Who Gets Out?

ENZO MORETTI

Cole signalled for the man standing behind him to fill his glass. When he half filled it and tried to step back, Cole smacked the back of his head.

His forehead hit the table and the man, one of our newest recruits, groaned. Clutching his head, he stepped back.

Cole was my least liked associate. He was a loud, barking dog with no teeth.

I clenched my teeth, watching in irritation as the scene unfolded.

If he wasn't investing so much money from his family’s enterprise, I would have put him in his place a long time ago.

My soldiers weren't servants for his use. They were noble men who worked noble jobs with me. That is until any of them decided to betray me.

“Come here,” Cole motioned for the man behind him.

Marco and I shared a glance. We both shared in the hatred for Cole. In this room, our joint hatred was so much I could almost touch it in the air.

We also knew none of us were going to stop him.

At least not now that he was rolling out some new money and connecting us to an important senator.

Cole grabbed the soldier by the ears, yanking him close like he was taming a dog.

“When I tell you to fill my glass, you fill it to the brim. Understood?” Cole twisted the man’s ear until the man winced.

The man answered quickly. “Yes, sir.”

It wasn't enough for Cole. “Understood?” He thundered. His voice shook the room.

That's when I had enough. I brought my hand down on the table.

“That’s enough,” I said coolly. My voice cut through the tension.

Cole turned to me. His temper was at the brink of sparking but I held my ground.

“He’s new in the organization. He knows better now.”

Cole eyed me. I could see the stubborn part of him tugging at the sane part.

I didn't trust the sane part to win but Cole surprised me by letting the man go.

The man scrambled to fill Cole’s glass, learning his lesson just as expected.

Cole grabbed his glass and gulped half of it at once. My irritation for him grew.

I threw the card onto the table, tapping it before I slid it over to him. “Happy birthday in advance,” I said.

Cole was suspicious at first. He wasted time before he checked the card out.

“We told you that we always make sure our associates are happy,” Marco added.

Curiosity got the better of Cole and he picked up the card. A grin spread across his face when he realised what it was. A VVIP access card to one of the hottest clubs in town. Access for a week.

The meeting had ended some minutes ago, leaving only five of us in the room: me, Marco, Cole, and the two guards stationed at opposite sides of the table.

One of the guards was Bobby.

During the discussion, we covered the shipment delays, a sore subject that dragged on too long, and then shifted to Larry’s betrayal and its… resolution.

Thankfully, Marco had the sense to keep Isa’s name out of it. For that, I owed him one.

But she lingered in my thoughts, a constant shadow. Thinking about her brought out all sorts of conflicting emotions. I was angry with Marco for ruining things between us before they’d even started. I was scared for her too.

Marco wasn’t happy with me either. He wanted that kill, and I denied him the satisfaction. He was only holding his tongue because he trusted me.

For now.

But that trust had an expiration date. The moment Isa proved she couldn’t be trusted—if she did—Marco would be unleashed, and there’d be no holding him back.

And I didn’t want to think about how far I’d go to stop him. Or how I’d deal with Isa if she really did screw up.

Across the table, Cole looked up, blinking hard like he was trying to keep tears from falling.

He was moved by our gift.

For a second, I saw him as more than just a walking paycheck.

Only for a second.

“I can't lie, I'm impressed,” Cole said, delivering his heart felt speech of gratitude.

He was moved to tears because we got him a VVIP pass to the hottest club in town for a week.

That meant booze, women and more booze.

That was the type of gift that Cole would eat up and we got it at the perfect time.

“We knew you would be,” I started, rubbing my hands together.

I stood and walked around to his side of the table.

“We’re hearing some rumors about the senator. Do you want to fill us in?” I drew out the seat beside him and sat down, straddling it Instead.

Marco was at the other side of the table with Bobby who stood poker faced.

The walls of this office were made of clear glass and from where we were, the city’s view was magnificent.

Cole leaned back in his chair, eyeing the view that Marco and Bobby had their backs to. He dropped the card on the table and spun his chair between me and Marco.

With a loop-sided grin, the cocky bastard fed off our desperation and lack of information.

“You know that’s confidential information,” Cole said with pride.

“But if he’s coming in, we should know.” Marco pushed his chair forward.

The wheels slid against the light marble floors. It made a small scraping sound. “Its part of the deal. We need to know and get ready so we can sell a deal,” Marco finished.

“Yup. You need us to sell that deal as much as we need to,” I added.

Marco and I were brothers. We grew up together and finished each other’s sentences.

We were always in sync. It set us apart from everyone else and made bringing people onto the team easy.

How could we fail when we were in perfect unity?

Marco kept pitching, his voice smooth as he added more words of persuasion. “Think of all the money we could make together.” He laughed, and Cole, confused and in the mood to please, joined in.

Behind Marco, Bobby tapped his receiver, pulling my attention away from Cole mid-sentence.

“Putting that into consideration, I still can’t say anything until I’m sure,” Cole said, his tone careful.

“And when will that be?” Marco asked, his focus still on Cole—until he caught me looking past him. Marco paused, turning slightly to follow my gaze.

Bobby simply shook his head and stood with his hands behind him.

“Is there a problem?” Marco asked Bobby still.

“There’s an update on…” Bobby’s words faded away.

I understood him when his gaze rested on me. Marco did too.

Cole looked at the both of us. “Is there a problem?” he repeated Marco’s question.

“Just business,” I assured him, getting up.

Marco stood, and Cole had no choice but to follow too.

Our little after-meeting session was done.

Cole buttoned his royal blue suit jacket, a piece that screamed money and privilege. He was the textbook definition of a spoiled brat.

A slim line cut through his right brow, a deliberate style choice. He dripped in expensive, eye-catching jewelry, changed his hairstyle every other week, and drank so much it was impossible to tell if he was tipsy, drunk, or sober.

And the women. Don’t even get me started on them. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few showed up with his kids one day.

“Let us know about Senator Cruz as soon as possible, and enjoy your big day,” I said, shaking Cole’s hand firmly.

After he shook Marco’s hand, he strutted out of the room.

Bobby waited until the door clicked shut before he spoke.

He dropped the bombshell without any hesitation. “I think she's attempting something.”

Marco exhaled sharply, dragging a hand across his face. “I knew this was going to happen,” he let out with a little frustration.

I started packing my phones and wallet, throwing them into my pocket.

It was both hurt and anger that were fighting for a place in my chest. I hated the two emotions.

Why was she doing this?

She was supposed to be a smart one.

“What do we know for a fact?” I asked Bobby, trying to draw up a valid theory.

Maybe they were wrong and she was just throwing out a trash can, or having a mundane walk with her son.

“She had a visitor who left abruptly. Our men are running a background check of the woman for more context.”

“Okay. Okay.” I tried to think quickly.

“What do you want to do?” Marco turned to me, asking.

His question shocked me.

I expected him to burst with anger and a thirsty need to put her in her place.

But instead, Marco was calm.

He was keeping things at bay and giving me one last chance to make it work.

Or he was going to surprise me like he did last night.

Oh Isa.

“I will go to her house, Bobby you'll come with me. We should have more information sooner than later, right?”

Bobby nodded. A call came in almost immediately and he tapped the receiver.

Bobby’s silence left Marco and I alone for a second.

“I’m coming with you,” Marco insisted. He was leaving no room for argument.

At least he was letting me take the lead on this. I had to trust he didn't have any tricks up his sleeve.

Bobby ended his call and filled us in immediately.

Even if I wanted to object Marco, there was no time.

“It was one of her son’s home school teacher. He’s never missed a day or school before,” Bobby added for context.

“So she’s trying to run away,” I said, my tone heavy with defeat.

It hurt more than it angered me. My chest tightened. My pulse slowed like my body was betraying me.

“Enzo?” Marco’s voice snapped me out of it.

I looked up, forcing myself to stay present. This wasn’t the time to crumble. If she got away, she’d be a loose end—a potential witness.

The thought bit at me. Was she running to report me? That would sting. But if she was running because she thought it was the smart thing to do, that would sting even more.

I could protect her. I’d already saved her from Marco’s wrath, something most people never survived.

Isabella made my blood run hot. I needed to see her, not just to stop her. I needed her.

I was crazily missing the woman I met barely twelve hours ago.

There was nothing more insane than that.

“We won’t take any drastic measures when we get there. Deal?” I asked, needing Marco’s assurance.

“Deal. Can we go now?” Marco was running out of patience.

I nodded, and Bobby was out the door in an instant. We followed close behind.

Somewhere in my twisted mind, I thought about the bandage on my arm that could use a change. Wouldn’t it be perfect if she lived with me?

She would be safe. She would not want to mess things up if that were the case.

The thought made the corners of my lips curl slightly as we stepped into the elevator.