"Can you ever stop surprising me?"
I asked with a laugh and Enzo smirked.
"No."
He simply said and motioned to move towards the restaurant. I followed him and so did Chloe and Duke. It was becoming a nice routine to hang out with them.
The restaurant was comparatively smaller from the ones I have been to. But the place was decorated in a very artistic way without much expenditure. We settled on a simple booth. The waitress took our orders and I ordered more food than others. I was a shameless foodie.
"All preparations done for Benjamin?"
Enzo asked.
"Almost."
I replied in a low voice, not wanting to extend the topic. Enzo, sensed it and turned to Duke to talk about business. They talked till our food came and it took a long time, their servicing wasn't much appealing but the aroma of the food made me forget about that and I only focused on the Manchurian noodles in front of me. Without waiting for others, I started eating then the others joined me.
"Hmm... It's so delicious. I would like to come here more."
I told Chloe and she beamed with mouth fool of Manchurian.
"Sure why not."
She replied when she finished the food in her mouth. I think Enzo enjoyed the food as well, he was eating more junk than I had seem him eat in the past few days, that I have known him. Duke didn't talked much, he only spoke to Enzo about business and talked to me if something was important.
After stuffing my stomach to the fullest, I knew it was gonna give me a stomach upset for sure. As soon as Enzo opened the door to exit, Alantino blocked our way. What the hell was he doing here?
"Hey, babe."
He said to me and my blood boiled in my veins. Didn't he have a brain to fit in such a small thing- I was not his babe. Enzo stopped him from coming any nearer to me and thank god he did so, because I would have slapped him right there on the spot, if he tried to touch me.
"Dude, what's your problem. Get your dick out of my way."
He said and I heard Chloe letting out a disgusted sigh behind me. Alantino, really didn't know, how to behave. But one thing he was good at was his acting, he acted to be such a gentleman in front of me, to catch me in his real and he succeeded.
"Get the hell out of here, before I smack your ugly throat."
Enzo warned but instead of following, Alantino smirked his disgusting smirk.
"That's what I want, I go my way and you go your way. Now can you please stop blocking my way and let me meet my fucking wife."
He said in a polite tone, which was just fun for him. He didn't mean to sound like that, he was doing this to annoy Enzo further.
"You are not worth my time Russo, you know that as well."
Enzo snapped in a plain but most savage way. Alantino clenched his teeth but didn't respond but this time he grabbed Enzo's collar, he would have to pay for it, Enzo would make him pay. Enzo raised his hand to hit Alantino but he blocked it with his other hand and said near his face,
"Don't even dare, my men are all around."
Enzo looked around and a few guys with tall, muscular shape were scattered all around the place. What did he think of himself? It wasn't courageous of him to fight like this.
"What kind of bravery is that?"
Enzo smirked and so did Alantino. They both were twisted. Chloe and I gave each other a look, she was as petrified and confused as I was.
"My kind of. Come on, Amato, you know the clever one always wins."
He said and Enzo jerked his hand away from his collar and Alantino scowled at him, in return.
"You better let Valerie go with me or this night would not be easy for you."
Alantino said and now I was petrified more than angry. No, anger wasn't left, fear overtook it. Enzo turned behind to look at me and I pleaded him in my mind to not let me go with a man like him.
"Well, I would choose to fight."
Enzo decided and this choice didn't convince me either. Alantino wasn't an idiot, he had brought his men, that meant he knew we were going to come here, he was keeping an eye on us and if not, he was standing at front of us, that meant he was not in a mood to let us go that easily. He would surely make difficult for is to leave. But I couldn't let Enzo go in that danger for me, I wasn't that selfish. He had already done so much for me and I respect it. But I couldn't let him risk his life for me.
"I'll come with you."
I said, stepping ahead of Enzo and they all have me an surprised look. I know they thought,if they misheard me for a second but when I didn't correct myself, Alantino smirked and took a step my direction.
"Now that's my wife."
He said, putting a hand on my shoulder and I felt nauseous because of his touch.
"Are you mad?!"
Enzo yelled but I refused to meet his eyes. I didn't want him to see through my eyes, what was going inside me. I remained silent.
"What's your problem Amato, even she is saying she is ready to come back with me."
Alantino stated.
"Look at me Valerie."
Enzo commanded but I ignored.
"Who gave you the right to order my wife?"
Alantino spoke and I just wanted to leave that place with him if that meant saving the lives which cared for me.
"Can we leave now?"
I asked in a low voice and Alantino smirked.
"No, you are not going anywhere. Why are you doing this. You don't have to fear this asshole."
Enzo said and I was on the urge of breaking down, now. I glued my eyes to the ground, I wasn't courageous enough to face Enzo after letting him down by surrendering to Alantino. Everything he did for me, would just mean nothing, once I leave with Alantino but that was all I could do to not let Alantino hurt Enzo.
"Shut the fuck up, Amato. She is my wife and she can come with me if she wants to. You don't have to voice in our family matters. And now that I have heard my wife is pretty good at business too, I am sure she be of huge benefit to me and my men... I mean my business."
Alantino said and the way he corrected 'men' to 'business' made it clear that he had some filthy intentions out of me. My thoughts were quickly disturbed as Enzo, punched Alantino's face and he took a few steps back, out of force,but didn't fall. He looked up back at Enzo and he was ready to fight him or his men, the blood was written on his head. He would kill anyone that tried to come in between his way now. The only thing I was fearing of, started. The fight wasn't gonna end good.
Alantino's lower lip had a cut and it was bleeding. His face was red, mostly out of anger.
"You didn't chose a right path Amato. Now pay for it."
He said and his men cane to stand behind him. They all were tall and muscular. Alantino, brought his best men for his ugly game. What a shameless creature.
"At least I have guts to fight, unlike you Russo."
Enzo snapped as he dodged Alantino's punch and Duke was taking care of the other men. He was a good fighter, he didn't take much time killing two men of him and by that time Enzo was able to take control on some other dickheads. I thought this fight would be difficult seeing the number of fighters but Enzo and Duke made it look like their daily job, the way they fought. Well, of course it was their daily for. I mean they had to deal with people in physical ways too. Illegal businesses weren't decent. Chloe and I stood close to each other, we both were panicked as the men fought. But we were pretty much confident about the strength of Enzo and Duke.
Enzo and Duke performed as a good team and it didn't take them much time, finishing off half of Alantino's men. Even I hadn't expected that, I thought the night was gonna be end of us, it wasn't like, I didn't trust Enzo's strength but one could never underestimate Alantino too."Do you think, we can help them in anyway?"Chloe asked me."You think?"I said, gazing at the direction of those tall and muscular men. We wouldn't stand even a second."But we have to do something, we can't let them fight. They are so many and Enzo and Duke are gonna get tired up soon. We can't wait for that moment."Chloe stated as a matter of fact. She was right we couldn't just stand there and wait for men to complete their fighting. I was thinking of calling in the hotel to ask them to send more men when a car reached the spot and all of us were confused because, no-one took their ass
"Why don't you face it? Why do you always run away from it?"I finally asked him, I couldn't take this anymore. He always pretended like he was an emotionless monster without feelings. But at times, when I sneaked through his cold mask, he wasn't what he pretended to be. He was a different Enzo, who cared for people, he was ought to protect and sometimes even nervous, when things weren't going well for him. He declined to show this, but I have been close to him, enough to know about actual Enzo. I think that's why he preferred to live alone. He was afraid that people might know that he was capable to feel. But he didn't have to pretend that he was emotionless, just to show the world. He was still Enzo, the treacherous capo of southern Italy and a man who was capable of being a gentleman and a ruthless capo as well."What are you talking about?"He asked but he knew what I meant."Why are you afraid of sh
I went to my office and as usual Chloe was sitting on the couch, taking sips of coffee from her cup and working on her tab at the same time."Hey, good morning."I said and she realised my presence."Good morning, how are you?"She asked with a concerned face, yesterday's event has taken a deep impact in her as well,but I wanted to tell her it was okay and it happens in the mob world, but she wasn't one of us and the thought would make her even more petrified."I'm good. Are you okay?"I asked."Yeah, but when you were late I thought you wouldn't come, today."She admitted with nervousness, she was too innocent to understand all this."I am alright,Chloe. You don't have to panic, incidents like this are not gonna stop me from working."I stated and she looked convinced.
"Are you out of your senses? What the heck are you talking about. And how do you know so much about me? Do you have a death wish?"I shouted fiercely at him. Who did he think, he was ? Bloody teenage boy, showing me tantrums."Shut your mouth up, Valerie Monaro. You must really not know, who I am or else you wouldn't dare to talk to me in that loud tone of yours."He yelled back and anger shone in his dark eyes, they were identical. I have seen them before, but with some wrinkles around. What the heck? Why did his facial features resembles Benjamin Williams. Could he possibly be...."Yes, Valerie Monaro, you are right. I am Warrick Williams,the only son of Benjamin Williams."He said as if reading my mind, a proud smile covering his face. As if it is was something to be proud of! I've read his name in few articles of Benjamin, but his photo wasn't shown in any of them, so I didn't knew h
"I don't want to tell him, but I don't have any other choice either. He will eventually get to know.If I won't tell him then Benjamin might talk about that stuff with him."I told Chloe and she nodded in agreement."Yeah, I get it."She said and we went back to working. The rest of the day was quiet and passed peacefully as I were so consumed in working. I didn't realise it was already half an hour past seven and I usually left for home at seven. I closed the files and arranged them in order."Are you done?"I asked as I saw Chloe still engaged with her small office on her hands, well, I guess that could be even called her small world because she barely did anything else than working on her tablet. From arranging meetings to reserving seats for dining, she did it all on her fingertips. It was cool but she was too lost to have some actual fun which girls in her age did. Well, we were of same ag
The waitress appeared with our orders and we enjoyed the meal. I was having good time with Chloe and Duke but I wished Enzo was here, too. His work was obviously much more important than me, what am I wishing for?"That's non-vegetarian."Duke nearly shouted making me come out of my thoughts as I saw Chloe was taking a slice of pizza kept in the center of the table."Yeah, I ordered non-vegetarian pizzas. Is it not good?"I asked seeing Chloe conflicting in her mind as she placed back the slice."No, it's good but I was just warning her."Duke said simply."Warning?"I didn't know, what they were talking about."Yep I am a vegan and meat doesn't suit my body. I am allergic to non-vegetarian food."She told me and I nodded, taking in the situation. But how come Duke know about it?
I had taken a short nap during our drive to Rexivo."Valerie, we are here."I heard Chloe's soft voice as my head was placed on her shoulder. It felt like, it has only been a few minutes I had fallen asleep. The drive wasn't long from the restaurant to here."oh! Sorry, I fell asleep on your shoulder."I apologised to Chloe as it might have been uncomfortable for her to sit like that."No, it's alright. I should leave for my home now. You should leave with Duke, too."She said, concerned. It was late in the night and she was concerned about me, when I had Duke on my said. It was her who needed to be safe. I couldn't let her go alone."No, Chloe you can't go alone. Let your car be here for the night, it'll be safe. Let us drive you to home."I offered and Duke seemed to agree too."No, I'll be good, going on m
"I don't know about, what Chloe thinks it feels, I have nothing to do with her feelings but I could assure you for Duke. He is a demon with brain and no heart, he is least capable of reciprocating her feelings. So, it'll be good for her, not to expect something from my soldier."Enzo said in a warning tone and I could only feel bad for Chloe. I didn't know, what all parts, he spoke about Duke, we're correct, but if anyone, amongst us knew him well enough was Enzo. Duke wasn't only his soldier, he was like a brother to him, according to how I've seen him, treat Duke differently than his any other soldier. He trusted him with his life. And Duke deserved that trust, that makes him all more dangerous."Maybe. But I think I've seen him act differently around Chloe. You think, there could be a change in his feelings?"I asked, I knew Duke was treacherous but I still felt for Chloe's, one sided feelings. I was not willing to give up yet.&n