Enzo looked so torn, tortured almost, as his eyes quickly met mine. He dropped the duffel bag, tipping his chin up. “I don’t want your money. I want her.”
My father’s eyes hardened. “We already had this discussion. Take the money and go.”
My stomach dropped. “What discussion?”
My father didn’t answer. He kept his focus on Enzo, who had his hands balled into fists at his side. “Remember what I said. I am a man of my word, even if it goes against my daughter’s wishes.”
Enzo’s jaw tensed as he stared my father down. “Then do it because I’m not leaving here without her. I’m in love with her.”
My father’s eyes narrowed and his face turned red. “How dare you?” he snarled, pulling out his gun. “I will kill you where you stand.”
“Dad, no,” I pleaded, my heart stuttering as he raised the weapon and pointed it at Enzo.
Enzo didn’t even flinch; if anything, he stood taller, more defiant. I didn’t know how he was able to turn off his emotions the way he did.
Panic filled me, and I did the only thing I could think of.
I stepped in front of Enzo, blocking my dad’s gun.
“Gia, get out of the way,” my father seethed, “Now!”
My vision was blurred with tears. “No!”
“What are you doing, Gia? Move!” Enzo demanded, his tone pleading. I hated hearing the fear in his voice, but I wasn’t going to let my father murder him in cold blood right in front of me.
I met my father’s gaze. “Daddy, please. I love him.”
I heard Enzo inhale sharply as my father scoffed. “You are too young to know what love is. Stop this nonsense and move out of the way.”
“Don’t treat me like I’m a child when you were perfectly fine with marrying me off to Luca less than a month ago.”
He glared at me, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “Don’t you dare talk about Luca after everything I did to clean up the mess you made and keep you safe. I lost several of me men because of you.”
“Keep me safe? You didn’t keep me safe. Enzo kept me safe. You sent me away with a stranger who could’ve easily traded me off to the Sorellos and been done with it. But he didn’t. He protected me; saved my life more than once.”
“Of course he did. I paid him a hefty price to ensure your safety, not to mention threatened his life if you were to be harmed,” my father argued.
He had a point, but I stood firm. “Yeah, well he didn’t have to chop down a Christmas tree for me because I forgot to get one at the store. He didn’t have to play board games with me, or bake cookies with me, or make me hot cocoa. He didn’t have to help me put up silly Christmas decorations or suggest we get presents so that I’d have something to open on Christmas day.”
My father’s face softened, and I continued, “Dad, he fought and killed over ten men for me. None of them even got close to me because he was so determined to protect me.”
My heart was pounding as I waited for my dad to respond. I held my breath as his eyes darted back and forth between me and Enzo. After a few moments, he lowered his weapon.
I let out a sigh of relief, then threw my arms around his waist. “Thank you.”
When I pulled back, he turned his attention to Enzo. “Don’t make me regret this. If you break her heart, I will bury you. That’s a promise.”
Enzo extended his hand to my father, seemingly unfazed by his threat. “Understood, sir.”
My father turned back to me and placed a kiss on my forehead. “I’m so glad you’re home,Piccola.”
Then, he walked away towards his office. When he reached the door, he stopped and turned around. “Enzo, you should stay for dinner; meet the family.”
Enzo’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at me in surprise. “Thank you, sir. Looking forward to it.”
“Good,” my father replied before disappearing into his office and closing the door behind him.
I threaded my fingers with Enzo’s and led him to the living room. “I can’t believe that just happened.”
