Page 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Enzo

“Alexandra,” I choke out in a panic.

My insides are twisting and writhing with fear—fear for the girls’ lives, for Valentina’s, for mine. It clouds my judgment and makes it difficult to think clearly.

“Sasha,” I try again, recalling the nickname she liked me to use back in college. Her eyes snap to mine, wild and intense, but the name gets her attention. “Sasha, baby, put the gun down.”

Slowly, she lowers the pistol, and I hear Matilda hiccup with fear, but I don’t dare take my attention off Alexandra right now.

“You remember,” she says softly.

“Of course.” I smile and open my arms welcomingly. She stumbles over and falls into my embrace, still clutching the gun.

Her whole body is vibrating, shaking against me like a leaf in the wind, and I know she’ll snap soon if I don’t act fast.

“I pick you, baby,” I whisper into her hair as she nuzzles into my chest. My eyes meet Valentina’s, and the tiniest shadow of hope seeps into her face. She nods gently, encouraging me to ramp up this little act. “I’ll always pick you. I’m sorry for what happened back then; it’s not how things should have gone.”

“You love me?” Alexandra sniffles, glancing up at me with red-rimmed eyes. “Say you love me.”

“Of course I love you,” I purr, trying to radiate warmth and calm her down. I place a small kiss on her forehead, pulling her close. Now if you’d just drop the fucking gun.

“I love you too, Enzo,” she sobs, peppering my chest with kisses and leaving harsh red lipstick marks all over me.

Her makeup is smeared now. The mascara dripping down her face gives her a haunted look, and I almost feel bad for her.

Still won’t stop me from destroying her the second I get the chance.

“So, let’s end this then,” I plead, gazing into her wild eyes. “We don’t need them. We can just dump them back at the port and sail off into the sunset, together… you, me, and Alessia. A family, finally.”

She stares into my eyes, considering the idea, and for a second, my hope inflates. But then suspicion creeps back into her face, and she shakes her head firmly.

“No, I need them gone,” she says firmly. Her muscles tense, and I run my hands up and down her arms, trying to soothe her.

“We don’t need to start our beautiful life together with murder, do we?” I joke softly. “Let this go, Sasha.”

She hesitates, and I can see the battle being waged in her mind. Maybe she actually wants to kill Valentina and Matilda, or maybe she’s just under extreme psychosis and has no idea what she’s doing, but I’m not about to take my chances.

When she swings her arm up again, pointing the gun in Matilda’s direction, I gently grab her arm and lower it down.

With a deep breath and silent apologies to Valentina, I press my lips against hers. She melts into my kiss, her body going limp and pliable in my arms.

She sneaks her tongue into my mouth, moaning lightly, and it’s all I can do not to push her away. Instead, I hold her close, giving her the intimacy she so craves.

“Okay, fine.” She laughs, shoving the gun into my hands. “I won’t kill them.”

“Baby,” I breathe, internally thanking every deity I’ve ever heard of. “That’s a wise decision.”

“You will.” She grins and steps back.

Confused, I glance at Valentina, who closes her eyes like it’s all too much for her. Alexandra catches my attention slipping away, and fury crosses her face again.

“See, Enzo?” she demands angrily. “You can’t go a second without looking at that bitch. That’s why I need her gone… she’s brainwashing you; she has some sort of evil hold on you. Her and her spawn. Kill them or I will, I swear to God.”

“Okay, okay.” I hold up my hands in mock surrender, but inside I’m soaring. I have the gun. We’re one step closer to safety. Now think of a fucking plan.

“Matilda,” I spin around, catching her worried gaze. She’s gnawing on her thumbnail, watching the entire interaction intently. “Let’s go.”

“The little one first?” Alexandra asks, laughing like a loon. “Perfect, that’ll give me some time alone with Valentina.”

Her voice drips with hatred when she says her name, and I tense up, but I need to get Matilda out of this situation first. Lenny can defend herself if she needs to, especially with Matilda out of the way of danger.

“That’s right,” I agree with her madness. “I’ll take care of her outside, then come back for the bitch.”

It almost physically pains me to call Valentina a bitch, but it seems to resolve Alexandra’s suspicion. She falls into an empty chair and grapples with an empty bottle, looking for more wine.

When she finds it empty, she chucks it straight at Valentina, who ducks at the last second. The bottle explodes against the wall, spending tiny shards of glass everywhere.

“Matilda,” I holler, half-terrified. “Get over here!”

Matilda shoots Valentina a questioning look, but whatever she sees seems to pacify her because she quietly slips out of her seat and floats to my side like a little ghost.

I grab her hand and give it a little squeeze, praying she understands that she’s safe. She stares up at me, her eyes full of questions and concerns.

“I’ll be right back, my love,” I say, trying to sell this twisted little act. I bend down and place a kiss on Alexandra’s cheek, and she relaxes at my touch. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she trills happily, raising her eyebrows at Valentina with a shit-eating grin. Valentina slumps in her chair, her gaze downcast and defeated.

I know she’s playing her own part right now, but the desire to scoop her up and take her away from all this madness is too strong. Instead, I grab Matilda’s hand and haul her up the stairs.

I push her out the door and let it swing closed gently behind us. She stares at me expectantly, her fear taking away her ability to speak.

“Honey, I need to do something scary right now,” I whisper, squatting down to her height. I glance around for the hired thugs, but they’re nowhere to be found. “I need to shoot the bad guys to save you and your mama, but I need you to help me. Can you do that?”

She nods slightly, unsure of what I’m asking, and I curse the PTSD that I’m about to give my own daughter. Both of these girls will need a lifetime of therapy after this—that’s non-negotiable.

“Okay, can you tell me where the bad guys were keeping you?” I ask, desperate to hurry this along but not wanting to rush her in such a delicate moment.

She nods, pointing to another door on the other side of the boat.

“In there? What’s in there?” I ask, trying to gather as much intel as I can to protect myself. “How many bad guys were there, do you remember?”

“Ummmm, three,” she whispers, holding up three tiny fingers. “They play games.”

“Games?”

“Yes, like card games,” she answers, unsure of herself.

Okay, so the hired guns are playing poker to pass the time, probably drinking too—that’s going to make life easier.

“Perfect, you’re doing great, Matilda,” I assure her, smoothing down her hair. I place a quick kiss on her forehead, and her eyes water at this show of affection. “I need you to be brave. Can you do that?”

She nods vehemently, twisting her pajama top in her tiny hands. She looks like a mini version of Valentina right now, so determined and fierce.

I point toward the helm, motioning for her to run to the little cabin. “Go hide in there and don’t come out until you hear your mama calling you, okay?”

She nods and bolts to the cabin. I give her a few seconds to find a hiding place and straighten up. The only thing I have on my side is the element of surprise. There are three of them and one of me.

I check Alexandra’s gun. Three bullets.

I only have one shot to get this right.

I close my eyes and ask the universe to guide me. I promise to be the best father to both of these little girls if we manage to get off this yacht. I promise to never take life for granted again.

I promise to love Valentina until my dying day.

With this list of promises and a gun, I march slowly to the other door. It’s open a crack and I peek inside. Raucous laughter and cigarette smoke float toward me.

I see the three of them at the table playing cards, just like Matilda said.

Here goes nothing.