20. Enzo

20

ENZO

I have no idea where Tommaso and Romeo are taking me, but I’m starting to feel movement again and I squeeze my hands into fists, thankful I can move again. Of course, it’s not nearly enough to fight or defend myself and I feel numb and tingly all over. I’m not sure how many times that fucker Romeo zapped me.

The SUV finally stops and the doors fling open and then quickly shut up front. When the back door opens, I pretend I still can’t move. A pair of hands yank me out and they half-drag, half-carry me toward a dark boathouse. A quick sweep of the area tells me we’re at the docks. I hear the water lapping and the occasional mournful sound of a boat horn somewhere off in the foggy night. Boats and planks creak as we enter the small shack.

The cousins shove me down into a wooden chair. I’m waiting patiently to see what their next move will be. And it’s exactly what I want. Romeo removes a knife from a sheath on his belt and slices through the zip ties around my wrists. Using the element of surprise to my advantage, I fist my hands and swing them upwards with all my might. I’m still a little shaky from all the jolts I received from the taser, but I hit my mark and Romeo goes flying backwards with a loud grunt.

Pulling myself up out of the chair, I stagger forward and kick hard, catching Romeo beneath his chin. His head snaps back and he flies onto his back. By this time, Tommaso has caught on to what’s happening and he throws himself at me, tackling me down. We roll across the floor, swinging at each other. I manage to get the upper hand and a few good hits in before Romeo jumps into the fray.

Goddammit. This two against one bullshit pisses me off. Even though I fight hard, they manage to grab me and drag me back into the chair. I’m still struggling when Tommaso pulls a gun out and points it in my face.

“I’ll do it!” he screams, shaking the weapon at me, finger on the trigger.

I slump back in the wooden chair and send him a death look. “What the fuck is all this about?” I ask, my voice low and lethal.

“Do you really have to ask?” Tommaso practically spits his words at me. They’re dripping with venom and I know this is about Rocco or some bullshit, but I figure it’s best to keep them talking.

“I didn’t kill Rocco,” I remind them, watching as Romeo steps forward with a coil of rope. As he begins tying my wrists to the chair arms, I pull in a deep breath, trying to remain calm and in control. I’m smarter than these two idiots combined and I will figure out a way to beat them and escape.

I have too much to live for now. Gabriella is my world and I’m not about to lose her.

“Yeah, your brother did,” Romeo says.

No shit, I want to say, but I keep my mouth closed, not wanting to antagonize them. Not yet, anyway.

“ Your brother,” I say, directing my attention to Tommaso, “kidnapped my sister-in-law and attempted to murder my brother. Miceli reacted out of self-preservation and love for his wife.”

“Rocco was supposed to marry Alessia! She belonged to him and Miceli stole her away. He deserved to be punished and Rocco should’ve had the wife he was promised,” Tommaso insists.

God, he’s delusional.

“Miceli loves Alessia,” I say, striving to sound calm and rational, but my control is slipping fast. “They have a baby. Your brother tried to destroy all of that. He was a narcissistic, selfish asshole. He got what was coming to him.”

Okay, maybe I went a little too far with that. But, I don’t give a shit. These two assholes are pissing me off.

“That’s where we disagree. Alessia belonged to Rocco?—”

“She didn’t belong to anyone!” I yell. “She’s not some kind of chattel who goes to the highest bidder.” That fits Hannah, Vin’s wife, better than Alessia. Ah, the White Auction. What a fucked up thing that turned out to be, but I digress.

“Her father promised her to my brother. And that promise was broken and disrespected by Miceli. Now my family wants revenge. Starting with you.”

Tommaso takes a step closer, his gun still aimed at me, but I don’t flinch or let him see any kind of fear or weakness. If he thinks I’m going down without a fight, he’s wrong. I suppose I can’t do much against a bullet, but I refuse to back down in any way. Lifting my chin, I meet his gaze head-on.

“Let it die with Rocco,” I advise, hoping they will see reason. But I’m not going to hold my breath.

“The only one around here who’s going to die tonight is you,” Tommaso spits.

Yeah, well we’ll see about that, I think, discreetly twisting at the bindings around my wrists.

“Get the stuff,” Tommaso orders his cousin.

Stuff?

I watch Romeo head back outside to the SUV and wonder what they’re planning.

“I thought you were going to shoot me,” I comment dryly.

“That’s too easy, Rossi. I have something much more fun planned for you.”

Great. Exactly what I don’t want to hear. But at least it gives me more time and a fighting chance. A bullet between the eyes does not.

After a couple of minutes, Romeo reappears carrying some things and I squint through the gloom, trying to identify whatever is in the large bucket in his arms. My questions are all answered the moment he turns it upside down and dumps it out.

Gloves and cement mix. Oh, for fuck’s sakes. What is this? The Godfather ?

I’m about to ask that very question when they both turn to me, hate shining in their eyes. Then they launch themselves at me and begin hitting me with their fists like I’m some kind of damn punching bag. My arms are tied down to the chair, so I can’t do anything to block their vicious blows. My head snaps sideways and I try to turn my body, but end up getting punched in the ribs. Really fucking hard. They’re not holding back and their curses fill the air as they continue pounding me with angry fists.

Without much room to maneuver or defend myself, I launch a leg out and manage to kick Romeo in the groin. He gasps and drops to the ground, holding his balls. Then I snap my foot out again and catch Tommaso in the upper thigh, just missing my intended hit to the crotch. He hisses a foul word, grabs my ankle and twists. I kick out again, shaking his grip loose, and plant my feet flat on the ground, shoving backwards with all my might. The chair scoots back and I continue moving backwards, the legs scraping across the ground.

We’re in a boathouse, so I’ve got two ways out of here: back out the front door or jump in the water and swim away. But with my hands tied to this damn chair, swimming isn’t an option. So I’m scooting like hell toward the door. With each thump of the chair legs on the ground, I’m tugging hard at the rope wrapped around my wrists and it’s loosening a little. But, not enough. If I can just make it out that door then maybe I can yell for help and draw attention to the situation.

My goal is cut short when Tommaso stalks over, grabs the chair and drags me right over to the edge of the dock. He tips the chair backwards, allowing me to hang over the water, and I’m not sure if he expects me to be scared or beg for my life or what. Nope, not my style. Instead, I just look up at him, my gaze focused, defiant and feral. Internally, I’m screaming, “Do it, motherfucker!” I’m daring him with my eyes—let the chair go and send me crashing backwards into the water. Go ahead.

Would I sink like a brick? Sure, probably. But maybe not quite as fast as I would if I let them get to the next step of their twisted plan and cement my feet into that blasted bucket.

Tommaso lets the front legs of the chair drop back down to the deck with a thud. He growls, staring at me with so much loathing, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of reacting.

“Enough of this shit,” he growls. “Romeo! Bring the bucket over here!”

I’m not sure I can stall them any longer, but I’m going to give it a try.

“Think about what you’re doing,” I say. “Killing me won’t accomplish anything except sending you two both to jail. Is that where you want to spend the rest of your lives? Rotting away in some cell?”

“Shut up,” Tommaso snarls.

I focus my attention on Romeo, knowing he’s the weaker of the two cousins. If anyone is going to listen to reason and possibly cave, it’s him.

“Romeo, listen to me. I understand you’re upset about what happened to Rocco, but he’s gone. Nothing you do will bring him back. By killing me, you’re only hurting yourself and your family and the people who love you. Don’t you have a new girlfriend? Do you really want to lose her?”

I can pretty much guarantee that whatever was happening between Romeo and Gabriella’s friend will be over after she finds out about this. But, Bri mentioned Lili and how disappointed she was that the two of them were dating. Yes, I agreed with her that Romeo was a dick, but Lili needed to learn that for herself. Well, if this doesn’t do it then nothing will.

I see the way Romeo hesitates, so I keep at him just like I would do if I were in a meeting. As a shark, I can smell when there’s blood in the water and I know exactly when to strike. And, right now? There’s blood in the water AKA Romeo’s face is full of doubts.

Tommaso must see it, too, because he shoves the bucket into his cousin’s hands and tells him to go fill it with water. Again, Romeo hesitates.

“You aren’t guilty of anything yet, Romeo,” I remind him. “But you will be arrested as an accomplice to murder if you keep obeying Tommaso. Do you understand what that means?” Romeo turns his full attention to me and waivers. “It means you’ll spend the rest of your life in a very small prison cell. Is that what you want? Is it? Because?—”

“I said shut the fuck up!” Tommaso lashes out, swinging a fist and hitting me upside the head.

Fuck. My vision narrows into a pinprick and I see stars on black. Don’t pass out, don’t pass out, don’t pass out. I keep telling myself that because if I do then it’s game over. Very slowly my vision rights itself and the gloomy boathouse comes back into view.

When Romeo returns with a bucket full of water, I know I’m in trouble. I don’t have my phone, the ropes are still too tight to break free from and I’m quickly running out of options. Plus, I’m starting to feel the effects of them beating me up earlier. Everything aches and when I shift in the chair, a pain shoots through my mid section. Fuckers probably bruised a couple of ribs.

“This is what you deserve,” Tommaso growls, ripping the cement mix open and dumping it into the bucket. “Miceli killed my brother and you fucked Gabriella. We know all about that. I’ve always questioned her decisions, so I can’t say I’m surprised. She isn’t the smartest.”

Now that he’s bad mouthing Gabriella, something inside me snaps and instantly comes to her defense. “Don’t you dare say one bad word about her. I don’t know how you can share the last name much less have the same blood running through your veins. She is the most intelligent and amazing woman I have ever had the good fortune to meet. How you can claim her as kin blows my mind. Compared to Gabriella, you’re nothing. You’re shit.”

Once my spiel ends, I’m rewarded with another punch to the face. Lovely. My head is hanging down between my shoulders and I work my jaw back and forth, making sure it’s not broken. Then I turn my face to the side and spit out a mouthful of blood.

But, I don’t regret a word I said. It’s all true. Gabriella is a beautiful light and these two fuckers shouldn’t be allowed to share the same air as her, much share the same last name. But, if I have any say and manage to get my ass out of here in one piece, then I’ll be changing her last name. Soon, she will be Gabriella Rossi. My wife.

Tommaso nods to my legs and Romeo kneels down, grabs my ankles and forces my feet into the bucket now filled with wet cement. Shit, shit, shit . I fight against the hardening cement, doing my best to kick and keep shifting it around so it doesn’t get the chance to freeze my feet in place. But then Tommaso gets down and holds them, too, and I’m fighting a losing battle.

Once again, the idea that Gabriella could possibly be pregnant crosses my mind. That gives me the renewed purpose to fight for my life and escape. But they’re so strong, constantly teaming up on me, and soon my strength lessens. It also doesn’t help that I was zapped by a taser countless times and my muscles still feel weak

What the hell am I going to do? I can’t let them weigh me down and toss me into the water. It’ll be over in a few minutes, but that’s not how I want to go out. I still have too much to do.

The worst part is I never got the chance to tell Gabriella that I love her. Because I do. God, I love that woman so damn much, my heart and soul ache for her.

“Time to sleep with the fish, Rossi,” Tommaso says and gives me an evil grin. Then he and Romeo grab my chair and start hauling me toward the edge of the dock.

I love you, Bri. And I’m so damn sorry that I never got to tell you in person.