by L A Cotton
By the time I was done, my mood had turned pitch black. I rinsed my plate and left it on the side, grabbed a bottle of whisky from the cabinet and the stack of blankets someone had left out, and made my way to the couch. It was a sectional big enough for two people to sleep on, but it wasn’t a bed.
Fifteen minutes in, I was beginning to think I should have taken Nora up on her offer. But no good would come from being in the same room as her. She was pissed. And it was only making me even more pissed.
Fucking women.
My old man might have been a traitorous piece of shit, but he wasn’t wrong about women. They were nothing but a distraction.
I didn’t bother pouring myself a glass of whisky, just drank straight from the bottle. I would have killed for a blunt, but Nicco didn’t like us doing that shit around the girls, and I wasn’t a total asshole.
The sounds from whatever action movie was playing on the TV became white noise as the burn from the liquor flooded my senses. He was out there, plotting his next move, biding his time. And I was here, hiding like a pussy. Between Nicco, Matteo, Tristan and the security team posted outside, the girls were safe. No one was going to get to them. I could go after him. It was a better use of my skill set being out there, hunting for him, than sitting here drinking my feelings because I couldn’t get a hold on all the anger and guilt gnawing at my fucking soul.
I drained the whisky, letting it douse the fire inside me, replacing it with a simmering heat instead. My body slouched further into the couch, my thoughts becoming a jumbled mess of blood and death and destruction.
Until eventually, the darkness consumed me.
I woke with a start, my body caked in sweat.
“Fuck,” I rasped, my throat as dry as the Sahara Desert. The open fire roared still, but someone must have turned up the thermostats because the place was like a furnace.
Slowly, I sat up, rubbing my head, trying to ease the pounding in my skull. My eyes landed on the empty bottle of whisky and I groaned. Not my best idea ever. But at least there had been no nightmares. And if there had, I couldn’t fucking remember them.
I went in search of water, stripping out of my sweater and jeans as I went. I was half-tempted to go outside and cool off, but I knew if I took one step outside, whoever got the night shift would alert the rest of the team and then everyone would be awake.
So I decided against it, slipping into the bathroom at the end of the hall and splashing some cold water on my face. It wasn’t so warm at this end of the cabin which made me think that maybe I had been having a nightmare after all. My skin was feverish, and my heart was racing like I’d just run a marathon.
“Fuck.” I slammed my hand down on the counter, making the entire thing shake.
Just then, I heard footsteps in the hall. Shit. Someone was awake and I had no choice but to go out there and face them.
Washing my hands, I dried them on a towel before slipping out into the empty hall. Thank fuck. Whoever it was must have doubled back when they saw the bathroom in use.
I padded down the hall back into the living area, only to realize Nora was up and rummaging in the refrigerator. Staying in the shadows, I watched her for a second. Her hips swayed hypnotically as she leaned in, trying to locate whatever it was she wanted.
“Hungry?” I asked her and she almost jumped out of her skin.
“Oh my God,” Nora breathed, clutching her chest, her thin pajama top doing little to conceal her perky tits. “You scared me half to death. What are you doing awake?”
“I could ask you the same thing, Gattina.” I smirked.
“Please don’t call me that.”
My brows furrowed. “Is that how it is between us now?”
“How did you think it was going to be?” Nora lifted her chin in defiance. Usually, her sass turned me the fuck on, but after the night I’d had, it only fanned the flames of anger already raging in my stomach.
“Don’t act like you didn’t beg for it, la mia puttana.”
Her palm collided against my cheek, pain ricocheting through my jaw. Nora gasped, stepping back, and I pressed forward, pinning her to the counter.
“You hit me.” I rubbed my cheek, my blood boiling.
“You deserved it,” she bit out. “I hate that you’re hurting. I do. But I won’t be your punching bag, Enzo. I deserve more than that.”
I scoffed. “Like Luca?”
“I’m not doing this with you,” she said, pressing her lips together and levelling me with a scathing look.
I didn’t budge though, too worked up to just let her go. Part of me enjoyed this, craved the push and pull between us. It craved something else too, and before I knew it, I’d leaned in and run my nose along the curve of her neck.
“Fuck, Gattina, you smell delicious.” My hips rolled against her, desperately seeking out her heat. Maybe I was still a little drunk or delirious from the nightmare because I couldn’t think about anything except getting my hands on her sinful body.
“Enzo, don’t do this.” Her hands curled against my t-shirt. Even rough, her touch seared me to the bone.
“Are you telling me no, Gattina?” I leaned down, with every intention of letting my mouth ghost over Nora’s lips, but she turned away at the last second, giving me her cheek instead.
Bitter laughter rumbled in my chest. I hated that she was defying me, pretending like she wasn’t as hot for me as I was her, but Nora’s defiance was like a red rag to a bull. I wanted to push her. To push and push until she snapped. Until she succumbed to the tension cracking between us.
“You can pretend I don’t affect you, Gattina,” I whispered against the shell of her ear, “but we both know if I slipped my hands in your itty-bitty little shorts, I’d find you soaking wet for me.”
I heard the hitch of her breath, felt the shiver roll through her body. Nora was as wired as I was. Question was, was she going to give in to her baser instincts or was she going to continue her crusade to keep me out?
My hand slipped to her waist, stroking the sliver of skin there. Nora fought a moan, trying to pull away from me. But there was nowhere to go. I had her caged between the counter. Completely at my mercy. With Nora, nothing else—not the nightmares, or my old man, or the new fucker causing mayhem—could touch me. I was invincible. Untouchable. Nora made me feel like no one else ever had and although I didn’t want to admit it, it was addictive.
She was addictive.
“Look at me, Gattina.” I took hold of her chin and forced her face to mine. “Tell me you don’t want me? Tell me you don’t want me to drop to my knees and bury my face between your legs.”
“That’s all I am to you, isn’t it?”
My brows drew together.
“A willing body. A hole to fuck when you need to work off some steam.” Nora jabbed her finger in my chest. “You’ll fuck me in the middle of the night when everyone’s sleeping, but you’d rather sleep on the couch than share a room with me?”
What the fuck was she talking about?
What was happening right now had nothing to do with anything else. I was hungover and horny, and she was—furious.
Fuck.
She was silently seething at me and I’d completely misread the signs… because she was right, I hadn’t fucking looked for them. I’d just assumed I could take what I needed from her the way I had before.
My hand dropped from her waist as I backed up and ran my fingers through my hair.
“What?” she sneered. “Nothing to say for yourself. Didn’t think so. Now if you don’t mind, get the hell out of my way.” Shouldering past me, Nora disappeared into the shadows while I watched after her…
Wondering what the fuck had just happened.
Chapter 20
Nora
I barely slept.
After my run in with Enzo, my body had been too restless. He made me so angry. He’d barely said two words to me all day and then treated me like one of his whores. It hurt.
It hurt so damn much.
But that only amplified my anger because I was frustrated at myself for ever thinking I could reach him. For thinking that cold, cruel Enzo Marchetti would ever let his walls down long enough for me to crawl inside.
I could have let him touch me last night, let him take what he wanted right there up against the kitchen counter, but we weren’t alone here. And it was one thing to give into him over and over in private…but in front of our friends and family?
I guess his opinion of me really was that low.
Willing myself out of bed, I pulled on a MU hoodie. It was chilly in the cabin, so I went in search of coffee and the roaring fire.
Enzo was already gone, but I’d expected nothing less. He’d spent most of yesterday gone too, as if he couldn’t bear to be in the same room as me, and then, in the cover of darkness, acted as if he couldn’t stay away.
I didn’t want to live in the shadows. But Enzo was comfortable there. He preferred night over day, more at home in the darkness than the light.
As I turned on the coffee pot, my heart ached for him. But it quickly turned to stone when he appeared in the doorway and didn’t even say good morning.
Damn you, Enzo Marchetti.
“Is there coffee?” Matteo appeared, his hair sticking up all in directions.
“Just making a fresh pot.”
“You’re too good to us,” he said, heading straight to the couch and dive-bombing into the huge throw cushions. “How’d you sleep, cous?”
“How do you fucking think?” Enzo growled.
“I figured you’d pull your head out of your ass and go join Nora. But from your good mood this morning, I’m guessing that wasn’t the case.”
I peeked over at the two of them just in time to see Enzo flip Matteo the bird.
“Can you check if Luis and the guys want coffee?” I asked Enzo.
He narrowed his eyes. “Ask them yourself.”
“Children,” Matteo whistled. “What’s with all this bad energy this morning?”
I stomped across the room and yanked open the door, slipping out onto the porch. The thick layer of ice gave the whole place a winter wonderland vibe. It was so pretty I took a second to appreciate its beauty before calling Luis.
“Coffee?” I asked.
“That would be great, Miss Abato.”
I rolled my eyes. No matter how many times I asked him and Maurice to call me Nora they still reverted back to my formal name.
When I went back inside, I found Enzo and Matteo in deep conversation. They both went quiet the second I closed the door and alerted them to my presence. But I ignored them, going straight for the coffee machine.
By the time I’d made enough coffee for Luis and his guys, Nicco and Arianne had joined us.
“You don’t have to do all this,” she said.
I shrugged. “Someone’s gotta do it.” Besides, keeping busy was a good distraction from throwing something at Enzo’s head.
Asshole.
I stayed in the kitchen area, refusing to join the guys. Ari noticed and came over.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered.
“Nothing.” I sipped my coffee, letting the liquid warm me inside out.
“Did En—”
“Don’t, Ari. Just don’t.” I let out an exasperated sigh.
Just then, my cell phone vibrated. I plucked it out of my pocket and smiled when I saw Luca’s name.
“Your whole face lights up whenever he texts you.” She observed.
“It isn’t like that.”
“But it could be…” Arianne left me with my thoughts while she joined Nicco and the others. He pulled her onto his lap and wrapped a possessive arm around her waist, resting his chin in the crook of her shoulder. They looked so content, so happy.
My gaze collided with Enzo and time stood still. He had issues, I got it. I did. But I didn’t really understand why he insisted on pushing everyone away. I didn’t understand choosing loneliness.
It wasn’t like Nicco had been looking for love either. He had responsibilities, a whole empire resting on his shoulders. Falling in love was the last thing he’d needed. But he couldn’t resist destiny’s plan. Arianne was made for him, and he for her. There was no escaping that, no matter how much he tried.
And now they were stronger than ever, and one day he would be the boss of the Marchetti Family and Arianne would sit at his side as his queen.
Love didn’t make you weak, it made you strong. I truly believed that. It gave you something worth fighting for.
For the right person.
And therein lay the issue. Maybe I had to finally accept that me and Enzo weren’t written in the stars. There was no happy ending for us. Because while I wanted all of Enzo, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly, the truth of the matter was, he didn’t want all of me.
I felt tears well in my eyes and I averted my gaze, breaking the connection.
No one except him noticed as I slipped away and retreated to my room…
And of course, he let me go.
I’d just pulled on my sweater after a quick shower, when a loud crash boomed through the cabin, followed by raised voices.
I rushed into the living room to find Enzo hunched over, bracing his hand, blood seeping from his knuckles.
“Oh my God, what happened?”
The girls, Sia and Bella, were huddled together on the couch, while Matteo stood between them and Enzo. Nicco was still in the chair, Ari curled in his lap, and Tristan was nowhere to be seen.
“What happened?” I asked, and everyone’s head whipped up to me.
“Uncle Toni called,” Matteo said. “It wasn’t the news Enzo hoped for.” His grimace told me all I needed to know.
“Somebody should clean that up.” I motioned to Enzo’s hand. “I’ll find a first aid kit.”
“It’s nothing.” Enzo protested.
Matteo whispered something to him, both of their eyes fixed on me.
“What?” I asked.
“Fuck this, I need some air.” Enzo spun around and headed for the door, taking the air with him.
I stuffed down all the hurt and joined the others. “What happened?”
Matteo looked to Nicco and he let out a heavy sigh.
“Girls, go hang out in your room.”
“Seriously?” Alessia hissed. “You’re going to—”
“Alessia, do as I ask, please.”
“Fine.” She got up, pulling Bella with her. “But I’m not a kid anymore, Nicco. I know what you and my cousins do. I know what Daddy does. You don’t have to protect me from this stuff.”
“I will always protect you, sorella. Now go.”
They took off down the hall.
“What did I miss?” Tristan appeared.
“I need you to do me a favor. Go keep the girls company.”
“The girls?” He frowned. “You want me to babysit them?”
“No, I want you to make sure my sister stays put in her room. There’s a difference.”
“Fine, whatever.” He stalked off after them.
“This is fun,” Matteo said. “The whole family together. It’s a shame Bailey didn’t—”
“Bailey stays out of this,” Nicco growled.
“Relax, cous. It was a joke. I was joking.”
“Yeah, I know. I just don’t want him anywhere near this.”
My eyes flicked back and forth to the door Enzo just stormed out of.
“He’ll be okay,” Nicco said.
“Will he?”
Enzo had lashed out in front of his younger cousins. That seemed out of character, even for him.
“Are you going to tell us what’s going on?” I looked at Arianne and she flinched. “You already know,” I added, the weight of my words pressing down on my chest.
Nicco wasn’t supposed to confide in Ari, not about everything. But she was his wife. The center of his universe.
“If I tell you this, it cannot leave this room.”
“You don’t trust me.” Why did it h
urt so much?
Enzo didn’t trust me. Nicco didn’t trust me. I was beginning to wonder if Arianne, the girl who knew me better than anyone, trusted me.
No, I knew she did. But her loyalties had shifted in the last few months. She was a part of a world I didn’t inhabit now. A world I walked the periphery of, crossing in and out but never truly knowing.
“Someone is coming after the Family…”
“Okay… but what does that have to do with Enzo?”
Nicco and Matteo shared another look.
“Look, if you don’t want to tell me this then—”
“Nor, it’s not that,” Ari sighed, rubbing her hand over Nicco’s thigh. “It’s complicated.”
“Is Enzo in danger?” My stomach twisted. He wasn’t one to shy away from a fight, I knew that. But I couldn’t stand the thought of him being in the direct line of fire.
Nicco inhaled a sharp breath. “We think whoever is targeting us, has ties to Vincenzo.”
“Enzo’s father… but I don’t understand.” Vincenzo had been Antonio’s second, his right-hand man. Why on Earth would—no.
No!
Matteo nodded slowly, his eyes filled with regret. “Vincenzo was a traitor.”
“But… that doesn’t make any sense. He died. He was in an accident and he—”
“There was no accident,” Nicco said, thickly.
“You mean you killed him?” Because that’s what the mafia did to traitors. They got rid of them.
An icy shudder rolled through me.
“I didn’t kill him, Nora.” Nicco looked right through me, and then he said two little words that shattered my heart.
“Enzo did.”
“I still can’t believe it,” I said as me and Ari lay shoulder to shoulder on my bed.
“Yeah… when Nicco told me… I wanted to tell you. But it wasn’t my story to tell.”
“I understand. It explains so much.”
Ari rolled onto her side and leaned on her fist. “Now you know why I’ve been so worried about you. Enzo isn’t… he’s in a dark place, Nor. Super dark. I’m not sure I want you around that.”
