Chapter 7: stay with me for the show

Ray's POV

The bullets stopped raining after the third strike.

He waited a little bit longer before pushing himself up from beside the bed.

Bending around clear shot areas till he reached his torn-down window.

Peeking from the side, his eyes trailed a retreating sniper on a rooftop 3 blocks away from his house.

The doorbell rang, jilting him back into reality.

And without bothering to put on something else, his legs moved in long strides down the stairs.

“I thought you'd be dead by now” Enzo smirked, mockery ringing in his voice as he followed behind Ray.

“Funny,” Ray responded, almost bored.

They both made their way to touch, sinking in casually.

A beat of awkward silence followed.

“Straight to business” Enzo spoke first, sitting up, “you have to leave this house and stay hidden for about 3 months at least.”

Ray shifted his gaze, “Stay hidden and let my business die? No” he protested, his voice firm.

Enzo let his back fall to the couch, scoffing “And if you die the business dies too” he paused.

“Think you fool,” Enzo cursed out.

Ray shot him a death stare. Enzo shrugged his shoulders, spreading his hands flat forward as a playful smirk played on his face.

He alone could speak to Ray like this and he'd stop at nothing to make it clear to Ray

Another beat of silence followed, this time longer.

“Let's say for a second I agree, how do you intend on protecting me?” Ray asked, popping out a long big brown stick of cigarette from the custom-made box in the cup holder between his couch and Enzo's.

“That's not what you should be worried about,” Enzo replied, handing Ray a blue lighter.

“I already asked my secretary to draft a contract that Jake won't walk away from and my lawyers are ready to step in for your boys” he took in a full drag before continuing, “Is there anything else I haven't attended to” he crushed the burnt part of the cigarette on the ashtray.

The small of his lips curled as he watched Enzo's Adam's Apple throb from want.

He was a Mafia lord after all, and smoking what he did half the time in his dungeon, plus the rich natural musky scent that clung in the air didn't exactly make the cigarette resistable.

“Hmmm,” Enzo swallowed almost greedily, trying to direct his darting gaze from Ray's fingers curled around the brown burning cigarette to Ray's face.

“I have prepared a place for you but I won't deploy my boys till you set things right with Jake” Enzo adjusted uncomfortably on the couch avoiding Ray's dark eyes.

Ray took a lung full of drag, letting the smoke settle in his nerves before responding.

“ok” Ray stood and strode towards the stairs, without waiting for a response.

Enzo glanced at the ashtray, with steam still oozing off the burnt ashes.

The cigarette lay there glistening with imaginary hallows above it.

He sprang to his feet, reaching for the half-burnt cigarette.

He drew in a lung full of the smoke and dropped into the couch adjusting as the smoke circulated through his body.

“Shall we” Ray stood above Enzo, a knowing smile tugging around the corner of his lips.

He nodded, “No work shit allowed, no phones too” the words muffled with the cigarette on his lips.

Ray shook his head.

Enzo reached for the laptop bag in Ray's hands and yanked it off. “I will hold on to this for now”

Ray stared from the laptop to Enzo, letting his gaze burn into Enzo's skin.

Hesitated a bit before shifting his course towards the door.

Two steps away from the door and the doorbell rang.

Ray and Enzo halted at the spot.

Enzo stepped in front of Ray, corking the short silencer-shielded revolver he just pulled from his pants.

Motioning to Ray to stay behind as he tipped towards the door, peeping into the glass hole on it.

His brow knotted.

“Are you expecting someone?” He turned to Ray.

Ray shook his head, George would have called if it were him, he thought.

“Good day sir are you home” the intern on the other side of the door called out, his fingers shaking around his laptop bag.

Enzo pulled his gun back to his pocket and pushed the door open.

Leaving the shaky intern face-to-face with Ray.

“What the fuck?” Ray cursed.

The intern’s jaw dropped, almost drooling as he took in the man who stood before him.

His simple white T-shirt accentuated his perfectly carved muscles.

His hair lay rough on his face and his grey sweat pants revealed his clutch slightly.

Enzo chuckled, bringing him back to reality.

Ray stared, his expression cold as ice.

“I.. thought..to drop…some files” he stuttered through his words when they actually finally formed.

“And you decided to bring it to my house” Ray roared, “if Frank is responsible for giving you my address, he's fired”

“No no” the intern protested, “he has nothing to do with this” his face fell to the ground avoiding Ray's gaze.

Enzo chuckled again, louder this time, “What's your name, young lad” he asked.

“H…Henry” he stuttered, “my name is Jake”

Enzo and Ray exchange glances.

“Interesting” Enzo nodded.

“Henry, you are coming with us,” Enzo added, making his way to the car.

“No,” Ray retorted.

“Unless you want him to be your loose end, he's coming” he turned, eyes bulging as he spoke without missing a beat

“We'll find a use for him later” he added, almost casually heading for the door.

“I don't want to join you guys, I just want to drop these files” his voice shook as he protested, motioning the suitcase in his hand.

“You shouldn't have come then” Enzo answered, pushing Jake out the door.

Ray hesitated before following behind them, his eyes smoky with rage.

“I will drive” Ray blurted out as they all stopped at the red BMW from earlier.

Enzo shrugged, “I will point out the directions for you”

Taking his position in the passenger seat of the car as though he owned it.

“We don't have all day,” Enzo nudged.

Motioning his gun to the intern standing beside the car.

After ignoring all of Enzo's directions, Ray brought the car to a halt across the relieving glistening of the yellow rays from a street light.

“Where are we?” Henry muttered under his breath.

Enzo shrugged his shoulders, “I look forward to finding out myself”.

Ray beelined straight to the apartment behind the street light, Enzo followed, patting behind the mailbox in front.

In three long strides, he covered the distance to the door and suddenly froze.

He could hear his stomach twist, and blood rushed through his veins hot and fast.

“Are we knocking yet?” Enzo leaned in whispering into Ray’s ear.

Ray pressed the doorbell and a voice called back, “Give me a minute”

Enzo’s eyes narrowed, and he twisted his head in shock, “You have to be kidding me”

The door flung open leaving Enzo no time to vent on Ray.