rossi?” he taunts, and Tommaso howls beside him in the driver’s seat.

I want to fucking kill these two assholes.

“Hit him,” Tommaso says. “We can’t risk him getting movement back.”

“He’s zip tied,” Romeo states, full of confidence. “Where do you think he’s gonna go?”

“I don’t know, but he’s a sneaky sonofabitch. Tase his ass again.”

Romeo shrugs then says, “Sorry not sorry.”

He hits the button and my entire body thrashes when the metal prongs make contact. My eyes close and I ride through the initial pain. This sucks ass. I’m just glad Gabriella is safe because I don’t trust these two clowns any further than I can throw them.