Complete Rollercoaster

I’ve been staying at Enzo’s place for three days, and my mind has been on a complete rollercoaster. Enzo has been nowhere to be found this whole time.

The seven-day timer Luca gave my father was ticking away, and I couldn't do a single thing about it. And now... I just found out Marcus is dead.

I feel like shit. I keep asking myself: Are Enzo and Luca responsible? But the news source said he died from a drug overdose at a party.

I need to get the hell out of this house and go talk to Luca, the asshole hasn’t been picking up my calls since that night he scared the hell out of me.

And lastly, I need to get the fuck out of Enzo’s life. Then, an idea occurred to me. Even though Luca doesn’t give me money directly, he buys me high-end designer stuff. I could sell them and raise enough cash for my own apartment. It felt like a genius plan.

I packed all the items I intended to sell, but as I was about to walk out, the front door to Enzo’s living room sprang open. I tensed up, then relaxed when I saw it was him.

“What the fuck, Enzo? Where have you been?” I asked angrily.

“Handling business,” he replied quietly.

“And you didn’t think it was important to tell me first?! What if Luca had found me here?” I shouted.

“Luca is not even thinking about you,” he murmured. “And besides, everything you need is right here.”

Oh, how I wanted to punch his stupid, perfect face.

“You said you were handling business?” I asked.

He didn’t reply. Instead, his eyes trailed down to the bag in my hand.

“Where were you going?” he asked, completely ignoring my question.

“Does that 'business' have anything to do with... Marcus Rodriguez?” I asked, my voice breaking. Deep down, a part of me already knew the answer.

“Yes,” he replied sternly. My eyes widened in shock. “Now answer my question,” he demanded.

“D… Did you kill h… him?” I squeaked out.

“Yes,” he answered. Like it was nothing.

My hands shook so violently that the bag slipped from my grip and hit the floor.

“Y… You killed your own teammate?” I asked in utter disbelief. He just stood there, staring at me without a single trace of remorse.

It’s all my fault. I got the poor guy killed. I shouldn’t have kissed him, and I certainly shouldn’t have gone to that party.

“Why?” I cried out. Even though I knew why, I desperately needed an excuse to lessen this soul-crushing guilt. I needed him to say it wasn’t because of the kiss.

“He touched what belonged to a Verri. He paid with his life,” he gritted out.

I shook my head in total denial. “No! T… That’s wrong!” I yelled. “He didn’t force me! You freaking lunatic!”

He took a step toward me, and I backed away instantly. “No! No!” I sobbed. “Don’t come near me!”

“Sofia, stop being dramatic. You know who we are, stop acting shocked,” he said coldly.

He doesn’t get it, does he?

“Do you know why I couldn't just let Luca kill my dad?! Do you know why I signed that damn contract in the first place?!” My voice broke into heavy tears. “It was because I couldn’t live with the guilt of my father dying knowing I had the power to save him!”

Enzo stared at me for a long moment with an unreadable expression.

“You think this is your fault?”

I laughed bitterly, wiping my face. “Isn’t it?!”

“No.” He answered. “You kissed Marcus,” he continued calmly. “You didn't ask him to cross a line he knew he shouldn't.”

“But you killed him!”

“I handled a problem.”

“A problem?!” I repeated, my voice screeching. “He was your teammate, Enzo!” 

I watched as he went completely still. That hit a nerve. He clenched his jaw, and his eyes shifted away from mine for the briefest second. It was barely noticeable, but I saw it.

Remorse.

“He knew exactly whose line he was crossing,” he muttered.

I stared at him in horror. “He doesn’t even know you’re in the mafia! He thought you were just a normal guy!” 

Enzo stared right back at me.

“At least now he knows,” he said softly, before adding, “in hell.”

I shook my head in disgust, I turned around, and ran straight toward my room.

I slammed the door behind me and pressed my back against it, my entire body was trembling.

I can’t believe I just got a man killed. The terrifying reality of the world I'd stepped into was finally crashing down on me.

“Sofia,” I heard Enzo call from the hallway.

I didn't answer. I kept my back pressed hard against the door, struggling to steady my breathing.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“I didn't have a choice.”

I squeezed my eyes shut tight. “You always have a choice.”

“No,” he said quietly. “Not in my world.”

I turned around to face the door. “What does that even mean?”

He didn't answer immediately.

“You think I wanted to do this?”

“You stood there and told me he was dead like you were talking about the damn weather!”

“That doesn't mean I didn't feel anything.” He replied.  

“You felt something?” I asked. 

There was silence  before he spoke again.

“He was my teammate,” “I knew him long before you did.”

Fresh tears pooled in my eyes. “Then why?”

There was a long, painful silence on the other side of the door before he finally replied.

“Because when Luca wants someone gone, I’m the one he sends. It doesn’t matter who it is.”

That was officially the scariest thing I had ever heard him say. I heard him let out a weary sigh.

“Even if that person meant something to you?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“Open the door, Sofia,” he commanded, every drop of softness instantly vanishing from his tone.

“You’re just his puppet,” I spat out.

I heard him laugh, but there was zero humor in it.

“I’m everything but a puppet, Sofia.” He said coldly.

My heart pounded against my ribs like a trapped bird.

“Open the door.”

I shook my head, even though he couldn't see me. “No.”

“Then listen very carefully,” he said, his “I’ll pay your father’s debt.”

WHAT?!!!!