I was never accepted in this town and I’ve always felt like an outcast but I never worried that something like this would happen, that I’d have a gun pulled on me. It’s not that kind of place. Or it wasn’t. Before Enzo came.
I’m increasingly of the opinion that Enzo Lauria is the angel of death, here to wreak havoc and bring nothing good, only danger and fear.
I can’t pretend I didn’t feel good though when I saw him choke the life out of my attacker.
I felt seen.
I felt like I mattered.
And, for the first time I can remember, I felt truly safe.
I palm the card in my pocket, rubbing it like it’s a talisman. With each motion of my fingers, my heart slows a little more.
No one will hurt me now. Enzo’s made sure of it.
Despite everything that’s just happened, I feel an odd sense of peace wash over me as I walk the rest of the way home.
10
ENZO
* * *
Now she’s gone, I can concentrate again.
I’ve never had this problem before. Never been so distracted by a woman.
There’s something about her that’s different but I already knew that. It was the only reason I was watching her from my car. Trying to work out what’s so special about her. It can’t just be the way our pasts are linked. There must be something more.
I spotted the guy on the corner long before she did. I could tell he was waiting for her. Got the feeling I knew who it was hiding under that baseball cap.
Time to prove I’m right.
He’s groaning and starting to come around. I’ve dragged him up to the open dumpster, his body’s floppy, and his head is now tipped over the edge. The first thing he’s going to see is the contents. Then he’s going to feel the lid slamming down on his skull.
I tip the baseball cap into the trash, getting a good look at his face. I was right. He blinks, groans and his eyes start to focus. I grab the lid and slam it onto his head with a smack. He goes to yell but I’ve already lifted the lid and shoved my hand over his mouth. “You make another sound and I’ll break your fucking neck,” I hiss in his ear. “What are you doing here, Dwayne?”
He twists slightly in my grip, his eye already starting to swell up. “Let go of me,” he says like I’m going to stop because he’s asking. I don’t ever stop doing anything until I’m good and ready.
“You threatened her,” I tell him, bringing the lid down on his head again.
“Woah,” he says, managing to get his hands up, pushing away from the dumpster. “Stop, all right, just stop.”
I pull out my gun and lunge for his throat with my free hand, gripping his windpipe and wedging the gun barrel against his temple.
“Last words?” I ask.
He wheezes out something that stops me in my tracks. “What the fuck do you think is happening? Do you think I want to fight you, Enzo? Umberto sent me, all right?”
I freeze for a moment before slowly releasing my grip on Dwayne’s neck.
Could this be true?
Why else would this fucking weasel be here? I suddenly realize I’m not saying anything and the bastard is smiling at me.
He manages a half-laugh. “What’s the matter, Enzo? Think the Don tells you everything?”
I grab him by the collar, holding him up against the wall, his feet dangling, kicking loosely. “You’ve got thirty seconds to talk. Make it good.”