Page 59 of King of the Bronx

“Thank you…for everything,” I said quietly.

“I promised you I’d get her back.”

“You also promise me you’d be safe.”

“I’m alive,” he said.

I let out a breath of air. “Thank God. You scared the shit out of me.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

A moment of silence passed between us. His breaths evened out as he fell asleep. A few minutes later, my eyelids became heavy and I drifted off.

*****

The smell of bacon made me snap my eyes open. I lifted my head up, expecting Enzo to be next to me, but the bed was empty. What the hell? I stood up and stumbled to the kitchen, where Enzo was leaning against the counter talking to Erica as she cooked.

“What the hell are you doing?” I barked at him. He narrowed his eyes at me as a silent warning. “You got shot less than twenty-four hours ago. Why are you up?”

“Babe, I can’t lay in that bed all damn day.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “Then lay on the couch. I don’t care where you lay, but you’re going to rip your stitches.”

His eyes roamed over my body, and his lips moved to one side as if debating if he should argue with me, but then he walked around me to lay down on the couch. I knew it would be a challenge to make Enzo sit still, but I didn’t think it would be an issue so soon. I walked over to Erica as she brewed a fresh pot of coffee.

“How are you feeling today?” I asked her.

She shrugged. “I’m okay. Sleeping was hard. Since they kept me drugged the entire time, I think my body is confused, but Cal kept me company.”

I looked down at her arm. There were fresh track marks where they must have stuck her.

“You don’t have to make breakfast,” I told her.

“Might as well. I couldn’t sleep so I’m a little hyped up anyways.”

I nodded and poured myself a cup of coffee. I added in creamer and sugar before making a cup for Erica.

“So who’s running the house?” Erica asked.

I smiled. “Actually, I don’t really know.”

Erica laughed. “I’ll go after breakfast.”

I leaned against the counter and took a sip of my drink. “You really don’t have to. You can stay here as long as you want, take some time to relax.”

Erica gave me a sad smile. “Thanks, but it’s probably better if I stay busy, go to a couple meetings. Try to focus on things that can distract me from…”

Her craving. She didn’t need to say it out loud. I nodded and decided not to push her to rest and relax like I did with Enzo. Erica had dug herself out of a drug addiction before, so she must know how to do it again.

After we ate breakfast, Cal drove Erica back to the house. I took a seat on the chair next to the couch, but Enzo shook his head and sat up, making room for me.

I rolled my eyes but didn’t argue as I got up to sit next to him. I leaned my head on his shoulder, feeling fatigue run through my body. I hadn’t really done anything today, but I felt like I was at the end of a marathon. The stress that’s been running through my body was finally over, and now, all that’s left is exhaustion.

“So it’s over now?” I asked Enzo.

He kissed the top of my head. “It’s all over, baby.”

“About the brothel…”

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