No Strings Attached

CHAPTER 23

She is by far the most efficient assassin in the underworld, but Leonardo could have taken down more of our men and faster if he had used the men he has. I don't understand why he would send her to do all of the hits, it just doesn't make sense.

But then again he is an unpredictable and violent man. He attacked his own granddaughter, and no doubt wanted to kill her last night. Which could be why he sent her after us, because he knew we'd eventually find out, and kill her first.

I groan at the complexity of this situation and stand up, flexing my shoulder to erase the stiffness before walking downstairs to the kitchen.

I walk in to see Mom and Dad talking, Dad making lunch whilst Mom sits on the island bench.

Mom turns to look at me and doesn't say a word, turning back around to face Dad.

"We're going to work with Anastasia to take care of Leonardo and his men," Dad says, "I'm not advising you I'm telling you," he adds.

My jaw locks as I don't say anything. This is what I hate. Even my own parents doubt my leadership and the way I go about it. They don't trust me to do shit on my own and it fucking pisses me off.

I know my Grandpa wasn't leaning over Dad's shoulder constantly telling him what to do, so there's no reason for Dad to do that with me.

I nod and go to the cabinet and take out a glass, filling it with water before chugging it down, my shoulder still throbbing.

"You have to trust me and the way I do business," I state, staring Dad in the eye.

"I do trust you, but not when you're blinded with your own pride. I've seen it your whole life, someone challenges you in the slightest way and you act upon impulsiveness and it's dangerous," he says calmly. My knuckles turn white as I grip the glass so hard I fear it might shatter all over me.

"Dad that's not trust," I say quietly, "I know what to do and what's best is to treat Anastasia as a threat. You need to put your feelings aside and stop treating her like a fragile little girl, because she's not. She's dangerous and you know that,"

Dad just sighs and shakes his head, and I know I've got my answer. He still doesn't fucking trust me.

I put the glass on the bench and walk out of the kitchen, unable to be in the same room as them any longer.

I walk back up to my office and close the door, locking it behind me as I crouch down in front of my cabinet.

I unlock it and grab out a bottle of Jack Daniels.

I open it and let the alcohol burn down my throat, letting it blur my mind, distracting me from whatever the fuck the last few weeks have been.

My own family doesn't trust me and it kills me. It makes me want to get a tighter grip on this Mafia, making tougher calls so they'll finally see me the same way the rest of the underworld does. A strong leader who is to be feared.

I sit down on a couch and take another swing of the Jack Daniels, not caring that it's only mid-day, only caring about escaping their doubts.

The more I drink, the more my paranoia grows, each drink convincing me further that Anastasia is here to sabotage us, to kill my family and take them away from me.

I finish the bottle and discard of it on the couch beside me, standing up and flexing my aching shoulder. I stumble forwards to my door and open it, making my way to the room Lea and Issy gave to Anastasia.

My vision is blurry as I push her door open, glaring at her as she immediately sits up on the bed.

"What the fu-" she cuts herself off as her eyes widen, "Why do you smell like that? Have you been drinking? It's fucking midday!" she exclaims, hurriedly getting off the bed.

"I'm not having you take my family," I growl, walking towards her as she shakes her head and backs away, her eyes wide with fear.

Fear which should've been in her eyes the moment she saw me, fear which dances in the eyes of everyone who meets me, but for some reason not hers.

"Don't fucking touch me," she spits out, standing up as her body begins to tremble.

"You're not hurting my fucking family," I slur, grabbing her arm as she freezes, my presence finally making her scared.

I pull at her arm and drag her alongside me, liking how she finally doesn't try to fight me, the same defeat in her eyes as with all my victims.

I take her downstairs and through the corridor to the stairs of the basement, dragging her alongside me as she remains rigid.

I stop at the end of the hallway and stare at the keypad, trying to make the numbers stop moving before I punch in the code, throwing her inside the same room as last time before stepping in myself and shutting the door.

"Vincenzo stop it," she snaps, trying to get as far away from me as possible.

I laugh as I fall into one of the chairs at the table, clearing the breakfast tray from the table, letting it fall to the floor with a loud clash of metals.

"I'm not letting you fucking touch my family," I say, glaring at her as she becomes nothing more than a dark silhouette.

"I'm not going to fucking hurt them," she grits out, my fists coming down on the table with a bang.

Liar.

She had plans to kill them, I know she did.

I look up at her with hooded eyes and smirk when she jumps, her eyes widening as I stand up, "Now you fear me you little bitch," I snarl, stalking over to her as she stands with her back against the wall. I grab her chin and force her to look at me, "I don't trust you or want you near my family," I say quietly, "I'm not losing them, especially not to you. I was almost too late last time but not this time," I hiss, laughing as she gulps.

"Enzo don't hurt me," she whispers, her eyes welling with tears as I feel my eyelids growing heavy. "You don't get to call me that," I say in a low voice, dropping her chin as I turn and walk out of the room.

I close the door and when the lock clicks I hear a small sob come from inside. I close my eyes as I lean against the door, sliding down it as I sit and lean against it, listening to her cries as her breathing grows more rapid.

She's finally scared of me. But for some reason I don't feel the familiar satisfaction. She didn't show the same fear as the people I've killed, she was scared I'd hurt her. Not kill her.

I would never hurt her in the way she feared, but I don't think she understands that.

She only feared me because I'm drunk, the same stiffness overcoming her as when she saw the empty bottle in Leonardo's hands.

I hear her gasping for breath and I almost stand up to unlock the door, wanting to tell her that it'll be ok, but that would make it worse. Besides, I hate her, I don't want to help her.

She's a prisoner here, and will be treated as such.

I hear her sniff and something in my chest hurts. I've never made anyone hurt like this before, and I don't like it.

"It's ok," I murmur, not sure who I'm talking to; Anastasia or the person I've become.

"It'll be ok,"

//

Do we feel sorry for Enzo or just think he's a dick, and I decided to make him a depressed drunk xx

Next chapter will be out tomorrow, so until then, have a good day/night and don't forget to vote!!

Abi <3