Loving the Enemy (Enemy Duet Book 2)

by Amy Cecil

  “Hello, Domenic.” She smiles. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

  “Give this old man a kiss, sweetheart. I’m still your father-in-law,” he teases.

  She leans in and kisses him on the cheek.

  “Now don’t linger, young lady. My wife is sitting right there.” Oh yes, he’s definitely feeling better.

  Zaira turns toward my mother and says hello and gives her, Alex, and Gina each a hug. “It’s good to see you all,” she says.

  “So you’re going home?” I ask.

  “Well, if that damn doctor signs my release papers, I am. We’ve been waiting for over an hour now.”

  “Patience, Pop. He’ll get you out of here. I have a feeling Dr. Siegel will be glad to get rid of you.”

  He laughs. It’s nice to see he’s doing so much better. I was worried when I saw him go down. I may be running the family now, but I’m not ready to do this without him.

  “Yeah, yeah, that’s what your mother keeps telling me.”

  I walk over and give my mother a kiss. “You doing okay, Ma?”

  “I’ll be much better when we get this grumpy old man home, but yes.” She smiles. “I’m doing much better.”

  I turn toward Alex. “Where’s Marco?” I ask, wondering why he’s not here. I normally don’t question him, but after this whole thing with Darius, I can’t help it.

  “He’s on the john. I already sent him home to pick up Pop’s Escalade. He’ll drive us back.”

  “Oh.”

  We spend several minutes with my family waiting for Dr. Siegel to return to release my father. When he does, Pop has all his things packed and he’s ready to go. When they leave the hospital, Zaira and I head down to ICU and check on Hawk.

  When we get to Hawk’s room, things aren’t as uplifting as they were in my father’s. The girls arrived, and everyone except Ice is in the waiting room. The girls have been crying, and Rebel and Spike are trying to be strong. Something must have happened. I walk toward Rebel and ask, “Any news?”

  “It’s not good. Dr. Siegel says his heart rate keeps dropping. If they can’t control it, the prognosis goes from bad to worse. They’ve given him medication, but it doesn’t seem to be working.”

  “Is he awake?”

  “He’s been in and out of consciousness all morning.”

  “Fuck, man, I’m so sorry.” I sigh. “Is there anything I can do?”

  “Ice is in with him now. They will only let one person in at a time. Maybe with your pull around here you can change that. We all want to spend some time with him.”

  I nod. “Let me see what I can do.” I turn toward Zaira. “Will you be okay for a minute?”

  “Sure, you go and fix this for them. It’s so unfair, Michael.”

  I head back toward the ICU nurses’ station, but there is nobody at the desk. I spot Ice in the room across from the desk and proceed toward Hawk’s room. I stop when I hear Ice talking.

  “Why did you have to step in front of that bullet? I know you thought you were doing the right thing. I know you think your priority is to save a fellow brother, and frankly, I would have done the same thing. But I’m so fucking pissed at you that you did.”

  “It’s my time, Caden,” Hawk whispers.

  “It’s not your fucking time. What the fuck are we gonna do without you?”

  “I’ve watched you grow with this club for years. You’re a born leader. Your father would be so fucking proud of you, just like I am.”

  “Don’t you fucking say good-bye! You’re not fucking going anywhere, Hawk. You need to fight.”

  “Caden, listen to me, please. You have to accept this. The sooner you do, the easier it will be on the rest of the club and the girls. They will look to you for support and guidance.”

  “This is so fucked up. I refuse to accept that this is the way it has to be. I need you, man.”

  “I know, but it’s my time.” He takes a labored breath and says, “Now, I need you to do some things for me.”

  “Anything,” Ice replies.

  “First of all, I need to speak to Honey. Can you have her come in when we’re done? I really wanted things to work out for us, but I couldn’t get past her obsession with you and Sainte.”

  “Sainte?”

  Oh, fuck. What has Sainte done now? I think to myself.

  “You’ll find out soon enough. Believe me, I don’t hold it against either of you. It was all her. She was torn with her feelings from when she was with you and the growing feelings she is having for Sainte. She stuck with me ’cause I was safe. She needs direction, Ice, and I believe Sainte is the man to give it to her.”

  “Okay, I get it. I’ll do what I can to help her along. What else?”

  “You raise that baby right. You’re gonna have a strong healthy boy, Caden, and he’s gonna have your strength and his mother’s tenacity.”

  “How do you know it’s gonna be a boy?” he asks, trying to lighten the moment, I assume.

  “I know these things.” He must be adjusting himself on the bed because I hear the sheets rustling, and he lets out a soft groan. I barely hear it over the subtle beeps of the monitors. “Keep moving the club in the direction you are going. The illegal shit has to stop. You’re on the right track. Just don’t get sidetracked.”

  “You’ve always known that was my plan, but if it makes you feel better, I’ll stay focused. I promise.”

  He takes a deep breath, and I can hear he’s really struggling. “I don’t know how much longer I’ve got. Can you get Honey? Gotta get this shit over with.”

  My heart is breaking. I can’t imagine going through this with any of our boys. Ice notices me in the doorway and steps out.

  “Hey,” he says.

  “I’m really sorry, man.”

  “I know. It’s part of the life, but it fucking sucks. We all know it, and we all understand it, but it doesn’t make it any easier to swallow when it happens.”

  I couldn’t have said it better myself. “Listen, I’m gonna talk to the nurses and see what I can do to get more of you in to see him. I’ll call Dr. Siegel if I have to and get him to intervene.”

  “Thank you. The others sure would appreciate it.” He heads back toward the waiting room just as a nurse comes back to the desk.

  “Can I help you, sir?”

  “Yes, my name is Michael Vitali, and that gentleman over there”—I point at Hawk’s room—“is a dear friend of mine. As you know, his prognosis isn’t good. His family has been waiting to see him, and this one-person-to-a-room rule is for the birds. Is there something you can do to help me out here?”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Vitali, but rules are rules. I don’t need a bunch of biker rabble in here disturbing my ICU.”

  Okay, so now I’m pissed. I tried to ask nicely and look where it got me. My gloves come off. “Let me explain something to you, sweetheart. This is not your ICU. My family paid for this state-of-the-art ICU wing. And although we don’t claim ownership of it, it highly offends me when someone else does. And that biker rabble you don’t want in here are my fucking friends. So you either allow them in here to say good-bye to their friend, or I swear you will be out on your ass looking for another job in which no hospital in this country will hire you. I’ll see to it.”

  “But, sir…”

  “Maybe you are not hearing me. Would you like me to repeat myself? Or perhaps I need to speak with the chairman of the hospital board, Edmund Stanton, who happens to play golf with my father twice a week.”

  Meekly, she replies, “No, sir, that is not necessary. They may come in, but they have to be quiet.”

  “Thank you. They will be as quiet as mice,” I reply smugly and walk back to Hawk’s room.

  Honey is in there with him, and I decide before I tell the others they can go in—after what I just overheard between him and Ice—they need some time alone. I can’t help but linger, however. I really need to know how Sainte is involved in all this.

  Honey is holding his hand. “I’m so sor
ry, Hawk. I’m so sorry for everything.” She’s crying.

  “Baby, stop. I knew going in there were going to be things we would have to overcome. I knew you still harbored feelings for Ice, but I didn’t care. You were worth the risk.”

  Worth the risk? I smirk. Zaira’s worth the risk. Perhaps I need to take a lesson from a dying man.

  “I knew that too, but Sainte? I should have never kissed him, Hawk, and it kills me that you saw it.”

  Oh, Sainte, what the fuck, moving in on Hawk’s old lady.

  “I don’t have much time. Listen to me. I wish only one thing for you, and that is to be happy. Stop hiding behind your demons and live, Honey. You deserve so much. You deserve more than something safe. You deserve passion and lust and, above all else, deep love. Don’t settle for anything less.”

  “But, Hawk—”

  “No buts, no regret, and definitely no ‘I’m sorrys.’ We’ve talked about this, and I still stand by what I said before we left for New York. Sainte is the man for you. Give him a chance. He will give you everything you deserve.”

  She lies her head on the bed and sobs.

  “I’ve already broken a promise I made to you that day—when I said I would always be here for you. I’m sorry for that, but there is one promise I know I can keep. No matter what happens to me when I am gone, whatever the afterlife has in store for me, I want you to know I will always love you.”

  She is sobbing uncontrollably now. “I love you too, Hawk.”

  “I know, baby, I know. It’s time. Why don’t you see if Michael worked his magic and let the others come in?”

  Honey leans over him and kisses him full on the lips. She lingers there a few moments as her tears fall down the side of her face. I hate that I’ve been eavesdropping on them, but I had to know what Sainte had done. I also think I learned something from Hawk today, and that is life is full of risks. You just gotta know when to take them and when not to. I turn to leave and head toward the waiting room.

  “You all can go in and see him.”

  “Thank you, Michael. I don’t know what you did, but I really appreciate it,” Ice says to me as the others proceed toward Hawk’s room. Ice then follows, and Zaira, Ricco, and I wait in the waiting room.

  Roughly thirty minutes go by, and everyone comes back out. “He fell back asleep. I guess we wore him out,” Ice says.

  “You all want to come back to the house, maybe get something to eat?” I ask.

  “Naw, we’re gonna stay here. In case something happens.”

  “I gotcha. Why don’t I have some food brought up here for you all.”

  “That would be really nice, thanks, Michael,” Ice says.

  “Consider it done.” I pull out my phone. I call Dina and have her prepare some sandwiches and sides. Then I call Gio and ask him to arrange to have everything brought to the ICU wing at the hospital. I turn back toward Ice. “It’s all set. Should be here in about an hour or so. We’re gonna head back to the house. If you need anything, call.”

  “Thanks, man. Really appreciate it.”

  Zaira, Ricco, and I leave the hospital and head back home. Now, we deal with Darius.

  Chapter 20

  Michael

  It’s late afternoon when we get back to the house. As we enter, Zaira yawns. She’s been through a lot the last couple of days, and I am sure it’s taken its toll on her. “Sweetheart, why don’t you go get some rest. I’ll come get you for dinner.”

  “When are you going to the watershed?” she asks. She still wants to be there, and I’m not gonna stop her. If she wants a life with me, she is going to witness firsthand the monster I can be. Then, there will be no surprises down the road.

  “Not until later tonight. Don’t worry, darling, I’ll keep my promise.”

  She nods and proceeds toward her room.

  “Get some rest.”

  She nods again and continues up the stairs.

  I’m fucking tired myself. It’s been a hellacious couple of days, and the adrenaline is wearing off. “Ricco, I think I’m gonna crash too. I’m fucking beat.”

  “That’s a good idea. You’ve been to hell and back this week. I’ll get things ready for tonight.”

  “Thanks, man, ” I say and head upstairs too.

  ***

  It was nice to have dinner with the family again, especially having Zaira there. It was so much like before that I wanted to take her back to my room and show her exactly who she belongs to. But I didn’t. After dinner, we walked around outside to see how the landscapers and construction workers were coming with the repairs. They had all left for the day, taking all the sawing and drilling with them. To my surprise, they had gotten a lot further along than I expected. I’ve been so busy since the shooting, I haven’t really been paying attention to the work they were doing. It is really coming along. All the destroyed brick on the patio terrace has already been replaced. Zaira and I had an after-dinner drink on the patio and have been waiting until dark to head to the watershed.

  It has been really nice spending this quiet time with her, but now it’s time to kill a rat.

  “Are you sure you want to be there?” I ask Zaira before we make our way there.

  “Yes, Michael, I haven’t changed my mind. I want to be there. I want to watch him die.”

  “Well fuck, Zaira, who are you and what have you done with my wife?”

  “She’s still here. She’s just changed.”

  “Oh, really?” I ask as we walk along the patio toward the golf cart.

  “Yeah, being kidnapped, strung up like an animal, gagged and then threatened to be raped and killed, not to mention having strange men watch me pee… can change a girl.”

  I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, I guess it can.” We get into the golf cart, and I drive us to the watershed. When we get there, I park it and grab her arm. “In all seriousness, Zaira, you know you can leave at any time.” I hand her the keys to the golf cart. “I can hitch a ride back to the house with Ricco.”

  She nods, and we get out of the cart to make our way inside.

  Darius is still strung up. The stench in the room is awful, and it’s obvious he’s pissed and shit himself in the last forty-eight hours. He looks much worse than he did when I left him two days ago. It appears that my boys let him know what they think of his betrayal to me, the family, and especially Zaira.

  “What the fuck is she doing here?” Darius yells.

  Before I can answer, Zaira speaks up. “Because I asked to be here, you worthless piece of shit. I want to watch you suffer. I want to watch you die. I trusted you!” she yells.

  Well, fuck! I have to admit, I really like this new Zaira. She is a force to be reckoned with, and it makes me hard just listening to her put Darius in his place. Shit, I don’t think I’m gonna have to do much tonight, but then I remember we still need more information.

  I step forward. “What else can you tell me about Romeo Gallardi, Darius?”

  “I told you where Zaira was. Isn’t that enough?”

  “You really think that just because you helped me find Zaira, you are gonna walk out of here? You little fuck. If it weren’t for you, she would have never been taken in the first place.”

  “That’s not true, Michael. Gallardi would have gotten to her with or without me. I swear.”

  “And what makes you so sure about that?” I ask.

  “Because Gallardi is powerful. If they couldn’t get to me, they’d get to someone else. They have no scruples. All they care about is getting what they want.”

  “Well shit, Darius, you just described yourself. Well, except for the powerful part.” I smirk. “So I’m gonna ask you one more time. Is there anything else you can tell me about the Gallardi organization? Cause I’m telling you right now, I’m coming after them with everything I got.”

  “Fuck, Michael, what do you want to know,” he replies, defeated.

  “What or who does Romeo love most?” I ask.

  “His wife, Marina.”

  �
��What else?”

  “His money.”

  “Well good, cause I’m taking both away from him.”

  “Michael, you’re not gonna kill his wife?” Zaira jumps in and asks.

  “Oh no, sweetheart, you know me better than that. I’m gonna strip him of everything and then I’m gonna kill the son of a bitch. You can bank on that.” I turn back toward Darius. “Where is their main compound?”

  “Nuevo Laredo, right on the Texas-Mexico border.”

  I look at Ricco, and he nods. He knows exactly what he has to do—get an exact location on that compound.

  “When Romeo left the house yesterday, where did he say he was going?”

  “To buy his wife a present in town.”

  “And did he return?”

  “I wouldn’t know. I left not long after him, and that’s when you all picked me up.” He pauses and then says, “What if he’s already dead?”

  I grin. “We know for a fact he’s still very much alive.”

  Ricco laughs.

  “He’s currently being detained by immigration. You see, we found out how he got into this country, and unfortunately, it was not the legal way. I have it on good authority he will be returned to Mexico any day now.”

  Darius is shaking his head. “If he goes back to Mexico, you won’t be able to touch him. His compound is a fortress.”

  “And what makes you so sure about that? Have you seen his compound?” I ask.

  Darius stumbles over his words. “Well, no, but the guys talk. They say things about him and his family.”

  “And of course you believe them. Right, Darius?”

  He nods.

  “You know, Darius, you were never the sharpest tool in the shed. That’s why you’re hanging there, and I’m standing here. Actually, it’s a shame you’re gonna die tonight. It would give me so much pleasure to have you watch me destroy your new boss.” I turn back toward Zaira. “Anything you want to add, darling?”

  She shakes her head. She’s ready to move on as much as I am. It’s time.

  “Darius, you were once a valued member of this family, but now, you’re nothing to me. The question is do I make this horrible for you or do I put a bullet in your head and end it quickly?” I turn around and face my wife. “Zaira? Any thoughts on the matter?”