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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Enzo

“Fuck,” I groan, trying to raise my spinning head.

There’s blinding light coming from every direction, and I have no idea where I am.

Slowly, the memories rush back. Matilda missing, the drive to the city, the yacht—and Alexandra, grinning maniacally as she pointed her gun at Valentina.

“Lenny!” I gasp, struggling harder to open my eyes. It feels like that time a kid lost control of his baseball bat in middle-school gym class and it soared through the air, hitting me square in the head.

“Slowly, Enzo,” a female voice floats over from my right. “Leo lost control of the baseball bat, that fucking fool… it might hurt for a while.”

A baseball bat, huh? Twice in one lifetime is pretty shitty luck considering I’m not a baseball player.

I finally manage to open my eyes and drag my face from the smooth wood below it. My body feels like it’s swaying, which only makes me dizzier when things start to come into focus. Alexandra hovers near me, lightly stroking my hair.

I try to pull away from her, but my body is stuck in slow motion, refusing to move with its usual agility. Ignoring her, I glance wildly around the room for a sign of Valentina.

I finally spot her slumped on the opposite side of the wooden table, her face resting on the plate in front of her.

Before I can breathe a sigh of relief, my brain fully processes the scene in front of me. We seem to be the grand dining room of this insane yacht, sitting at a table set for a feast.

White flowers and candles line the center of the table, resembling a twisted wedding scene. The room is filled with flowers as well—and big, rough-looking dudes with guns.

My hand slides covertly down my body to feel for my holster, and I realize I’m naked except for my briefs. A look at Lenny confirms they stripped her down to her undergarments as well.

I watch the rise and fall of her back, trying to plan out a scenario where we escape this alive.

“I’m so happy you finally found me, Enzo,” Alexandra announces with glee. “It took you a little too long, so I had to take matters into my own hands. But no matter, you’re here now.”

“Where’s my daughter?” I growl, ignoring her wolfish smile. “Give me my daughter.”

“All in good time, my love,” she sings, twirling around the room away from me. “We’re about to have the party of the century here tonight, isn’t that right, boys?”

I eye the “boys” she’s talking to—three large, tattooed men with unimpressed faces.

Guns for hire, probably; definitely not the scrawny hacker guys we’ve been picking up. That’s good. That means they have no loyalty to her other than money.

I nod to myself, but Alexandra takes it as confirmation of her plan. She prances over to me in that ridiculous skimpy white lingerie and forces herself into my lap.

I use what little strength I have left to push her off, but she just laughs and beckons one of the men over.

The cold nose of a gun rubs against my temple, and I inhale sharply, realizing that I have to play her little game if I want to see my daughter again. Another man appears behind me, grabbing my hands roughly and binding them behind my back.

Fuck, that’s going to make everything more difficult.

Alexandra arranges herself in my lap again, lounging against my chest and stroking my face softly. Revulsion spreads through me as her hands run lower and trace the band of my briefs.

My brain is screaming at me to spit in her face and throw her off, but I ignore it. Play nice, I remind myself, until it’s safe to destroy this bitch.

“Why am I here?” I grit through my teeth as her fingers skate over my body. “What do you want?”

“All I’ve ever wanted was you, darling,” she purrs, nestling harder into my chest. “Don’t you get it?”

Her fingers tighten around my flaccid cock, and I bite my lip to stop myself from screaming at her. Valentina moans, trying to raise her head.

I watch her stir, silently pleading for her to pretend to be out cold for a little longer. Alexandra notices the movement and hops off my lap, sashaying over to her.

“And her?” I ask, desperate to keep her talking. “What do you want with her?”

“Oh, this one?” Alexandra laughs, gripping Lenny tightly by the hair and forcing her to sit up. “She’s fish food for all I care.”

Lenny moans, squinting into the brightness of the room. Her eyes instantly meet mine, her brain moving much faster than mine did.

I see her process everything, from the table to our lack of clothes and weapons. The color drains from her face, and her eyes grow desperate, searing into my soul.

“Where’s my daughter?” she manages to gasp. Blood trickles from her nose, landing delicately on the white napkin folded in front of her, but she doesn’t seem to notice. “Where is she?”

“My daughter, my daughter,” Alexandra groans, violently pulling her fingers from Lenny’s head. I see her wince, knowing Alexandra purposely pulled out a chunk of hair. “Why does everyone care so much about that whiny little bitch?”

Neither of us responds. My eyes are glued to Valentina’s, trying to silently communicate love, reassurance, and hope.

She gives me the tiniest, indiscernible nod, letting me know she’s following my lead—not that I have one yet.

I need to figure out more. I need to get inside Alexandra’s head.

“Alexandra,” I try again. “Why? After all these years? We broke up in college… I don’t understand this.”

“Oh, we didn’t break up.” She whirls around, shooting me a dark look. “No, Enzo, some little bitch got in the way, didn’t she?”

She shoots Valentina a withering glare, and my mind spins. I broke up with Alexandra at least six months before I even met Lenny, and that was over six years ago.

My brain hurts from these insane mental gymnastics, but I try again.

“So, you think Valentina is the reason I broke up with you?”

“You didn’t break up with me,” Alexandra screeches and slams her fists down in frustration. “She seduced you; she’s the reason. She muddled your brain… I know it, Enzo. You never wanted to leave me. We were in love!”

In love? Okay, she’s definitely struggling with reality.

“Alexandra,” I say softly, trying to switch tactics. “We weren’t in love. We were hooking up for a few months, that’s it. We?—”

I stutter, noticing Valentina’s eyes get rounder. She shakes her head subtly, warning me to stop now, but it’s too late.

Alexandra’s nostrils flare, the color rising to her neck and chest. She pulls herself up to her full height, throwing her shoulders back, and circles Valentina like a vulture.

“I mean, it’s not that I didn’t like you at the time, but…” I plead, trying to correct my mistake. Fuck, I shouldn’t have said anything.

“But what?” she cries, her eyes moving wildly across my face. “See? She’s got you brainwashed! You did love me, Enzo! All those little notes you left for me, the letters, the flowers… don’t deny it.”

What the fuck is she talking about?

I wrack my brain for any memory of having sent her flowers or love notes and come up with nothing. It was literally just casual, meaningless sex.

I open my mouth to speak, but it quickly turns into a scream as she grabs a thick candlestick and smashes Valentina across the cheek with it. Valentina gasps, lurching forward in her chair as tears spring from her eyes.

Alexandra tosses the candlestick carelessly onto the floor and storms up the stairs, leaving us alone with a room full of silent, dangerous-looking men.

“Lenny,” I whisper, my voice urgent and raw. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she chokes out, rubbing her quickly bruising cheekbone. That’s when it hits me—Lenny is unbound and none of these guys are going to take the initiative to tie her up without command.

She realizes it at the same time as me and we sit, staring at each other silently.

“Enzo, we need to—” Valentina’s rushed words cut out as the door swings back open and Alexandra troops down the stairs, followed by a row of maids in skimpy uniforms.

They circle the table, setting down dishes and opening serving trays. My eyes follow their movements, wondering what fresh hell this is.

“Time to eat!” Alexandra announces, her foul mood from two minutes ago long gone. She prances over to me, lodging herself in my lap again, and motions for the maids to serve us.

As they scoop potatoes, chicken, and vegetables onto our plates, Alexandra pours herself a glass of wine.

“This smells good,” I say, keeping my voice neutral. Maybe the only way out is to play along with this madness?

“Doesn’t it?” She grins into my face. I wince as she licks my cheek, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Not as good as you, though.”

“What’s the occasion?” Valentina asks quietly.

“It’s our wedding night,” Alexandra announces, grinning at Valentina with vengeance. “And your funeral, I guess, so dig in. It’s probably going to be your last meal.”

She turns back to me, softly nuzzling into my neck. I grit my teeth and flash an apologetic look at Lenny, who stares back in shock.

“Alexandra,” I whisper, my voice low and steely, “I don’t want to marry you. This is insane. You need help, the type of help I can’t give you, and this… this isn’t the way to do it.”

Valentina sighs deeply across the table, shaking her head slightly. Alexandra’s head whips up from my chest, her eyes boring into mine. The look is unhinged, deadly—I can tell she’s deeply disconnected with reality, and for once in my life, I’m frightened.

“Alexandra!” Valentina’s voice rings out from across the room. It’s dripping with faux sadness and defeat. “You win. He’s yours. You deserve him more than I ever did.”

Alexandra’s rage deflates, and a triumphant smile replaces her scowl. She rises from my lap and wanders over to Valentina, her wine glass dangling from her fingers.

I hold my breath as she gently strokes Valentina’s hair.

“Finally,” she whispers, leaning down to her. “You finally admit it. Tell me you stole him. Tell the truth.”

“It’s true,” Valentina chokes out, shaking slightly as Alexandra’s fingers curl into her hair again. “It’s all true… I brainwashed him. I took him from you because I was… jealous. You’re perfect, you’re everything he’s ever wanted.”

“Bravo,” Alexandra says happily, unwinding her fingers out of Lenny’s hair to clap. Wine splashes onto the ground, and I realize that’s not her first glass.

“Get her drunk,” Valentina mouths in my direction. “ Play along.”

“Since the truth is out in the open now,” I rush to play along, “let’s toast to… second chances!”

“Excellent idea!” Alexandra proclaims. She grabs a bottle and pours a glass for Valentina, pushing it at her, none too gently.

She pours a second glass for me, but when she notices my hands are bound, she pauses. I shrug helplessly, flashing her as charming of a smile as I can manage.

“Untie him!” she commands no one in particular.

I feel the cold blade of a knife glide between my wrists, snapping the ropes that bind me. When my hands are free, she thrusts a full glass of wine at me and raises hers in a toast.

“To second chances!” she cheers, smiling at me. Her eyes are glazed and her movements slow, making me wonder if she’s mixing her wine with something a little stronger. She spins and glares at Valentina. “And untimely deaths!”

I raise mine in the air, nodding at Valentina, who follows suit. As Alexandra throws her drink back, Valentina and I take fake sips, quietly letting the liquid drip onto the floor.

“And my daughter?” I ask Alexandra as she straddles my knee. She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls herself closer, moaning lightly. I grit my teeth but force myself to stay still. “Can I see her one last time?”

She acts like she hasn’t heard me, picking up her pace, moving her hips against me and grinding her pussy against my thigh. Her breathing picks up, and her face flushes. I glance helplessly at Valentina, my eyes widening as I realize what’s happening.

I swear if she makes herself cum on my thigh, I’m going to lose my cool. There’s no way I can sit here and let her do this.

“Alexandra!” Valentina’s voice rings out again. That seems to get her attention, and she slows down, the veil lifting from her hazy, alcohol-fueled movements. “He wants to see his daughter! Please?”

“Ugh, you’re so fucking needy,” Alexandra moans, pulling herself off me.

I discreetly use the tablecloth to wipe my thigh, but I don’t think I'll ever be able to erase the memory of that deranged scene from my mind.

“Let’s have a family dinner,” I plead, knowing that I’m making no sense but grasping for straws.

“A family dinner,” Alexandra repeats slowly, stumbling around the room and searching for a full wine bottle. “That’s a brilliant idea.”

She staggers to the stairs, and a plan hatches in my mind. I eye the big, hired guns she’s got posted at the door and call out to her.

“Without the security detail, sweetie,” I say lovingly, smiling at her. She melts at my sudden change in mood, grinning happily. “I want it to be intimate.”

“You’re right, darling,” she calls out, motioning for the security guards to follow her up onto the deck. “I’ll be right back! Don’t miss me too much.”

“Already dreaming of you,” I call out as Valentina stifles a laugh. “We may be able to get out of this,” I whisper to her as soon as the doors slam closed, hope soaring in my chest for the first time tonight.