Enzo grabbed my hand quickly and led me up the stairs to his office. I sat down on the brown leather couch ready to throw up into the tiny tin garbage can next to me.

Enzo kneeled in front of me on the gray carpet. He took my hands in his. He looked like he was begging me. He definitely saw the emotions my face couldn't conceal.

"Lilly, you have to trust me, I'd never hurt you. You're so precious to me." He kissed my palm. A tear ran down my face. This powerful man, who's violent and ruthless, was on his knees for me, begging me to see his sincerity.

"You were going to do horrible things to that girl," I sobbed. My emotions were finally catching up with me.

"No, it was a bluff, angel. I had to scare him. The only thing he cares about is his daughter. That was the only way to get him to give up the names. But, I can't show weakness. He had to think I would."

I stared at him for a moment, trying to determine the truth behind h

Is words. Whether or not he was lying to me.

"I don't know if I believe you," I mumbled.

"I have never lied to you, Lilly. Please trust me. I was just scaring him. I would never do that to a young girl. She was only 16. I'm a monster, but I'm not as bad as you think. No one can know that, though. They have to fear me. He needed to see your fear too, so he believed it. You couldn't know in advance or your face would have given everything away," he said in hushed tones while rubbing my hands soothingly. I'm sorry I scared you. But, I had to."

I nodded, starting to feel numb to the situation. If he really wasn't going to kill the young girl or let them rape her, I wasn't all that bothered.

Yes, the violence Enzo displayed was gruesome, but it was tolerable. It's not like I'd have to sit in the first row and watch him, torture people, every day. And if I was being honest a tiny, tiny part of me was attracted to this side of Enzo. Maybe my more primitive nature... He was so strong and ruthless, he looked powerful, untouchable. I wanted to drink it all up. I wanted him to use that power on me, in a more pleasurable way.

"And I needed you to see what we are capable of doing without remorse. I may not have had intentions to hurt that little girl, but I have tortured women before, if it meant getting what I needed to know. Not in the way I threatened today, though. I'd never let any of my men force themselves on a woman and live. But, Filippo is dumb and didn't realize that so I used it to my advantage."

"What are you going to do to her then? You said the car was waiting for her?"

"Gino is driving her to her mother's house in the Hamptons. No one is going to harm her. Gino is my most trusted driver. He respects women plenty. Why do you think I had him drive you to work?" Enzo assured me.

I sighed, feeling a lot more relieved.

"Okay," I relaxed a little, leaning into the back of the couch.

He brushed my hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear.

"I have to go finish up downstairs. I'm still going to kill Filippo you know?"

"Yeah," I shrugged, not feeling too torn up about it.

If he cared as much as he claimed about his daughter, he should have given up the names instantly. He was a coward, trying to prolong his last few minutes on this earth. But, I still did not like the idea of murder, so I wasn't pro-killing this dude.

"You don't want to run yet?" Enzo kidded, but I could tell there was a level of seriousness to his question.

I shook my head, "no, not yet I don't think."

Enzo pulled me into him slowly and kissed me. I kissed him back, no longer feeling so afraid. Enzo cared about me. I wouldn't run from what I felt for him. He made me laugh, and smile. I wanted to stay with him, regardless of the world he was part of and the illegal empire he ran.

"Good, because I'd chase you," he winked, and just like that playful Enzo was back to fiercely flirting.

"Maybe I'd want you to chase me," I smirked.

He shook his head with a deep, teasing chuckle.

"I can't be going back down there with the thoughts of chasing you till I get you under me and bury my cock inside you." He leaned into my neck and licked it sensually. I moaned, leaning further into him.

"Enzo, please," I wasn't sure what I wanted him to do. Anything really.

"Let me finish up downstairs and I have to deal with a few things, then we can go grab lunch of the way back to my apartment, and hang out and for dinner, I'll cook something for you. Anything you're in the mood for," he paused to kiss my cheek, "then for dessert, I'm going to lay you down on the island in my kitchen and thoroughly devour you, angel."

I leaned in and kissed him again, expressing my enthusiasm for his plans.

He shut the door when he left after showing me that there was a loaded gun in the top drawer of his desk in case of an emergency. I didn't have to try too hard to guess what kind of emergency he could mean in a place like this.

I laid down on the couch waiting for a few minutes till the door opened back up.

It was too early for Enzo to be finished, so I sat up quickly to see who walked into the office.

It was a man I'd never seen before, but his smile made a chill crawl down my spine. I stood up, getting ready to bolt if necessary. These men were dangerous.

He was tall. Not as tall as Enzo, but way taller than me. He was blocking the only exit and his body was massive.

The door was closed, no one could see inside.

I heard a click and realized he just locked it. That was not a good sign in the least.

Fuck.

I looked around the room quickly scanning for a way out or for anything that could protect me depending on his intentions.

"Hello, I'm Lou," he smiled, but there was no good intention in it.

"Uh, hi," I replied calmly, not trying to escalate the situation by freaking out.

He started towards me slowly.

"Aren't you going to tell me your name?"

"Jamie," I lied, getting nervous.

"You're very pretty, Jamie. I didn't know the boss brought whores to the warehouse for a quick fuck. But, since you are here, I might as well get a taste. I'm sure he won't mind."

"I'm not a whore," I quickly remarked. I hoped he'd realize that and back down when he realized.

"Sure, and the sky is not blue," he laughed, clearly not understanding who I was to Enzo. I wasn't a prostitute.

I backed away from him and he advanced.

"What do you want me to pay too or something?"

"No, I-"

"Good because I wasn't offering," he grabbed me by my shoulders and threw me to the ground.

I screamed when my head hit the side of the desk on the way down.

"Shut up, I know you want it."

I remembered that the gun was in the drawer. I started crawling away from him.

He grabbed and legs and pulled me toward him. I tried to get out of his grip but it was rock solid. I kicked and thrashed. My fist met his lip and he made an angry noise.

His backhand came down faster than I could even see it. The sting that followed the sound of the smack was pretty bad. I tasted blood in my mouth so he must've busted my lip. Tears streamed down my face.

"Enzo! Enzo, please! Enzo, help me!" I screamed so loud my throat burned.

"He won't mind me breaking you in for him."

"Please, stop!" I screamed and thrashed more. He ripped my shirt down the middle, but luckily I was wearing a bra.

"Oh, I love when they scream. We don't have too long, so just get on your knees and you can suck me off, sweetheart."

I needed Enzo, anyone really. I couldn't reach the gun if I didn't get out of this guy's grip. I needed him to calm down. I needed his trust. Even if I wanted nothing more than to break this repulsive's

"Okay," I kept calm. Acting like I gave up and submitted.

"Good girl," he said in his nasal voice. I almost gagged at the phrase. From him, it sounded repulsive. I hated it.

He pulled me into a kneeling position and let go of me to unbutton his jeans.

But, as soon as he let go of me, I bolted toward the desk. He was huge but I was smaller and faster than him. I ripped open the desk drawer and pulled out the gun aiming it at him.

He threw his hands up and his eyes went wide.

"Easy sweetheart." He said, suddenly gentle.

I narrowed my eyes at him. I would shoot him if he tried to come closer.

I cocked the hammer to show him exactly how serious I was.

Enzo busted through the door with a gun in his hand. He pointed it at Lou. His face was full of unbridled fury. My shoulders slumped a little at the sight of Enzo. This man was about to rape me. All my fear was gone and was replaced with anger.

"He tried to rape me," I growled.

"Put the gun down, and come here, baby." He has his one hand pointed at Lou and the other was open to me to curl under.

I ran into his arms.

"You're okay, baby girl. I'm here. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone," he whispered into my hair.

I nodded into his big, warm chest. He always made me feel so safe.

"Do you want me to kill him right now? Or do you want me to hurt him for you?"

My anger still didn't simmer enough.

"I want you to hurt him," I said into his chest.

He cupped my chin in his fingers and smiled down at me.

"Rocco, get in here."

Rocco entered the office and went to Lou's back restraining him with ease.

"Bring him downstairs, and call Stefano. Tell him he has free reign on this one."

Rocco nodded and left the room, hauling out Lou with him.

I looked up at Enzo

"You said I was safe and no one would touch me," I spoke softly.

"I'm so sorry baby girl. He is new. He didn't know who you were. I should have left someone by the door to guard you just in case. I'm so sorry. I never want to see that look in your eyes again."

His voice was gentle and apologetic. I wasn't mad at him. But I was definitely terrified of being left alone anywhere near his men. I didn't trust any of them, except his brothers.

He held me tight as if he was afraid I'd bolt the second he'd let go.

"I won't let anyone hurt you, Lilly. I promise."

I nodded, letting his warmth comfort me.

"Let's go back to my apartment, I'll run you a bath, okay?" Enzo spoke to me like I was an injured animal. But I wasn't. I was an angry woman.

"No, I wanna see him hurt. I want to see him afraid like I was," I pushed.

Enzo's eyes widened with shock.

"Come, Stefano should be here any moment. He was already in the area taking care of something for me."

I followed Enzo out of the office back to the room that Filippo was in.

Lou was already tied to a metal folding chair when we walked in. Stefano was crouching down in front of him chuckling.

I snarled at Lou.

"Lilly, are you okay?" Stefano's eyes scanned me.

He noticed my busted lip and growled at Lou before punching him in the eye.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know she-"

Stefano punched him again, not letting him finish the sentence.

"Save it," Enzo spat, walking over to Stefano.

"What do you want us to do Lilly?" Enzo asked waiting for me. I didn't think I'd be in charge. I liked this.

"Nothing," I mumbled, walking next to them. I didn't need to cower in the corner. I smiled sweetly at Lou. He was completely at my mercy.