19. Gabriella

19

GAbrIELLA

A fter Lili leaves, I receive Enzo’s text and smile.

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 can’t help but laugh. First of all, Enzo has never used an emoji and this one seems quite fitting. And, second, when did he become so sweet? My heart constricts. He truly cares about me and he proved it when he walked away from Doug Holloway’s offer.

Enzo won. He beat me and, at first, I was miffed. No doubt about it. I’d been convinced that I needed to have Holloway Corp. in order to prove to myself and my family that I was a good businesswoman who could be just as smart and successful as all the men.

But, after much consideration, I came to the conclusion that I don’t want to be anyone’s second choice. I’m good enough to be first pick. When Doug called me earlier, told me Enzo backed out and offered to sell Holloway to me, I was stunned. Now that I’ve had time to consider what exactly that means, I reach for my phone.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Holloway, it’s Gabriella Bianche.” I purposely use my last name because I want to remind him who I am, who my family is, and the power we have in this city. Maybe we aren’t as feared as the Rossi’s or not quite as revered as the Milano’s, but when people hear Bianche, they know we’re just as powerful as the others.

“Gabriella, how nice to hear from you. We’re still signing the paperwork tomorrow morning, right?”

I can hear a bit of anxiety in his voice and I can’t help but smile. “Mr. Holloway, after careful consideration, I’ve decided to pass. Sorry, but I’m no longer interested in acquiring your company.”

“W-what?” he stutters in disbelief.

“That’s right.” I keep my voice crisp and professional. I’m no longer interested in hearing his lies about how he can’t get over the loss of his beloved wife or how much family means to him. It was all a gimmick, a sales ploy to create empathy.

“But I thought we had a deal.” His voice rises and I can hear how upset he’s getting, but I don’t care.

“I want to make one thing crystal clear to you—I am no one’s second choice and I do not appreciate being strung along.”

A heavy sigh fills the line. “You spoke with Enzo? Well, he completely misunderstood what I was saying. All I meant was?—”

“I don’t care. Good luck selling your floundering company, Mr. Holloway.” I hang up the phone and drop back against my couch cushions. God, it feels so good to have told him off like that. My hands cover my flat stomach and I think about the life now growing inside it. I don’t need Holloway or his stupid company. As long as I have Enzo and our baby, I’m absolutely fine.

Do I have Enzo, though? I let out a little breath. We’re going to have a long talk tonight. He thinks he’s merely coming over to take care of a sick person but, really, he’s about to find out he’s going to be a father. I hope he handles the news well.

I glance down at my watch and see it’s going on six o’clock already. Enzo is never late, so I’m a little surprised. Especially since he promised to be here with dinner. I type out a quick text and hit send: Running late? Hurry up…I miss you. And you’re definitely going to be joining me in bed.

I can’t resist adding the devil emoji.

He normally messages me back immediately, so after ten minutes passes and I haven’t heard from him, I start to worry. I suppose he could’ve gotten caught in traffic or maybe his phone isn’t within reach. He should be in his car, though, and almost here. I pull up his number and hit send. It rings and rings then drops me into voicemail.

Huh. That’s strange.

I shouldn’t panic, but worry floods me for some odd reason. Enzo can take care of himself, so why am I suddenly having worst-case scenario thoughts. My heart twists and I keep picturing him hurt or in some kind of trouble. Which is silly, of course. Enzo is the strongest man I know.

But my gut is always right.

Shit. I call him again and then again.

“Please, pick up,” I whisper. But, no, the call drops into voicemail again. A quick glance at my watch and I see it’s almost 6:20 pm. He’s nearly an hour late and he didn’t call or message. Something is definitely wrong.

What should I do? After debating for a minute, I decide to drive over to his place. I’m grabbing my purse when my phone starts ringing in my hand. My hopes soar and I look down, needing to see his name flashing across the screen, but instead, I see it’s Lili.

“Hi, Lili,” I answer, hurrying to the door.

“Oh, my God, Gabriella!” she cries, sounding close to hysterics. “I think Enzo is in trouble!”

My heart lurches within my chest. “What’s going on?” I ask and freeze.

“Romeo said something that made me really suspicious.”

Oh, no. “What?”

“Well, I called him and he’s with Tommaso. I could tell they were in the car and he told me to hang on. Then he started talking and I heard them say something about Enzo.”

“What exactly did you hear, Lili?”

“I heard Tommaso say, ‘Hit him again. We don’t want Rossi getting the upper hand.’ And then there was a groan and I think Enzo is in trouble. I think they’ve done something to him.”

“Lili, do you have any idea where they were going? I need to find out so I can help Enzo.”

“I don’t know,” she cries. “But, Gabs, he sounded so angry and ominous. I’ve never heard Romeo sound like that before.”

“Shit!” How could she help him if she didn’t know where he was? They had to find out. “Lili, listen closely. I need you to call Romeo back. Tell him you just found out that Enzo edged me out over a company I wanted to buy and now I’m furious. Tell him I want revenge and make them believe I’ll do anything to hurt Enzo. Make them think I want their help. Can you do that, Lili?”

“Yes, I’ll call you right back.”

“Thanks.” I hang up and hurry down to my car. Romeo won’t be suspicious when Lili calls him back with that new tidbit of gossip. For the first time, I’m so happy my friend is a blabbermouth. Plus, she’s really good at getting information out of people.

Crossing my fingers, I slip into my Hellcat and wait for her to call me back. The minutes seem to drag out and I begin drumming my fingers against the steering wheel. C’mon, Lili. You can do this. I know you can.

When my phone finally rings, I answer so fast that I nearly drop it. “What happened?”

“They’re in Brooklyn, by the docks,” she tells me and I turn my car on and roar out of the garage. I’m not sure how she found out so quickly, but I’m incredibly grateful. I suppose a few things were working in her favor. One, she seems very harmless, a total non-threat. And, two, she’s screwing, or was screwing, my idiot cousin. He truly isn’t that smart and she probably coaxed the intel right out of him with minimal effort.

“You’re sure?” I ask, heading toward Brooklyn.

“Yeah. I promised the blow job of a lifetime if he told me where he was and how long he’d be gone. But, Gabs, listen to this—when I mentioned how you wanted revenge, he said the Bianche family will get their revenge sooner rather than later. He tried to sound all gangster and said Enzo Rossi was going to sleep with the fish.”

“Oh, my God. Lili, thank you, but I have to go!” I hang up on my friend and quickly dial Angelo Rossi. Each member of the Five Families is programmed in my phone, everyone’s phone, in case of an emergency. I liked Angelo and since he and Enzo seem close, he’s the most logical person for me to call.

“Angelo Rossi,” he answers.

“Angelo, it’s Gabriella Bianche,” I say hurriedly, trying not to sound too hysterical and failing miserably. “Romeo and Tommaso took Enzo and I think they’re down near the docks in Brooklyn. I’m headed over there now?—”

“Whoa, slow down,” he interrupts me. “You think they have Enzo?”

“Yes, and I think they’re going to kill him as retribution for Rocco!”

“Fuck! Where exactly is he?”

“I don’t know,” I say then launch into everything that happened, including what Lili just found out.

“I’m on my way,” Angelo assures me. He names a pier and tells me to meet him there. “But stay in the shadows and don’t let anyone see you.”

“Okay.”

“See you soon.”

Angelo hangs up and, even though I’m crazy with worry, I feel better knowing he’s going to help. Time is of the essence and I press my foot harder against the accelerator. Nothing can happen to Enzo. I refuse to accept anything other than storming in and getting him out of there. From this point forward, Romeo and Tommaso are dead to me. I can’t believe they would do this. They’re breaking the Alliance between the Five Families and that’s going to have serious consequences. Yes, Miceli broke it first when he killed Rocco, but that was out of self defense. It was an entirely different situation.

Tommaso and Romeo will be excommunicated, stripped of every power they’ve had bestowed on them by my family and the others. What the hell are they thinking? Taking this kind of revenge into their own hands and snubbing the rules? I know Rocco was Tommaso’s brother, but this isn’t the answer. Attempting to destroy Enzo and the rest of the Rossi family is far too bold and will have dire consequences. But, I guess they don’t care.

“Assholes,” I grind out. I’m so furious, so scared for Enzo, that my entire body is shaking. I won’t let them hurt him. I need Enzo in my life—today, tomorrow and every day. He’s the father of my baby and the love of my life.

It’s funny how clear everything suddenly becomes right before that terrifying moment of potential loss. I just pray it’s not too late and that Angelo and I make it in time to save my man. Because the alternative is unacceptable. I refuse to accept anything other than Enzo in my arms tonight, his warm, firm body pressed to mine.

We have far too much going on together and I need him in a way that I’ve never needed another person. The connection we share is so much more than mere chemistry. I feel him on such a soul-deep level and I need him in my life every single day.

“I’m coming, Enzo,” I whisper, finally entering Brooklyn.

I’ve never rescued anyone before in my life, but here we go. Heart in my throat, blood thrumming through my veins, I park in the shadows near the pier where Angelo told me to meet him. Reaching over I pop the glove box and pull out the knife I keep in there. Just in case. Then I open my door and slip out.

Please help me find him, I plead and send a little prayer up to my dad. If anyone loved and protected me just as much as Enzo, it was my father. And I’m pretty sure he would want Enzo here to do the same.

Please, Dad. I need your help.