12
ENZO
A loud fist pounding frantically on my door wakes us both. I kiss Althea’s shoulder, and whisper, “Go back to sleep. I’ll handle it.” Althea moans as I rise from the bed. She doesn’t move from her spot under the covers.
“Enzo! Enzo, get up! Nazario needs you.Now. It’s important!” My cousin Leo is shouting at my door. At the same time, my phone is going off. Not wasting any time, I throw on my cargo pants as I rush to let him in and answer the phone simultaneously.
“Yeah,” I answer the phone while staring at a pale, panicked Leo in my doorway.
“You need to get Leo and bring his ass to the hospital. Santo’s been shot,” Mauro says into the phone. “Don’t fuck around. We don’t know who’s still out there. You protect Leo, Enzo. The family may be under attack.”
“Who?” It’s the only question I have, because the answer will give me my orders. Whoever is responsible is now my next assignment.
“We’ll talk when you get here.” The line goes dead.
“Someone shot Santo. We need to get to the hospitalnow. Mauro told me to grab you and get down there.” I hear Althea moving around behind me, and step outside the door into the hall to keep her from overhearing. This is a family matter.
“What do we know?” I ask quietly, holding the door shut.
“Mauro only told me Santo was shot. When I called to check on Naz, he said it doesn’t look good. I-I can’t say more than that. Not here. I was told to get you and meet Naz. So, let’s go.” Leo pulls my arm, but I don’t move.
Instead, I pull out my phone and shoot off a text to Stavros.
Me:Who was on Naz and Santo’s detail tonight? I want names.
Stavros:Theo, Tomas, Joseph, and Carlos were their close detail.
Ephraim was on sniper duty.
Me:Where are they now?
Stavros:Theo, Tomas, and Joseph were all hit. Tomas is in critical condition, in surgery now. Joseph and Theo didn’t make it. Carlos is with Nazario at the hospital standing guard with Mauro.
Me:And Ephraim?
Stavros:Unknown.
Fuck.
Me:I want all video surveillance in the area surrounding the restaurant and everything within a five-mile radius. Find Ephraim.
Stavros:Already on it, boss.
Me:You’re to watch after Miss Drakos. I’ll take over for Naz and Santo.
Stavros:Understood.
Turning back to Leo, who is getting more impatient by the second, I tell him, “Give me a minute to get dressed and strap up. Mauro says it might not be over. Call Nazario and tell him we are on our way.” Before he can utter another word, I slip back into my room and find Althea already dressed in her devilish dress and heels.
My eyes skim her body from head to toe. Neither of us speaks to one another. Instead, I dial Stavros’s number. He picks up on the first ring.
“Boss?”
“I’m going to need you and Eddie to meet me in the garage. You’re going to handle your assignment, and Eddie will follow me and Leo. I want full coverage. Make it happen. I’ll be down in five minutes.”
“Understood.” The call ends. I don’t have to explain what I want. Stavros understands. He’s one of my best soldiers. He doesn’t question his orders, just does as he’s told.
I tuck my phone into my pocket and sit on the edge of the bed, watching Althea move about my room. There’s something almost natural about seeing her in my space. It’s like she belongs here.
