Page 67 of That Time I Accidentally Took Over the Mafia

“No, please don’t—” …Go.

But he’s already gone.

A choked sob wrenches out of me as I slide down the wall, my tears falling with me.

That’s where Jax finds me—a crumpled mess on the floor of the hallway, sobbing, holding myself, trembling like a fucking leaf. He looked like he was going to have a brain aneurysm before I could muster the words to tell him what happened.

Even then, all I could say was one thing: “Luca.”

I didn’t see Enzo standing behind him, but Jax’s head snapped toward him. Something silent passed between them. I’ve never seen Enzo so angry. He just turned and walked to the door at the end of the hall. He slammed it so hard the glass inset shattered, and I flinched.

Jax’s face filled my vision. His rich brown eyes held me and brought me back from the void I was falling into. He carried me into my bathroom and filled the tub. He undressed us both and picked me up like a bride, settling me on his lap and using a shallow dish to gently pour the hot water over my back.

Enzo arrived at some point, kneeling down beside the tub. His thumb so tenderly stroked my cheek as he looked at me, trying hard to calm the raging storm in his thundercloud eyes.He kissed my cheek, then rubbed Jax’s throat, kissed the top of his head, and left us alone in the bathroom.

Jax took care of me—drying me off, giving me one of his shirts, and lying in my bed with me. He never stopped rubbing me, holding me, and talking in a low voice. At some point, I stopped crying, and my body relaxed into him. He told me stories, trying to get my mind off the heavy thoughts crushing me.

My heart feels like it’s in a thousand shattered pieces after Luca. The weight of it sits heavy in my chest, suffocating me with every breath I take. I can still see his angry face in my mind, hear his words cutting through me. He was so closed off, so distant. I don’t know how to fix this, how to reach him when he keeps pushing me away.

Eventually, the smell of something amazing wafts into the room, and my stomach grumbles in response.

“You hungry, Peach?” Jax whispers, placing a gentle kiss on my temple.

I nod. He helps me up, wrapping a blanket around me and rubbing my arms.

“You okay?” Jax’s voice is soft, but there’s concern in his eyes as he watches me. He’s not asking for anything more, just wanting to know if I’m still breathing, if I’m still here with him.

I don’t answer right away. What is there to say? I’m not okay. Not when one of the men I care about shattered me two hours ago. Not when I’m caught between a war, an empire, and the three of them, struggling to make sense of everything. But somehow, Jax knows how to make me feel like I don’t need to explain it all.

“Come on.” He leads me into the living room with his arm around me.

The kitchen is filled with the sounds of clattering pans and sizzling food. Two chefs are working feverishly in the massivekitchen. The fragrances filling the space instantly make me feel warm, and my mouth waters.

“Enzo brought in the chefs from the club tonight,” Jax explains, his voice laced with hope that this might cheer me up. “Special request for you. Life-changing lobster risotto, I think he called it.”

I raise my eyebrows, surprised. My heart stirs a little—it’s one of my favorite meals, and for some reason, it feels like a lifetime since I’ve had it.

“Lobster risotto?” I ask, trying to keep the sadness out of my voice. “Really?”

“Yep. Just for you,” Jax smiles, nudging me forward as I watch the chefs work.

Enzo is in the living room. Like Jax, he’s shirtless, wearing a relaxed pair of lounge pants. A warm glass of wine is in one hand, and a remote is in the other. Flames rise in the fireplace with the push of a button. Lights provide a low, warm glow, and the framed picture over the mantle lifts up, receding into the wall to reveal a television behind it.

He notices us and immediately walks over to where I’m standing. His hands frame my face, gently cupping it. His gaze softens as he looks down at me, his thumb brushing over my cheek.

“I’m so sorry, angel,” he murmurs, his voice low and sincere. “I hate seeing you hurting.”

“I don’t want to cause problems between you,” I whisper, my voice cracking. The words tumble out before I can stop them. “I know I’m messing things up. I can’t seem to figure Luca out, and I’m just?—”

“No,” Enzo interrupts softly, shaking his head as he strokes my cheek with his thumb. “This isn’t on you. You haven’t done anything wrong. You’re not messing anything up. You’re notcausing problems. You’re just… being you. It’s okay to feel what you’re feeling, Delaney.”

I can feel the heat of his hands, and I lean into him. He’s right, but it doesn’t feel like it.

“I wish I could fix this for you, baby,” he whispers, leaning his cheek against the top of my head and wrapping his arms around me.

“You can’t,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “You can’t fight this for me.”

Enzo’s hands cup my face again, his voice firm but gentle. “I know. But we’ll work through it. Together.”

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