Kathleen swallowed the scream building within. She knew from experience that yelling and raging never worked. White-hot anger suddenly filled her veins. Her voice was surprisingly cool and mild when she finally spoke. “So let me get this straight, we have the original thieves who want the map, Vitale and his people, and now Rocco wants you dead too. Does that cover it? Three groups of people who are after us and the treasure?”
Enzo’s voice went equally cool. “That sums it up. Although,” he added, “I think there will be four groups that want me dead once your brother finds out what I’ve brought you into. Jamie will be out for my blood as well.”
“No doubt,” Kathleen agreed. What did it all mean? “So why are you telling me all this? What does it matter?”
“I wanted you to know the truth. Now we make a plan on how we’re going to get the treasure, save Bianca, and survive the rest.”
A laugh burst from Kathleen’s throat. “You make it sound so easy.”
“No, it’s not easy, but it is simple. We need to find the treasure in order to survive. With Rocco in the picture, everything changes. We need to get the upper hand. The treasure does that.”
Kathleen stared at Enzo for a long moment. “Where do we start?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Enzo stared unseeing out his office window. The look on Kathleen’s face when it finally sank in what he was telling her was, in a word, brutal. Loathing but more, loathing with a side of betrayal. His stomach was still a twisted knot. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt nauseous, but here he was, a grown man, wanting to throw up because he’d disappointed a woman.
He tossed back two fingers of scotch that he’d poured himself as soon as she’d left the room. It burned all the way down, but not as much as the bile in his gut did. Kathleen wasn’t just any woman, and he didn’t just disappoint her. No, by the default of his past, he’d crushed her, and that was devastating.
Jamie was going to kill him. And Enzo didn’t blame him. He would want to kill the man who brought his sister into this mess, too. He’d want to have him drawn and quartered and then all four pieces of him tarred and feathered. But he didn’t have a sister. He didn’t have any family. Jamie was his only true friend, and he’d just put Kathleen in mortal danger.
Enzo rubbed his temples as his mind whirled. Was there any way out that didn’t involve taking Kathleen with him? Wasthere a way to get her to safety? He stared at his phone. Did he call Jamie? Then they could work together to hatch a plan? It was tempting, but he knew the truth. Alessandro Vitale was not going to just let that happen. He would use all kinds of resources to force Enzo’s hand.
Enzo swore. If he called Jamie, then he’d be brought into it. Jamie would want to negotiate, thinking he could handle Vitale, but Vitale wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to have Jamie owe him. Jamie was good. Great, even, but Vitale was a different animal, the type of animal Jamie wasn’t used to dealing with. Calling Jamie meant he was possibly trading Kathleen’s safety for Jamie’s, and as much as that seemed more appealing, the truth was, there was no guarantee of Kathleen’s safety.
“Fucking hell,” Enzo growled as he smacked his fist hard enough on the desk to make the tumbler rattle against the hard surface of his desk.
There really was no way out.
His gaze landed on the treasure map. This was the only way through. Find the fucking treasure and negotiate. He didn’t have a lot of time either. He stared at the map, and again a faint bell rang, but it was elusive, and the more he tried to grab a hold of it, the more it slipped away like a wisp of smoke.
“Fuck,” he snarled again, launching himself to his feet.
“Sir,” Aldo said as he entered the room, “I thought perhaps a meal might be in order since you’re here?”
Enzo was about to decline, but changed his mind.What the hell, maybe food would help. Doubtful.But it might keep his brain occupied so it could figure out whatever the hell it was trying to tell him. Also, he would be able to sit down with Kathleen and see how she was doing. He knew he needed to give her space, but the look on her face haunted him, and he needed to see for himself that she was okay.
“Si, Aldo,bene. Please ask Kathleen if she would like to join me in the dining room.”
“She has declined, sir,” Aldo said and then turned and left the room.
“Of course she has,” Enzo mumbled. He’d decline as well if he were in her shoes. “Fuck,” he snarled again and then made his way to the dining room, where Aldo had set the table.
Enzo absently rubbed his chest when he saw only one place setting on the table. Usually, dining alone didn’t bother him. In fact, it was often the preferred situation, but since Kathleen had materialized in his life, he’d come to look forward to meals and her company.
He sat down while Aldo fussed over him, putting a small plate of antipasti in front of him. “Please take something up to Kathleen. I’m sure she is hungry, and she shouldn’t have to starve because she’s pissed off with me.” That was putting it mildly.
“She requested a salad, sir. I am including many of the fresh herbs, lettuces, and vegetables from the garden to cheer her up. She seemed to be interested when I mentioned them. She asked for a tour, and I wondered if it would be okay if I took her around later today?”
Enzo stared at Aldo, his brain swirling. “Garden…tour…Shit.” Enzo shot to his feet and dashed back to his office. He stared at the treasure map on his desk. Then he pulled up an image on his phone. “Fuck, yes!” he breathed. He knew where the treasure was, or at least the general vicinity where he should look.
Then the reality of the situation hit him. “Shit,” he breathed again, this time in disappointment.
“Sir,” Danny’s voice broke his reverie.
His head of security and general right-hand man stood in the middle of his office, a grim look upon his face.
“What is it?” Enzo asked as his gut tightened.
