Page 11 of The Price of Mercy

Enzo’s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he leaned closer. “You’re right. You’re not one of my lackeys. You’re something else entirely. And that’s what makes you so damn frustrating.”

The air between them crackled with tension, a mix of anger and something else Julian refused to name. He could feel the heat of Enzo’s body, the faint scent of his cologne, something dark and expensive, filling the space between them. It was intoxicating and infuriating all at once, a heady mix that left Julian’s mind reeling.

“I didn’t ask for this,” Julian repeated, his voice quieter now, almost a whisper.

Enzo’s gaze softened, just for a moment, before he leaned back, his expression unreadable once more. “Neither did I,” he said, his tone quieter now, almost contemplative. “But here we are.”

The rest of the ride passed in silence, the tension between them simmering just beneath the surface. Julian kept his eyes on the window, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the man sitting beside him. Enzo was a puzzle, a mix of contradictions that Julian couldn’t quite figure out. He was ruthless, yes, but there were moments, like just now, when Julian caught a glimpse of something else. Something deeper. Something human.

But Julian didn’t want to think about that. He couldn’t. Because if he did, he might start to see Enzo as something other than themonster who had taken over his life. And that was a dangerous line of thought; one he couldn’t afford to cross.

The car came to a stop outside a nondescript building, its windows dark and its exterior unassuming. But Julian knew better. This was where the meeting was taking place, where the heads of the other families would gather to discuss business, and where Julian would be on standby, ready to patch up the wounds if things went south.

Enzo turned to him, his expression serious. “Stay close. Do what I say. And whatever happens in there, don’t speak unless spoken to. Understood?”

Julian nodded; his throat too tight to form words. Enzo studied him for a moment before opening the door and stepping out. Julian followed, his heart pounding as he prepared to step into the lion’s den.

Chapter 8

The Meeting of the Bosses

The room was a study in controlled chaos. Low lighting cast long shadows across the walls, and the air was thick with the acrid scent of cigar smoke and the faint metallic tang of concealed weapons. Julian stood in the corner, his back pressed against the cool plaster, trying to make himself as small and invisible as possible.

He felt like an intruder in this world, a man out of place among the sharp suits, hardened faces, and the unspoken rules of power that governed the room. His hands were shoved deep into the pockets of his jacket, his fingers nervously twisting the fabric as he watched the scene unfold.

The heads of the city’s most powerful crime families sat around a long, polished table, their presence commanding the space like kings at a council of war. Enzo sat at the head of the table, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp and calculating, like a predator surveying its territory.

To his right was Giovanni De Luca, the aging but still formidable leader of the De Luca family, his silver hair gleaming under the dim light. Across from him sat Vincenzo Rossi, the cold andcalculating head of the Rossi syndicate, his fingers drumming lightly on the table as if he were already bored.

The others, men Julian didn’t recognize but whose reputations preceded them, sat with their guards up, their expressions unreadable but their tension palpable.

Julian’s mind raced as he observed the scene. He couldn’t believe he was here, standing in the shadows of a room where the fate of the city’s underworld was being decided. These men were dangerous, their power radiating off them in waves.

He felt like a mouse in a den of lions, acutely aware that one wrong move could get him killed. His eyes kept darting to Enzo, who seemed to command the room without even trying. There was something magnetic about him, something that made it impossible to look away. Julian hated that he noticed it.

What am I even doing here?Julian thought, his stomach churning.I’m a doctor, not a… whatever this is. I save lives. I don’t belong in a room full of killers.

But he knew the answer to that question. He was here because Enzo had decided he was. Because Julian had saved his life, and now he was trapped in a world he didn’t understand and couldn’t escape. The weight of that realization pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe.

The meeting began with a tense silence, broken only by the sound of a lighter flicking open as one of the bosses lit a cigar. Finally, Giovanni De Luca spoke, his voice gravelly with age but still carrying an edge of authority.

“We’re here to discuss the recent… incident,” De Luca said, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Enzo. “Your family’s been stepping on toes, Moretti. And we don’t like it.”

Julian’s breath hitched. He could feel the tension in the room spike, the air growing heavier with every word. Enzo leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable, but Julian could see the flicker of danger in his eyes.

“My family’s been doing what we’ve always done,” Enzo replied, his voice calm but laced with steel. “Protecting our interests. If that’s a problem for you, De Luca, maybe you’re in the wrong business.

The room went still, the tension ratcheting up another notch. Julian’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched the exchange. He could feel the anger radiating off De Luca, the man’s face turning red as he leaned forward, his fists clenched on the table.

“You think you’re untouchable, Moretti?” De Luca snarled. “You think you can just waltz in and take whatever you want? You’re not the only one with power in this city.”

Enzo’s lips curved into a cold smile. “No. But I’m the only one who knows how to use it.”

The room erupted into murmurs, the other bosses shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Julian’s eyes darted around, taking in the reactions. Vincenzo Rossi, leaned forward, his voice calm but laced with menace.

“Enzo, we’re not here to start a war. But if you keep pushing, you’re going to leave us no choice.”

Enzo’s gaze flicked to Rossi, his expression hardening. “War’s already here, Vincenzo. You just haven’t realized it yet.”

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