Page 77 of Twisted Embrace

“Where did Enzo go?”

“To handle the situation,” Anthony responded.

“No. He can’t do that.” Had he decided to kill the guy after all?

“Yes, he can. He can do anything he wants. He’s the boss.” I was politely shoved into the chair, Anthony standing only inches away.

“I’m curious. Why do you work for him?”

The look on his face was stoic, but I noticed his eyes were full of apprehension. He’d fucked up by not following me. He would pay the price. “Because it’s all I know. Because I enjoy the work. Because we’re friends.”

“I didn’t think Enzo had any friends.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about Mr. Lazarro. He’s not a bad man.”

“That’s good to know, Anthony.”

Enzo was gone barely a few minutes and several employees moved through the dining room, talking to every table. Less than three minutes later, every single customer in the facility rose from their chairs. Within no time, they’d left the restaurant. There would have been an eerie quiet had the singer not continued belting out a romantic song in Italian. What was happening? It didn’t take me long to realize the customers had been ordered to leave.

What the hell had Enzo done?

CHAPTER 22

Enzo

Money.

I had more money than I could spend in a lifetime. The amount I’d paid the owner of the restaurant for loss of business could feed the entire town for a full week, but I couldn’t care less. Being able to spend time with my lovely fiancée was worth every penny. Seeing another man touching my woman had driven me to a place of rage. Knowing that Anthony hadn’t fulfilled his required duty kept it there.

However, my instinct had been right. In making a reservation at the restaurant, I’d guessed the news would travel very quickly. It was all within the plan that had been devised, although I hadn’t anticipated the asshole would paw her so aggressively.

The call from D’Artagnan indicating the sighting of several Russian troops inside Sicily’s borders didn’t bode well for my mood either. If I knew Giuseppe Romano well enough, he’d already requested assistance. We were required by the oath taken by every leader within the Five Families to do so. What troubled me was the possibility it was nothing more than a smokescreen.

Convincing D’Artagnan of that could prove interesting.

I returned from speaking with the restaurant’s owner, watching as the last few customers left. They hadn’t argued the point, leaving voluntarily after being promised two dinners on the house. Of course, I was footing the bill.

As I waited for Federico to finish grilling the unlucky asshole who’d dared interrupt my evening, I studied Joy from a distance. We could be described as oil and water, but in my mind, she was perfect for my needs. Somehow, I knew the fire would burn within us for years to come.

“It’s like you suspected, boss,” Federico said as he moved beside me.

“Which paper?”

“A rag just like you wanted.”

I laughed. At least one story-hungry pig had accepted the lure. Granted, I’d almost broke the asshole’s neck for what he’d done but somehow, I’d found restraint. His article was worth not acting on my desires. “Excellent. Keep watch on the exterior.” What I hadn’t wanted was for my Joy to find herself frightened under any circumstances.

“You got it, boss.”

After my soldier left, the staff retreating behind closed doors waiting for my cue, I moved toward the man I trusted the most, issuing a single brutal punch to his jaw. He stumbled backwards, hitting a serving cart. The dishes rattled and Joy jerked to her feet, racing toward us.

He accepted the blow without fighting back, rubbing his jaw after returning to his full height.

“What the hell are you doing?” Joy demanded.

“Teaching my Capo a lesson,” I snarled. “He was to remain by your side at all times.”

“It’s okay, Ms. Levin. I was in the wrong.” Anthony gave me a nod of respect as well as an attempt to express his apology.

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