“If he’s who I think he is, yes, we have mutual friends. His sister is married to a SEAL. And his wife’s brother is a Team Guy as well,” Ryan finished for me, sharing the same sliver of information he’d given me earlier on our drive to their home in Waxhaw, our small hometown, not far from the restaurant. The paint was barely dry on the walls. They’d moved in only last month. It’d taken six months to build, but they’d wanted it finished before their son was born.
“Could you call one of those SEALs? See if they know anything?” The question felt crazy, but I’d already been ripped apart watching Chiara cry over FaceTime that evening being away from me, and now this.
Enzo had sent me to orgasm heaven, and one visit from an old friend of his and I felt firmly planted in hell. The not knowing was what I couldn’t handle. My overthinking brain was overheating from creating far too many what-if scenarios.
Ryan looked at his Apple Watch as if deciding whether calling up a SEAL at eleven at night was a shit idea or not. “Let’s give Enzo a chance to call us back and see what he—” He stopped midsentence when Natalia’s phone buzzed on her thigh, nearly falling to the floor.
“Is it Enzo?” I dropped onto the couch next to her to try and see the screen.
“I don’t recognize the number,” my sister responded. “Do I answer?”
“Speakerphone,” Ryan instructed.
“It’s Constantine Costa,” he said once she answered. “How are you?”
My stomach dropped, and my sister looked at me with wide eyes.
“Not so great, considering you’re calling me after eleven, and not only have you never called me before, I didn’t know you had my number,” Natalia quickly responded, and Ryan set his hand on her knee.
“This is about Enzo,” I rushed out. “Right?” My heart hammered in my chest. Thwacking hard. “Some guy came to the restaurant tonight; then Enzo up and left without a word. What’s happening? Is he okay?”
“Hi, Maria,” Constantine responded after a deep breath over the line. “Listen, I’m calling to let you know Alessandro and I plan to fly down tomorrow as soon as we can. Probably in the afternoon. We’re coming to get him. But in the meantime, I need someone I trust to keep an eye on him.”
Keep an eye on him? Fly here? I was back on my feet again.
“Why? What’s going on?” It was Ryan this time, and his concerned gaze sharp on her phone did nothing for my sanity.
I checked my texts, praying for the read receipt to appear so I’d at least know Enzo saw my message.
Nothing.
“Enzo received some disturbing news tonight, and I need to investigate it. Make sense of it. That’s all I’m going to share right now. I’ll let him tell you if he wants to.” Constantine and his cryptic words weren’t helping. “Can someone go over to his place and stay with him? He’s not in the best state of mind, and I haven’t seen my brother drink like this since Bianca died,” he added in a low voice, and the blood rushed from my face.
“We’re on our way,” Natalia said without hesitation, holding her stomach as she stood with Ryan’s help.
“Thank you,” Constantine solemnly said.
“Of course.” I was glad my sister was more put together than I was, capable of fluid responses.
Was Enzo drunk? Constantine was right. I’d never seen him have more than one or two drinks. It made sense, though. Enzo hated losing control.
“I’d offer to go alone, but I know you’ll both give me a hard time.” Ryan snatched his truck keys.
“Damn straight we would,” Natalia fired back, and Ryan grumbled something too low for me to hear, and we followed him to the garage.
It was a quiet thirty-minute drive into the city, only the soft tunes of country music to keep us company while I was lost in my thoughts.
The second we were in my building and on my floor, every intrusive what if buzzing around in my head stopped. Anticipation grabbed hold of me, sinking its teeth into my flushed skin.
“I know the navy trained me to be a professional door kicker,” Ryan said once we were by Enzo’s place, “but tell me one of you has a key so I don’t have to knock this thing down.”
“Assuming he won’t answer?” Natalia asked while producing a key before I had a chance to go for the one on my key chain.
“Affirmative,” Ryan gruffly said, accepting the key from her, and then he didn’t bother to knock or ring.
The sight that greeted the three of us once Ryan opened up wasn’t one I’d prepared myself to see.
The living room was dimly lit by a fire, and Enzo stood in front of his wall of windows with one arm propped over his head, gaze set on the city. He had on a pair of black sweats that hung low on his hips, just the white strip from his boxers visible. His back muscles were on full display, showcasing a lone tattoo on his right shoulder. Even though he knew he was no longer alone, he’d yet to move.
“Enzo,” I hesitantly called out, surprised I could get my voice to work.
“My brother shouldn’t have called you,” Enzo returned in a low tone as he slowly faced us, holding a bottle of something at his side. His eyes locked on to Ryan standing by Natalia just inside the living room. “And you shouldn’t have brought her here. I told you to keep her away from me.”
“Wait, what?” I looked to Ryan for an explanation. That wasn’t remotely close to what he’d told me Enzo had texted him at the restaurant earlier. “What’s going on?” I asked, returning my focus to the angry man before me.
Enzo slowly stalked closer to us, bringing the bottle to his lips as he did so. My gaze skated from the ink above his heart, down the hard planes of his abdominal wall, to the vee that disappeared into his black sweats.
Somehow, this was the first time I’d ever seen him without a shirt, and I was taken aback by how strong and hard he truly was. God, the man was positively breathtaking.
We’d never so much as hung out at a pool or beach together, well, not since we were kids. And yeah, he looked a hell of a lot different at thirty-seven than he did at seventeen.
“You need to take your pregnant wife home,” Enzo told Ryan in a clipped tone. “You all need to leave.”
“Something is wrong, and your brother sent us. We’re not going anywhere,” Natalia firmly said. “Talk to us. Let us help.”
The dark laugh leaving Enzo’s mouth had me walking back. “Help me?” He chugged more from the bottle. Most likely whiskey.
“Watch yourself, man,” Ryan warned. “We may be friends, but if you piss off my pregnant wife and upset her, I won’t hesitate to lay you the fuck out.” He stepped before his wife like a shield, and honestly, I had no clue who’d win in a head-to-head match, but I knew neither Natalia nor I wanted to find out.
Enzo only smirked as if he wanted the challenge. “I’m in the mood to fight or to . . .” His gaze cut to me, and I heard the unspoken f-word sail through the air and knock the breath from my lungs.
Natalia hooked her arm through her husband’s, and I recognized that as her silent request not to tango with Enzo tonight.
“You’re drunk,” Ryan said, arms going across his chest. “Sleep it off. Tell us what’s going on in the morning. But we’re not leaving.”
Enzo remained quiet as he drank more, his gaze lingering on me as he did so.
I faced Natalia and pleaded, “I need to talk to him alone.”
“I’m his best friend. I’m not leaving,” Natalia insisted.
“And he’s my . . .” I looked over my shoulder to find him at the window, his back to us again. My what? “Take my keys and go next door. You’ve been on your feet all night. You should sleep. Stay in my room.” I snatched my keys from my purse before tossing the small bag onto the armchair by the couch with no plans to leave.
Natalia exchanged a look with Ryan, searching for what to do.
“Please.” I shoved the keys into Ryan’s hand. “I can handle this.” I nodded, hoping to convince the both of them.
I honestly had no clue if I could handle a drunk, angry Enzo, but I was certain he’d throw us all out on our asses in a minute if I didn’t reduce the number of us in the room.
Natalia stole a quick look at the brooding man by the window, then squeezed my forearm. “We’ll be right next door if you need us.”
“Thank you,” I mouthed.
“Don’t be an ass, Enzo. Talk to her,” Ryan bit out before he and Natalia left, and once the door thudded shut, I started for the fire, unsure what to do next.