His small chest rises and falls in rapid, shallow breaths. He's in shock.
"Enzo." I keep my voice gentle as I approach.
I want to holster my weapon, but I don’t know who else is still here or who might show up before we get the hell out. “It's over now. You're safe."
His gaze snaps to mine, and the raw fear there stops me cold.
Not fear of the bodies or the blood.
It’s fear of me.
Of the man who just executed his uncle in front of him.
I take a careful step forward, hand outstretched. "I know you're scared. But I'm going to take you home to your mom."
He flinches away. I drop to one knee, trying to make myself smaller, less threatening.
"Your mom sent me to find you," I explain. "She's waiting for you." The last thing I want to do is grab him and haul him out of there, but I might have to if he doesn’t come on his own accord.
His voice is barely a whisper. "You killed Uncle Pyotr."
"I did. To protect you."
“He said he’d kill me.” Enzo's eyes flick to the bodies, then back to me. "Are you going to hurt me too?"
The question breaks something inside me. "No, Enzo. Never. I would never hurt you." I reach out my hand again, palm up. "I'myour father, Enzo. And I know this is a new situation for us, but I love you and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
He stares at my outstretched hand, his small face a battlefield of confusion and fear.
Behind him, I hear shouts in Russian.
More Bratva are coming.
We have seconds, not minutes.
"We need to go," I urge. "Your mom is worried sick."
Enzo's eyes dart toward the warehouse door, then back to my hand. I can see the tug-of-war in his eyes, trying to decide whether he can trust me.
"Please. Enzo. We have to go.”
The moment stretches into eternity, and still, Enzo hesitates, caught between reaching for me and running away as Bratva voices draw closer.
14
KATERINA
I can't breathe. Can't think. Can't do anything but stand in the doorway of my cottage, staring into the darkness.
Every second without Enzo feels like drowning.
I really should go to Alessandro. As it is, he’ll likely be angry that I went to Luca. But Luca is Enzo’s father.
I check my watch. It’s nearing one in the morning. Luca told me to wait until dawn to notify Alesandro if he wasn’t back by then, but I’m getting anxious. Dawn might be too late.
The sound of footsteps breaks the silence.
A silhouette materializes from the shadows.
