Page 44 of The Enforcer's Brat

"I'm so proud of you, baby," Matteo murmured when they finally came up for air. "So incredibly proud. And excited for our future together."

As they finished packing, making plans for their departure, Enzo felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. The world outside the family's protection was vast and unknown. But with Matteo by his side, he felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

They said their goodbyes quietly, not wanting to make a big scene. Tony hugged them both fiercely, extracting promises to stay in touch. Even Marco, who had never quite warmed to Enzo, gave them a gruff nod of acknowledgment.

As they climbed into Matteo's car, preparing to drive away from the only life they'd ever known, Enzo felt a moment of panic. "Are we really doing this?" he asked, his voice small.

Matteo reached over, taking Enzo's hand and squeezing it reassuringly. "We are," he said, his voice full of love and conviction. "Together."

Enzo took a deep breath, letting the certainty in Matteo's voice wash over him. "Together," he agreed.

As they drove away from the Ricci compound, the Chicago skyline receding in the rearview mirror, Enzo felt a sense of possibility settling over him. The road ahead was uncertain, full of potential pitfalls and challenges. But he had Matteo by his side, and together, they could face anything.

The Enforcer and his Brat were embarking on a new adventure, leaving behind the world of crime and violence for a chance at a normal life. It wouldn't be easy – years of ingrained habits and the ever-present threat of their past catching up to them would be constant challenges.

But as Enzo looked over at Matteo, saw the love and determination shining in his eyes, he knew they'd made the right choice. Whatever the future held, they would face it together, bound by a love forged in the crucible of danger and strengthened by their shared dreams of a better life.

As the city faded into the distance, Enzo felt a weight lifting from his shoulders. For the first time in his life, he was truly free. Free to be himself, free to love openly, free to chase his own dreams instead of living up to someone else's expectations.

The road stretched out before them, full of promise and possibility. Enzo squeezed Matteo's hand, a smile playing at his lips. "So," he said, excitement bubbling in his voice, "where to first?"

Matteo grinned, lifting Enzo's hand to press a kiss to his knuckles. "Anywhere you want, baby. The world's ours for the taking."

As they drove into the sunrise, leaving behind the shadows of their past, Enzo and Matteo looked forward to the bright future they would build together. The Enforcer's Brat had finally found his happy ending, not in the glittering world of organized crime, but in the simple, profound love of the man beside him.

Their story was far from over. In fact, it was just beginning. And whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them as they had faced everything else – side by side, stronger together than they ever could be apart.

CHAPTER 16

SAFE WITH DADDY

The California sun beat down on Enzo as he jogged along the beach, sweat glistening on his toned body. It had been six months since he and Matteo left Chicago, trading the gritty urban landscape for the laid-back coastal lifestyle of Santa Barbara.

Enzo slowed to a walk, catching his breath as he neared their beachfront bungalow. He smiled, seeing Matteo on the deck, fresh from the shower with just a towel slung low on his hips.

"Enjoy your run, baby?" Matteo called out, eyes raking appreciatively over Enzo's form.

"Mmm, not as much as I'm enjoying the view right now," Enzo purred, climbing the steps to the deck. He pressed against Matteo, not caring that he was sweaty and sandy. "You know, I was just thinking about how I could use a shower..."

Matteo growled low in his throat, hands gripping Enzo's hips with bruising force. "Is that so? Well, we can't have you all dirty, can we, little one?" His voice dropped an octave, taking on the stern tone that never failed to make Enzo shiver. "But naughty boys don't get to decide when they get clean. Do they?"

Enzo's breath hitched, feeling himself slip easily into his submissive headspace. "No, Daddy," he whispered, eyes downcast in a show of deference that was only partly an act.

"Look at me when you speak, brat," Matteo commanded, tilting Enzo's chin up with a firm hand. "Now, what do naughty boys get?"

Enzo met Matteo's gaze, his own eyes wide and innocent. "They get punished, Daddy."

"That's right," Matteo purred, his approval sending a thrill through Enzo. "And you've been very naughty, haven't you? Teasing Daddy, prancing around all sweaty and dirty..."

Their lips met in a heated kiss, months of peaceful domesticity doing nothing to dampen the passion between them. Matteo lifted Enzo easily, the younger man's legs wrapping around his waist as he carried them inside.

The shower was steamy in more ways than one as hands roamed familiar bodies, relearning every curve and plane. Enzo gasped as Matteo pressed him against the cool tiles, his lover's cock hard against his thigh.

"Please, Daddy," Enzo whimpered, falling deeper into the dynamic they both craved. "Need you so bad. Want to be good for you."

Matteo's hand found Enzo's throat, applying just enough pressure to make the younger man's pulse race. "You want to be good? Then take your punishment like a good boy." With his free hand, he delivered a sharp smack to Enzo's ass, the sound echoing in the confined space.

Enzo yelped, more in surprise than pain, his cock twitching with interest. "Thank you, Daddy," he breathed. "May I have another?"

---