Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 109882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
“I thought you didn’t do clubs,” he said loudly to be heard over the music, his alcohol-laced breath causing my nose to tingle in disgust. He tried to pull me closer, and I struggled. “You bitches are all the same,” he sneered. Although it was deafeningly loud in the club, I could hear his anger clearly. “Always thinking you’re too good, isn’t that right?”
I was shocked at how strong he was. The flash of his annoyance and determination moved across his face. But before I could react—AKA kick him in the balls for thinking he had some kind of claim over me and for insulting me—there was motion beside me.
Everything happened so quickly I was left standing there frozen at what played out before me.
Enzo towered over Stephan, gripped him by the throat, and lifted him up so that only the toes of his shoes touched the ground. Stephan’s hands went to his neck as he tried prying Enzo’s fingers off, but he was no match for him.
And God… Enzo’s expression was so terrifyingly calm. The only outward signs of his anger were the slight flex of a muscle under his jaw and the way his forearm tensed as he held up Stephan. And then Enzo slammed his fist into Stephan’s face so hard I swore I heard bone crunch under the assault.
I stood there, feeling shock on my face. The music still pumped through the club, others still dancing in my peripheral, unaware of what had just gone down. The others closer to us had moved back, making this loose circle, and as I stared at them, their eyes wide, their mouths parted, I wondered how afraid they were right now.
The men stared at Enzo with apprehension, taking more steps back. Some of the women held that same apprehension, yet others were clearly drawn to the danger Enzo presented.
Like me.
Oh God, I’m losing my mind.
I turned my focus back to Enzo, who still loomed over Stephan. Enzo’s hand still curled tightly into a fist… the fist that had slammed into the center of Stephan’s face. I would never forget the unmistakable sound of when those knuckles connected with Stephan’s nose, the crunch of bone echoing in my head.
Blood covered the lower half of Stephan’s face and was a grisly display across his white shirt. His nose was also at an odd angle, and a wave of nausea rose up in me.
I was frozen in place as Enzo leaned in close, Stephan trying to scramble back, but the blood that was splattered on the floor had his palms slipping on the ground, and he didn’t get far before Enzo’s face was inches from his.
I could see his lips moving as he kept his focus trained right on Stephan. The music was far too loud for me to hear what he said, but the pure terror that covered Stephan’s face had my heart skipping a beat. Enzo said something else, his expression hardening even more—if that were possible—and Stephan nodded slowly before moving an inch back. Enzo straightened, but Stephan still kept his horrified gaze latched on to him.
I could see commotion to my right and blinked to focus at my side, seeing two massive bouncers pushing their way through the crowd, their expressions set into grim visages of the violence they’d soon deliver.
But when they got to the opening where the three of us stood, as they looked at Stephan, who was still on the ground covered in blood, then glanced at Enzo, I watched as their hard stances vanished instantly. Their throats worked as they swallowed, then they glanced at each other.
I felt a presence beside me, tore my gaze from the bouncers, and saw Enzo standing there. I instantly calmed, and how insane was that after what had just happened? Before I knew what was going on, he had my hand and was leading me out of the club and into the night air, where I sucked in a massive lungful of fresh oxygen. His Mercedes was already waiting at the curb, the attendant having opened the passenger side door before scurrying off after a look at Enzo’s expression.
I looked down at his hand that was curled around mine, seeing blood smeared across his knuckles. I gasped, but it wasn’t from fear. God help me… it wasn’t from fear.
Enzo stopped right by the passenger side door. I looked at him at the same time he turned his attention to me, then as he lowered his gaze to where I'd been staring. He lifted his eyes back to my face and held my gaze for long seconds. There was no remorse, no shame… nothing on his face but cold, hard resolve.
It was an expression a man who’d seen plenty—done plenty—carried.
It was what a capo of the mafia carried comfortably.
I licked my lips, my entire body on fire. I was wet, my nipples ached, and I felt so much hot pressure between my thighs I had zero self-composure and control right now. All I felt was this wild, primal need… one only Enzo could satiate.