We protect our women and children always. They are the lifeblood of the family.
It took weeks after their funerals to get Giselle to even speak again, let alone smile. The first time we all came to the state fair as a group, nearly a year later, I saw Giselle smile a real, genuine smile. She was excited about all the rides and the animals. She drug me with her to every single one, squealing and giggling as we rode them all. It was on that day I vowed to take her every year—and I have kept my vow.
“Just because they want to do something stupid doesn’t mean we have to go along with it,” Mauro whines. “We pay people to follow us around everywhere. How is this any different?”
“Because it’s Giselle, and because I promised. End of.” Mauro’s shoulders droop, and he huffs but he accepts my reasons.
“Fine. But you’re buying the beer, fucker.” He nudges my shoulder. I don’t flinch or react to his comment. I don’t give a shit about paying for him to get drunk on stale-ass beer for the night. All that matters is the girls have fun.
The twins, Santo and Angelo, are already scouting the place for women, having completely forgotten about their sisters and mine. I don’t blame them. They’re young, and everyone knows they don’t have to be as on guard when I’m around.
It’s my job. It’s what I do. I assess threats and take them down. I’m the enforcer for the Venatti family. I possess an insatiable need to delve out pain, which makes me the perfect man for the job. I protect the family.Whatever the cost.
When it comes to Giselle, my level of protectiveness reaches an all-time high. She’s all I have left of our mother. The onlybright spot in my world colored with blacks and grays. They’re the only two people I have ever trulyfeltanything for.
“Ooh, Enzo. Come on. The fortune teller is back again. Let’s go see her!” Giselle spins around, grabbing my wrist to pull me along.
“You don’t believe in such garbage, do you, Ellie?” I tease.
Giselle smiles. “Are you calling Oliver’s grandmother afake?” Her hand slaps her chest as she lets out a loud, shock-filled gasp. “That’s quite rude of you, big brother. You should probably take it back before she curses you for your disbelief.”
I can’t help but smile back at her. It’s such a relief to see her smiling and laughing again. Giselle went away to college two years ago, studying to be a nurse. I didn’t like the idea of her being hours away from me, but she didn’t want to be close to the family business. Giselle loves our family, but she fears the violence it can often bring. After our parents’ deaths, I promised to keep her as far away from the business side of things as possible. When she mentioned wanting to become a nurse, I made all the arrangements for her to have an apartment, a car, and paid for her tuition.
Of course, she has guards around the clock, all of whom stay out of sight and report back to me each night. Having the last name Venatti puts a huge target on every one of our backs, and some assholes—like my father—ignore the rules of war. They don’t believe women and children should be off limits but used as weapons against us. Giselle is and will always be my only weakness. I’ll never let anyone get close enough to her to use her against me.
She drags me into the tent with her, then sits at the table waiting for her turn.
“I’ll be right out!” a familiar voice calls out from behind the tent.
“Sit down, Enzo.” Giselle taps the chair beside her. “Please.”
I do as she asks and drop into the seat beside her, taking in the different masks and art that fill the space. It all speaks to Madam Boudreaux’s heritage and where she comes from. The woman is all about rituals and incantations. I can’t say I believe in such things, but after some of the shit I’ve seen over the years, I can’t honestly say I don’t believe just a little.
The back curtain opens and in walks Hex, an old friend from the Shadowmancers MC in Fort Worth. They’ve done some business with my cousins and me in the past. Weird, unexplainable shit happens when these guys are involved, but I’ve learned not to ask questions.
It’s part of the arrangement for our friendship, actually. They don’t ask about our family business, and we don’t ask about their club. If either one needs the other, we just show up and handle shit—no questions. It’s a win-win for both sides.
“Hey Enzo,” Hex calls out, reaching to shake my hand. He has a mortar and pestle in his other hand. His face paint and top hat are a little off-putting, but I’ve gotten used to Hex being weird, so it’s nothing new. “Giselle. How are you, sweetheart? How’s school?” He releases my hand and leans over to kiss my sister on the top of the head.
She wipes her head and wrinkles her nose, probably making sure he didn’t leave any paint in her hair. “Actually, we’re here for a reading. Is your grandmother here?” she asks hopefully.
“No. She had to stay in Louisiana to handle a family situation. I’m filling in this year while the rest of the guys run security on the fairgrounds,” Hex replies.
“I didn’t know your motorcycle club did security work?” Giselle is curious by nature, but judging by the look on Hex’s face, he’s not talking about the club working the grounds as volunteers. I watch him with curiosity of my own as he fields my sister’s questions.
“It’s more like we’re helping the locals. You know there’s a lot of people in the crowds and only so many cops. They don’t always see what we do.”
They’re hunting for someone.
“Oh, well, that’s nice of you,” Giselle says, smiling. Her naivete is refreshing and somewhat alarming. It’s also why she’s never left without a guard.
“Anything we can help with?” I offer, knowing Hex won’t want to discuss business in front of my sister, but I still want to put the offer out there. Hex shakes his head, turning back to Giselle.
“So, sweetheart, what can I do for you today?”
“Actually Hex, I want you to do a reading for Enzo,” she says slyly.
“What?”
