I reached out even as my heart raced, cupping his face. “Mattie is worth protecting. Whatever you have to do.”
His eyes closed briefly, like he needed that permission. “I have to.”
I watched all the emotions flicker across his face before he finally spoke again. “There was a truck bombing in L.A. at one of my businesses. People died.” He sounded anguished, and my heart went out to him.
“I’m sorry, Enzo.”
He flashed a small smile, placing one hand on top of mine over his heart. “Even worse? I think there might be a traitor in my house.”
My eyes widened in shock. “No!”
He nodded. “Yes. That’s why I’m telling you this now, Ren. You have always mattered to me, have always been in my heart. There will be times when I am not the Enzo you remember. That I will have to do things you might not like or may disagree with, but I want you to know that I don’t take those steps lightly. And I will take those steps to keep you and Matteo safe. Period.”
“If you ever need someone to talk to, Enzo, I’m here. Your world is new and strange to me, and I will do my best not to judge. But I want you to know that not every question is a judgment.”
He turned with a grateful smile. “Thank you, Ren.” And then he shocked me by pulling me into a hug so tight and so comforting I knew that he was going to break my heart.
Again.
Chapter 16
Enzo
Waking up with Ren in my arms felt like I’d slid into a life I’d once planned and then ceremoniously buried. Her body was warm and soft against mine, her curves pressed flush to me, her thigh slung over my leg like she’d never left. One hand rested low on my stomach, fingers relaxed and trusting. The intimacy of it stole my breath in a way no violence ever had.
I didn’t move. Hell, I couldn’t. Having her here like this, in a way I never thought I’d get to experience again, was better than any fucking victory over the years.
I stayed there, holding her like that for a long time while I memorized the weight of her, the slow and steady rhythm of her breathing. When she stirred, murmured something I couldn’t make out, then settled back into sleep, I tightened my arm around her and let my thoughts spiral.
I pictured her seventeen years ago, just after I made the call that had broken both of us. I wondered how she’d pieced herself back together after us, or if shehadhealed. Had she been walking around in a half-alive haze the way I had? I wondered if she’d ever thought of me, if she ever imagined forgiving me.
Thoughts of Ren and the past inevitably brought me back to the life I’d given her up for. The DeRossi organization. The current threats. The traitor in my ranks.
Some dumb fuck who didn’t know they were already dead was feeding information to my enemies, and worse, they were close enough to know about all the DeRossi businesses. I needed to figure out thewhybehind the betrayal. Were they just fed up with my leadership style? Was it just a plain, ruthless money grab? Resentment? Or did someone else think they could replace me? I had no fucking clue, and until I did, I couldn’t act.
Not effectively.
Not decisively.
The emergency phone rang on Ren’s nightstand, and I picked it up in the middle of the first ring. “Yeah?”
“This is Damien, sir,” came the calm voice on the other end. Calm and steady, exactly why Luca had chosen this team. “We’ve got a complication.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I’m listening.”
“There was an attempted breach of the perimeter last night.”
I sat upright so fast the mattress shook, jostling Ren’s sleeping form. “Why the fuck am I just hearing about this now?” My voice remained low out of habit, but that tightness that always came when I thought about Matteo in danger reared its ugly head.
Damien didn’t answer right away, but when he did, his voice was just as steady and calm as before. “The breach happened about an hour ago. We responded quickly and had to secure the area, search for accomplices, and focus on cleanup.”
Cleanup. I knew exactly what that meant.
“I’m on my way,” I said, already on my feet.
“I’ll meet you at the kitchen door in five,” Damien instructed, the voice of a man used to ordering around powerful men. He ended the call as if his word was final.
Dammit.
