Page 2 of The Enforcer's Brat

As they hailed a cab, Enzo couldn't help but cast one last glance back at the club. Through the window, he caught a glimpse of the handsome stranger, those steel-gray eyes still fixed on him. The intensity of that gaze sent a shiver down Enzo's spine.

For a wild moment, he considered going back inside, consequences be damned. But Giulia needed him, and Enzo wasn't the type to abandon a friend in need, no matter how tempting the alternative.

The cab ride to Enzo's penthouse was quiet, Giulia lost in her own thoughts and Enzo's mind still stuck on the mysterious man at the bar. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd missed out on something important, that by walking away he'd altered the course of his fate somehow.

Once they arrived, Enzo showed Giulia to the guest room. "You'll be safe here," he assured her. "Get some rest. We'll figure out what to do in the morning."

Giulia smiled gratefully. "You're a good friend, Enzo. I don't know many guys who'd give up a night of birthday celebrations to play white knight."

Enzo shrugged, aiming for nonchalance. "What can I say? I'm a sucker for a damsel in distress. Besides, the night wasn't a total loss. Did you see that silver fox at the bar? Talk about missed opportunities."

Giulia laughed, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. "Only you could be thinking about hooking up at a time like this. He was hot though. Looked like he wanted to eat you alive."

"Here's hoping I run into him again," Enzo said with a wink. "Now get some sleep. Doctor's orders."

As he retired to his own room, Enzo couldn't shake thoughts of the stranger. Those piercing eyes, the barely restrained power evident in every line of his body. It had been a long time since anyone had affected Enzo so strongly, especially someone he hadn't even spoken to.

Flopping onto his bed, still fully clothed, Enzo let his mind wander. He imagined approaching the man, feeling those strong hands on his body, that intense gaze focused solely on him. His cock stirred with interest, and Enzo groaned, pressing the heel of his hand against his growing erection. He shouldn't be this worked up over a stranger, but something about that man had gotten under his skin.

With a frustrated sigh, Enzo stripped off his clothes and headed for the shower. As the hot water cascaded over his body, he couldn't help but imagine what might have happened if he'd stayed at the club. Would the stranger have approached him? Would those large hands be on Enzo's body right now, pinning him against the shower wall?

Enzo's hand drifted lower, wrapping around his cock. He stroked himself slowly, lost in the fantasy. In his mind, the stranger was there with him, his voice a low growl in Enzo's ear. "Such a naughty boy," the imaginary man purred. "Teasing me all night. Time to teach you a lesson."

It didn't take long for Enzo to reach his peak, coming with a muffled groan, the stranger's imagined touch still tingling on his skin. As he rinsed off, reality began to creep back in. He'd probably never see that man again. It was just another missed connection in a long string of them.

Wrapping a towel around his waist, Enzo padded back to his bedroom. He checked his phone, unsurprised to see a barrage of messages from Luca.

"Dude, where'd you go?"

"Are you with that Bianchi girl? Are you insane?"

"Zo, answer me. I'm worried."

Enzo typed out a quick reply, assuring his friend that he was fine and promising to explain everything tomorrow. Then, exhaustion finally catching up with him, he collapsed onto his bed.

As he drifted off to sleep, Enzo's last thoughts were of steel-gray eyes and strong hands. Little did he know, fate had plans for him and the mysterious stranger. Their paths were destined to cross again, in ways Enzo could never have imagined.

The next morning dawned bright and painful. Enzo groaned, his head pounding with the mother of all hangovers. He fumbled for his phone, squinting at the screen. It was nearly noon, and he had a dozen missed calls from his father.

"Shit," he muttered, dragging himself out of bed. He needed coffee, aspirin, and preferably a time machine to undo whatever damage he'd done last night.

He found Giulia in the kitchen, looking far too chipper for someone who'd had such a dramatic night. She was at the stove, the smell of bacon and eggs filling the air.

"Morning, sunshine," she chirped, far too loudly for Enzo's sensitive ears. "Thought you could use some grease to soak up all that tequila."

Enzo grunted in acknowledgment, making a beeline for the coffee maker. "You're a saint," he mumbled, inhaling the bitter aroma. "How are you so...functional?"

Giulia shrugged, plating up the food. "Guess I didn't drink as much as you. Plus, you know, life-or-death situations tend to sober you up pretty quick."

The events of the previous night came rushing back, and Enzo winced. "Right. How are you holding up?"

"Better, thanks to you," Giulia said, her smile turning serious. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't stepped in. Franco can be...intense when he's angry."

Enzo nodded, taking a bite of bacon. "Any idea what you're going to do now? It's not like you can avoid your family forever."

Giulia sighed, pushing her eggs around her plate. "I don't know. Maybe I can talk to my father, make him see reason. Or maybe..." she trailed off, biting her lip.

"Maybe what?" Enzo prompted, a sense of foreboding creeping over him.

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