Page 16 of Unforgettable Underboss

He nods against my back and kisses me one last time. We both groan when he pulls out of me. Enrico tucks himself away and helps me put my pants back on. Then, he scoops me up and throws me over his shoulder.

I shriek with laughter when he swats my ass and carries me to the shower.

Twenty minutes later, Enrico is warming up some leftovers for lunch. He dismissed Devin for the rest of the week, which makes me roll my eyes every time I think about it. I teased him about it but secretly love that he’s possessive of me. I don’t think anyone has ever truly wanted me, let alone viewed me as a treasure to keep all for themselves.

My phone beeps with a text, making my stomach drop. I lose my appetite completely when I see it’s from my brother. The message is only two words.

Time’s up.

What does that mean? My head spins with worst-case scenarios, and I can’t seem to take a full breath.

“Valerie? What’s wrong?” Enrico asks, concern lacing his words.

“I… I need to tell you something,” I breathe, knowing this is the moment of truth. Time to lay it all on the line and have faith that Enrico trusts me enough to believe me.

“Of course. You can tell me anything. I want?—”

Enrico is interrupted by a phone call. He ignores it at first, but whoever it is calls again. He looks at the screen, then at me, silently apologizing for needing to take the call.

“Boss, what’s—” He’s cut off, his features turning from concerned to angry before finally landing on furious. “They’re here? Jesus. I’m leaving now.” He ends the call and turns his attention back to me. “I’m sorry, angel, this is urgent. You’ll be safe as long as you stay inside.”

“Wait,” I call out when he starts to walk away. “I have to tell you something. It’s important.”

“Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it when I get back. I have to leave. Now.”

“But—”

“Valerie,” he interrupts me. His tone is softer, though I know he’s still on edge from the phone call. “Nothing you say will change the way I feel about you.”

I hope to God that’s true.

Enrico heads to the front door, wrapping his hand around the doorknob before pausing. He takes a deep breath and opens it to a world of chaos.

8

ENRICO

“What thefuck?” The words barely leave my lips before a gunshot rings out.

Cops in riot gear push their way in, shields in hand and weapons drawn. I’m momentarily frozen in place, unable to comprehend that these motherfuckers had the balls to raid the compound, even though Aurelio told me as much on the phone a few seconds ago.

He said they found a flimsy excuse to barge in—something about a truck full of stolen weapons that may be considered a stockpile. I know the truck they’re referring to. I also know one of our trusted family members, Maximo, was ordered to drive the damn truck as far away from here as possible earlier this morning, so there’s nothing for the cops to find.

The crack of another bullet slicing through the air brings me back to the present moment. I draw my gun and hold it out in front of me, ready to defend my home and my woman with my life.

“Stay inside,” I call out to Valerie over my shoulder. “Go hide in one of the bathrooms. It’ll be safer there.”

I step out onto the strip of grass connecting the row of houses lining the compound, keeping track of the line of police to my right. Aurelio, Marco, and Lorenzo are to my left, armed and ready to fight. They’ve already called in the rank-and-file members to fill out our numbers, making it harder for the cops to find what they’re looking for.

One policeman steps forward with a megaphone. “We know you have a stockpile of weapons,” he announces. “A white semi-truck was seen entering the compound last night.”

No one says anything on either side of the invisible line between us and the cops.

“We’re willing to make a deal,” the policeman continues.

Aurelio laughs sardonically. “A deal? Why on earth would we make a deal with you?”

“Hand over my sister, and we’ll look the other way on your little weapons problem.”

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