"You think you can pull that stunt? I have connections that can make your life very difficult." He sat back. "That's what's wrong with you people. You're too stupid and arrogant."
"Meaning?" Enzo asked with a cocked brow.
"You blacks. You get a little bit of power and don't know how to act."
Enzo laughed.
"What's so funny?" Senator Abbot asked with a frown.
"Senator, your bodyguard is still unconscious, and you're in my presence talking a whole lot of shit your ass can't back up.You're sitting there worried about your fucking campaign when you should be worried about whether or not you'll leave this building in one piece, let alone breathing."
Senator Abbot sneered. "Don't you threaten me—"
"I'm not threatening you. I'm telling you to watch your fucking mouth when you speak to me. I can just as easily make you disappear, just like you want me to make your problem disappear. You're the one too fucking stupid and arrogant to know how to humble yourself in the presence of those more powerful than you," Enzo said.
"You—"
"Shut the fuck up," Enzo snapped, and the senator closed his mouth, even though his face was red with fury. "Like I said, I'm not going to help you."
"Your father would have," Senator Abbot shot back.
"He'll understand when I tell him that I told you to go fuck yourself," Enzo said.
"Call him then and ask him if it's okay to send me packing?" Senator Abbot challenged him.
Enzo raised one annoyed eyebrow because he'd already been instructed by his father to help the man, and what he was doing went against his father's orders.
"What? Don't want to make that call?" Senator Abbot snorted in his arrogance. "That's what I thought. Stay in your little place, boy, and do what your daddy told you."
"Boy?" Enzo repeated the derogatory term with a menacing tone.
"It's not like I'm wrong."
"Where is this even coming from? You're just racist all day, every day, huh?" Enzo remarked with a snort.
Senator Abbot shrugged as he adjusted his suit. "Is it racist to point out that your people are always whining about injusticewhen you all should just work harder? The deck isn't stacked against you."
Enzo laughed and shook his head before tossing a glance over his shoulder at Cenzo. "You hear this bullshit?" He turned back around to face the senator. "My mom, even in Italy, had to deal with that nonsense. You claim the playing field is equal. That's like me playing a game for years, and then I allow you to play with me. I enter in all of the cheat codes so you can't beat me. But when you do start winning, I throw a fit and call you a cheater. Get your racist ass out of my face."
"Your father, who is a more sensible man, made a deal with me. Listen, boy—"
"Boy? Call me a 'boy' one more fucking time," Enzo warned, one eyebrow cocked, challenging the man.
Senator Abbot slammed his fist on the desk. "You heard me. Your father needs me. I wash his hands, and he washes mine. And unless you motherfuckers want a RICO case, you'll uphold your end of the deal your daddy made and take care of my fucking problem."
"At least we know why he's so bold to speak to you that way," Cenzo commented. His hand had been itching to go for his gun since the man walked into the room, and he was waiting for Enzo to give the command—silent or verbal—and he would pull the trigger.
"Senator, please allow me to speak on your behalf," the assistant said, seeing the situation get out of hand.
"Fine," Senator Abbot agreed with a wave of his hand.
Enzo rolled his eyes at the senator, then looked at the woman. "Are you going to attempt to sprinkle sugar on shit and try to sweeten this deal?"
The woman smiled and shook her head. "The senator has been under a lot of stress and spoke rudely to you, and for that, I apologize."
"Your apology isn't accepted as you didn't make the offense," Enzo stated. "You can't apologize for someone else's actions." He frowned and turned to Cenzo. "You know, I've never understood why people think they can do that. How do you think it's your responsibility to take on the accountability of others?"
Cenzo chuckled. "Yeah, me neither. This asshole popped off at the mouth; he's lucky I didn't pop him in the mouth."
