Page 59 of The Bonventi Secret

I wonder where he's taking me?

ENZO - 21

My morning plan, as usual, was to head to my office and go over the day's events in peace while enjoying a cup of coffee. However, today, as I step inside what is supposed to be my quiet morning ritual, two people are there to disrupt everything.

The moment I see Gio's face, I know this isn't going to be pleasant. His jaw is clenched, a vein pulsing at his temple. Marco stands beside him, his usual politician's smile replaced by a grim line.

"What happened?" I ask, not bothering with hellos.

"Where the fuck have you been?" Gio asks.

I take a seat behind my desk. "Here."

"We've been trying to reach you," Marco says, rubbing his neck in frustration.

"Oh, I've been busy."

"I bet," Gio says.

He's upset. And maybe he has a right to be. Last night's activities with Livia kept me away from my phone, and when I saw the missed calls this morning, I decided to enjoy life and fuck her again instead of returning any calls.

How bad can things get in one night, anyhow?

"Are you going to tell me what happened?" I ask again.

Gio's fist slams down on the mahogany table in front of him. "The fucking Rossis, that's what happened."

I raise an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate. My brother's temper has always been quick to ignite, but I've learned to let him burn through it before getting to the heart of the matter.

Marco steps forward, ever the mediator. "They've made a move, Enzo. A big one."

I sit back in my chair.

Shit.

"Explain," I demand, feeling the ice forming in my veins.

Gio leans forward, his stocky, muscular frame so tense he looks like a spring ready to snap. "They hit one of our warehouses down by the docks. Cleaned it out and left three of our men dead."

I clench my fist, but I keep my face impassive. "Who?"

Marco takes a moment. "Stefano, Angel, and..." Marco hesitates again. "Little Nicky."

"Fuck," I mutter and lean forward.

Nicky was barely twenty, a good kid who'd joined us to help support his sick mother. I'd promised her I'd look out for him. The docks were normally our safest place to work.

Gio stands and walks over to my desk, his voice low and urgent. "That's not all. They left a message."

He pulls out his phone, showing me a picture. Spray-painted across the warehouse wall in blood-red letters: "AN EYE FOR AN EYE, FOR C."

C for Carmine.

I stare at the image, feeling a cold fury building inside me. The Rossis think they can come after my family, my people? They have no idea what they've just unleashed.

"Options," I say in a stern tone, looking at my brothers.

Gio's eyes ignite with a dangerous light. "We hit them back. Hard. Take out their main distribution center, send a fucking message they won't forget."