Page 185 of Phantom Mine

The second Enzo hears the sounds of guns being unholstered and safeties being disengaged, he throws himself in front of her. His arms fling to either side of him as he shields her with his body.

“Lower your fucking weapons!” he roars over his shoulder.

His face is twisted in anger, but it’s not directed at her. It’s aimed at his men, promising the kind of deadly reprisals that makes them openly shake in fear now.

“Point your guns at her again and your own mothers won’t recognize your bodies after I’m done with you.”

The words explode out of Enzo with such impassioned vitriol, they freeze me in place. I’m not the only one who reacts. I feel Matteo stiffen against me, clearly as confused by what’s happening here as I am.

“Andyou,” Enzo starts, turning his black gaze towards Dagny. She doesn’t falter, jerking her chin insolently up at him instead. “You’ll pay for that.”

“Fuck,” Dagny hisses at him, her teeth clenched so violently together, they look like they might shatter. “You.”

Enzo’s mouth stretches into a dark, humorless smirk.

“Dagny?” I say, hesitantly.

Three pairs of eyes fly to my face.

“Valentina?” she replies, her anger draining instantly. Enzo’s gaze cuts back to Dagny.

“You know her?” Matteo asks at the same time.

“What are you doing here?” she adds, ignoring both men.

I throw the question back at her with a disbelieving chuckle. “Uh, what areyoudoing here?”

Enzo grasps Dagny’s wrist, his eyes flashing. “You girls can reunite later. It’s time for us to settle our differences, don’t you think?”

“Get. Off.Me,” Dagny yells, attacking his hands to try and free herself as he drags her out of the VIP room.

I lift a foot but Matteo’s hand closes around my upper arms. I look up at him and find his gaze pinned on his friend’s retreating back. Finally, he flicks a look down at me.

“Don’t even think about intervening.”

“Why not? You don’t have any idea what’s going on either, do you?”

“No,” he answers. Then his eyes slide back up to the double doors swinging closed behind Enzo and Dagny, and he smirks. “And yet, I do.”

???

On Monday afternoon, I’m in the car on the way toFirenzewhen I decide to call Enzo. Neither Matteo nor I have seen him since he stormed out with Dagny in tow a couple of days ago. I’m dying to know what that whole interaction was about, but I don’t want to text her and pry.

“Pronto,” Enzo answers gruffly.

“What the hell was that slap about?” I say, getting straight to the point.

“Hello to you too, Valentina. I had a great weekend, thank you for asking.”

I roll my eyes. “We can talk about your lack of weekend plans after we discuss why you dragged Dagny out of the club the last time I saw you.”

“How do you know her?” There’s a frustrated yet urgent undertone to his voice that I’ve never heard before.

“We’ve crossed paths before,” I answer cryptically. “Is she your ex?”

He hisses down the phone. “What makes you think that?”

“Touchy,” I note, teasing him.

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