Page 28 of Vincenzo (The DiMaggio Crime Family #3)

When I leave the club, I decide to go out the back way since it’s quicker than the entrance. When I open the door, the musty smell of rain hits me. The ground is wet, but the night sky is clear now.

Now that I know Pedro was responsible for my parents’ deaths, I’m going to get the revenge that should’ve been served to him years ago.

This information seeps into my skin, making my anger consume me. The fucking bastard has been walking around, living the best damn life for a decade while my parents were buried six feet under.

Tell me how this is fair!

Pedro might’ve been the one who pulled the trigger, but my uncle is behind this, I’m sure of it. I know there’s more to this story, and I’m going directly to Pedro to find out. I’ll beat it out of him if I have to, and once I do, I’ll end his life, just like he did my parents.

I take my phone out of my pocket, knowing I need to fill Armando in on this information, but am immediately met with several notifications from Enzo.

Shit. I completely forgot.

I open up the messages.

Enzo: Call me.

Enzo: Where are you?

Enzo: How could you go back to Miami knowing your uncle tried to kill you?

Enzo: I’m flying down there.

Enzo: Please fucking call me, Little Hellion.

Enzo: I’m worried about you.

Shit. That last one has little butterflies erupting in my stomach, but I don’t have time to deal with this right now.

Ignoring his messages, I go to my cousin’s number, but before I’m able to press call, Enzo’s number pops up on my screen.

My heart flutters at the sight while I contemplate ignoring it, knowing I have so much shit to deal with right now.

“Fuck,” I mutter, then reluctantly answer.

“Hello?”

“Where are you?” Enzo bellows.

“Well, hello to you too,” I mumble.

“Why haven’t you been picking up your phone?”

“Um, because it died.”

He lets out a long sigh like it’s the first time he’s been able to breathe, and I have to admit, hearing his voice does something to me. “Thank God you’re alive.”

“Of course I’m alive. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Dumb question on my part, but it’s already out there.

“You cannot just fucking leave like that, Amalia,” he scorns.

“Do not speak to me like I’m a child.”

“Well, don’t fucking act like one.”

My jaw drops.

“I’m sorry,” he sighs out. “That’s… that’s not how I meant for that to come out.”

“You sure about that?”

“I am sorry.” His tone is so desperate I can already see him running his hands through his hair.

“I’ve just been going insane not being able to get ahold of you.

Knowing your uncle is out to kill you, and finding out you checked out of The Arlington this morning?

I’ve been desperate to get a hold of you to make sure you’re okay.

To make sure you’re still fucking alive . ”

“You were that worried about me?” I ask while crossing the parking lot to my car.

“Yes, I was that fucking worried about you. Where are you? I’m at your condo.”

“What? You’re at my condo?”

“In it, actually. It’s quite nice. Open-concept plan. Lots of windows to get that natural sunlight in. You have a hot tub on your balcony. I approve. Lots of sexy lingerie too.”

“How the hell did you get access to my condo?”

There’s a pause on the other line before he says, “I have my ways.”

That halts me in my steps. “No, seriously… How did you get in there? My security is top notch.”

“Let’s just say you’re not the only one who has a guy that can override security systems.”

“Of course. Look, I’m about to get back to my car and head home, but I have to make a phone call real quick to Armando.”

“Who’s Armando?” he asks, and the way he says it has me laughing.

“I’m sorry, is that jealousy I detect over my cousin?”

Enzo chuckles, and the sound brings a smile to my face.

I’m about to open the door to my car when out of nowhere, a plastic bag comes crashing down over my head.

Dropping my phone, I let out a scream when someone behind me tightens their hold on the bag, and I quickly realize what they’re doing.

They’re trying to suffocate me.

My heart picks up pace as my fight-or-flight response kicks in, and my body tries to force itself out of this situation.

Shit. My uncle must’ve figured out I’m back in the city.

“Come on, Miguel! Get her! Squeeze the bag! We need to get this shit done now !”

There are at least two people behind me, which means I need to play this smart. Thoughts run through my head on overdrive, given the predicament I’m in, but I quickly make a decision.

Knowing I don’t have much time with the bag over my head, I elbow my assailant in the ribs, which pulls a grunt from him, and he keels over slightly.

My shallow breaths suck the bag into my mouth, and my lungs seize, burning like a fire that’s been doused in gasoline and can’t be put out. But I continue to fight against my assailant.

He lifts me in the air, and I kick at him. Letting out a grunt, he drops me back to the ground, and I grab my knife out of its holster.

Ripping the bag from my head, I suck in deep breath, trying to get the oxygen to my blood as quickly as possible.

Lifting my knife, I glance over my shoulder and bring it back into my assailant’s thigh.

He lets out a loud yelp and punches me in the back of my head.

A white light flashes in my head, and I fall to the ground.

I scramble to get back up, but when I do, the assholes are already getting into their car.

I run up to it, but they speed off in a hurry, nothing but their cursed cries sounding off in the distance.

“What the hell was that?” I hiss out, running my hand through my hair.

Glancing down, I take in the coat of blood on my blade and wipe it off on my shorts before stuffing it back into its holster.

I hurry back to my car and pick my phone up off the ground.

“Amalia! Amalia!” Enzo’s cries come through.

“I’m here,” I rush out.

He breathes out a sigh of relief. “ Fucking hell . What happened?”

“I… I was attacked.”

“Where are you?”

“Diamonds Gentlemen’s Club. Back parking lot.”

“Get in your car. I’m on my way.”

“It’s fine, Enzo. I’m going to head back to my condo.”

“No,” he bellows out. “You were just attacked. You can’t come back here. Your condo is the last place you should be.”

Shit. He’s right.

“Just stay there. I’m five minutes away.”

I let out a sigh and get into my car. “Okay. I’ll see you soon.”

Laying my head back against my head rest, I take a deep breath, rubbing my neck where my assailant had the bag wrapped tightly around it.

I’m not sure who the men were that attacked me, but I know my uncle was behind this. And now that he knows I’m back in the city, I have a feeling getting to Pedro is going to be a lot more difficult than I anticipated.