Chapter 23

T he vibration coming from the nightstand jolts me awake, pulling me back to reality. The sunlight streams through the white curtains, gradually brightening the standard bedroom as the day begins. I groan, wishing I were back in my room that mostly keeps the sun away. I pull the covers over me, wincing at the pain on my ass as I try to make myself a little more comfortable. Enzo's warmth has vanished, and I'm alone. The persistent buzzing continues on and off, for what feels like an eternity. I don't bother checking at who it could be, I just want the incessant noise to stop.

1 "Que carajos hiciste," my father's Spanish accent has me hesitating, completely freezing my movements all together. I try to gather my thoughts to come up with some excuse or apology.

"Father?" I question, knowing that was a stupid response but not being able to come up with something better.

"Puta madre, Catalina. You fucked up. Where are your brothers? What the fuck is happening over there?" He continues without giving me a moment to form words, "I'm going to L.A. You have 4 hours to fix this. You are getting married to Eduardo. Even if I have to drag you to the altar myself. Do I make myself clear? If I have to fix whatever shit you did, then you're not going to fucking like it."

Click . I hold onto the phone with a forceful grip for moments after the line goes dead. He didn't even give me a chance to say a word before hanging up on me.

I lay back in bed, covering my body with a blanket, wishing like hell that I could just disappear before father comes barreling in and making me wish for a silent death.

Fuck.

Groaning, I remove the blanket and slip into Enzo's shirt from yesterday before slowly making my way towards the kitchen. I pause when I see the sight of Enzo in just his boxer briefs, his muscles moving gracefully as he prepares food for us. And yet, he's the only meal I want to devour. Walking towards me, he sets down a cup of coffee and a plate with eggs and bacon, then kisses my head, arching a questioning brow questioning what's wrong .

"Father called. He'll be in the states soon. We need to go back to LA.'' I whisper, allowing him to see the fear I have for my father. The fear that doesn't seem to go away no matter how much I try to learn to defend myself to survive.

"I'll be right next to you when he arrives. I will not allow him to hurt you," he places an arm around me and tightens his hold while I try not to fall apart.

"He's not the same, since mother… Sometimes he looks at me like he wishes I had been the one killed, and not her. Sometimes, I wish I had been." I confess, he simply nods in understanding, his earthy scent comforting me. In these moments, I wish I could keep him. Forever by my side, and safely in his arms.

Enzo's phone buzzes to life on the counter. We both lean in glancing at the name of my brother displayed in huge letters. He answers the call, and puts it on speaker, while still holding me in his arms.

"Julian." He greets, then he places a gentle kiss on the top of my head.

"Enzo. We're on our way back. Father called us letting us know that he was heading to LA. We're on our way back but it's an 8-hour flight. Stay away from the house until we are all home too. We don't want him making any rash decisions when it comes to Catalina. We also need to talk about what occurred in Italy." Julian responds.

"What is there to talk about? Rocco already confessed about his connection to Dario. We met him. We secured the alliance. Shit, I still can't fucking believe it." Enzo tightens his hold around me.

"There's more to it than that. We'll talk when I get back." Julian hangs up the phone before Enzo gets a chance to say a word.. Maybe he didn't want me to overhear?

"I want to see Sierra today," I blurt out, fidgeting with my fingers. Losing all of the confidence I had last night. This is the repercussions that happens whenever I speak with my father. He makes me second guess my decisions. Every thought. Every feeling, as if I were still the 10-year-old girl that lost her mom.

"I don't have anything to wear," I move from the kitchen realizing that the only thing I have is last night's dress.

"You look rather delicious in what you're wearing now," he growls, slowly stepping closer as I move back at the same pace. His stare is downright lethal, like he desperately wants to bend me over where I stand.

"Enzo," I warn.

"Catalina," he says possessively, "as much as I enjoy seeing you in my clothes, I had Rocco get you some new options. Check the closet." He announces, leaving me stunned, speechless and confused. This man truly thinks of everything .

He walks me over to the bedroom closet, with his hand guiding me gently on my lower back. Flicking on the light, he reveals a closet full of clothes of every variety. I go through the clothes, touching every piece of luxurious fabric and checking the sizes. They are all brand new, each of them in my size and each piece are designer brands. This must have cost a small fortune..

"I'll let you get ready, baby. We can take the helicopter back and get you to your friend. I'll have Rocco ship the rest of the clothes back home" he smirks then walks out of the closet. Just leaving me there opening and closing my mouth like a fish out of water.

Choosing a pair of dark colored jeans and a beautiful red shirt that shows off just the perfect amount of cleavage. I look in the mirror, loving the way these flatter my curves. Enzo's lustful eyes follow me as I step out of the closet. He playfully smacks my ass the moment I pass him, the blush that spreads down my face to my chest is evident on how he affects me.

The helicopter ride was silent, Enzo kept his hands on me throughout the entire ride. While the guys gave him a knowing smirk as they watched us. I'm sure they could hear me scream his name throughout the entire hotel.

When we finally arrived at the Butterfly, the first thing Sierra does is scream at the top of her lungs as I step through the doors. Enzo and the crew follow behind me until I reach the bar, but they decide to sit further away to allow me the privacy of some girl time before dealing with my father.

I can feel the way Enzo's eyes stay glued on me, watching my every move. Whenever I get the chance to look back at him, he either licks his lips or winks at me. Showing me that even from a distance, he wants me just as much. I shift in my seat at the bar, wishfully hoping he'd drag me to the bathroom and fuck me right here, or that he'd kneel before me, and devour me like I was his last meal.

"You bitch," she whisper-shouts, "you totally banged your hot as fuck bodyguard and didn't tell me?" I groan, hiding my face in my hands trying to keep my cheeks from overheating. Apparently we aren't subtle in the way we keep eye fucking each other from across the room.

"Shh! You don't need to announce it to the world." I plead.

"Well, spill the tea or I'll announce it to the entire bar," she says, barely restraining her curiosity.

She's my best friend. I was planning on telling her every juicy detail from the first time to the cross in the suite and every delicious tension in between. So, I do. I confide in her, about the way he makes me feel and how I don't want it to end even though I know it has to, especially now that I'm engaged to someone I have yet to meet in the Italian mafia.

"Fuck, do I need a cigarette after those details," she whispers squeezing my shoulder.

She leans in closer and adds, "besides, I think he's a bit obsessed with you too," with a nod, she places a cigarette in my hand, encouraging me to place it between my lips. Normally, she doesn't let me smoke in the building but since there are no customers, she lights up one of her own before igniting mine.

The smoke fills the building, as the toxins course through my veins, creating a slight buzz that mingles with the shot of tequila Sierra had placed in front of me. I turn to look at Enzo, his eyes already locked on mine, a grin spreading across his face. He winks and continues the conversation with Rocco and Kai..

With each passing minute, I dread the impending arrival of my father. He's probably already waiting at the house and here we are like cowards. I know I'm unable to face him without the help of my brothers or Enzo.

Time slips by as we continue chatting, and drinking until the doors of the bar swing open. A crowd of men and women swarm in. Among them, I spot three familiar faces- three people I thought I would never see again.

"Julian!" I cry out, my voice brimming with excitement as I watch them walk towards us. Hurrying over, I find Julian glaring at my best friend.

"What the hell," I yell, shoving his shoulder, tearing his attention from Sierra, before he can react, he pulls me into a tight embrace.

"Of course, you'd be here. Cast any spells, Mu?eca?" he says, shaking his head and turning back towards Sierra.

Sierra's arms cross tightly over her chest. "Don't be a dick, Demon. She's allowed to do whatever the fuck she wants." She seethes.

"I specifically told her not to spend her time with you here, Mu?eca," Julian teases, turning back towards me, "so, you met with Dario, Hermana?"

"Uh yeah, and I don't like the fact that regardless I'm being forced into a marriage I don't want." I pout, wishing he'd tell me some sort of good news regarding my impending doom.

"Just keep an open mind. Dario is already engaged to be married, so we know it's not him." I refrain from rolling my eyes as Marcelo's cold, icy stare hardens the longer he glares at Enzo.

"What happened in Italy?" I direct the question to Marcelo, and then Julian. I don't even bother glaring at Rafa, since he's already tossing back shot after shot of tequila like he's drinking a glass of water .

"It's none of your concern," Marcelo declares, ending the conversation before it even starts. Inside, my frustration and anger continue to build. I still feel like a little kid being protected by her brothers. They withhold information, still viewing me as the vulnerable child from 18 years ago. The one who needed protecting, the one who watched our mother die.

"We need to go. Father is waiting for us," Marcelo says before striding back towards the door, my other brothers trailing close behind. Julian glances over his shoulder in my direction, before disappearing into the distance.

I briefly wrap my arm around Sierra, "I love you. I'll come back and give you the details," I whisper. Her smile doesn't reach her eyes this time. Her eyebrows knit in concern as she glances towards the exit and nods. Steeling myself, I prepare for the wrath of my father,that vile man who owns everyone in the world.

1. *Que carajos hiciste – What the fuck did you do?