Page 5 of Loving the Enemy
“Holy fuck, you got him off the hook. If anyone could do it, I knew it would be you.”
“Well, they had nothing on him. He was accused of murdering his half brother, but they had no body and no weapon. In all honestly, I am not sure how they were even able to arrest him.”
“Fuck, I didn’t even know he had a brother.”
“Apparently he didn’t either until a few months ago,” Vince replies.
“Did he do it?” I ask.
“Now, Michael, you know I can’t divulge details on a case.”
“Fuck, Vince, it’s me. I’m the fucker who hired you.”
He shrugs, knowing he really doesn’t have a choice. “Yeah, he did it.” He pauses briefly. “But he had good reason. If some guy had done what this asshole did to his old lady to any woman in my life, I would have done the same thing. You would’ve too.”
“What did the guy do?” I ask.
“He fucking kidnapped Emma, Ice’s old lady, and tied her to a bed, naked. Then he planned to rape her multiple times and return her to Ice. The guy was so wrapped up in jealously—over Ice having everything Grayson thought should have been his —he was blinded by jealousy. He made Ice come to him, and his psycho brother chained him to a pipe in his basement, Emma was bound upstairs. Ice was smart though, got free and gruesomely murdered the man. I mean, he carved shit in his skin from what he told me. The MC had the body burned at the local mortuary.”
I look at Vince curiously.
“They got a guy on the payroll.”
I nod.
“Then they burned the house to the ground, faulty wiring I guess.”
“That’s Ice. He’s loyal to the core, but you fuck with him, and he will destroy you.”
He smirks. “Well, remind me never to get on his bad side.”
I laugh. “It’s one of the reasons I stay on his good side. I mean, the Vitalis are powerful. You know that. But Ice, he’s like a man possessed. He’d make a great enforcer. I’ve asked him several times to join the family, but he always declines. I guess he’s happy being a biker and his own man. Can’t say I blame him.”
“I invited the MC to my omertà in two weeks. I was hoping Ice would be released by then, and now thanks to you, he will be. It can be a welcome-home party for him as well. You never know when we’ll need them again,” I reply.
“Is that wise?” Vince asks.
“Yes, why wouldn’t it be?” I ask. The MC has helped us out on more than one occasion. They are good allies to have. “I can’t think of a better opportunity than to have them here as well as I officially move to take over the family. My father didn’t like using them, but I’m not gonna burn that bridge.”
“They are definitely good allies to have.”
“Of course they are.” I pause and know he is itching to talk about Zaira. Fuck. “So, what do you need to talk to me about that concerns my soon-to-be ex-wife?” I might as well get it over with. He’s not gonna go away until he talks to me about her.
“She wants to take an extended vacation—alone,” Vince says. “She says she needs to get away from everything. She doesn’t even want me or Mia to go with her.”
“Oh, hell no. She is not going anywhere alone.”
“Well, I told her that. She didn’t buy it. She requested Darius to go with her for protection.”
“Fuck no! One bodyguard is not going to be able to protect her. Where in the hell does she want to go anyway?”
“Florence. She wants to stay at our villa there. She promised she would remain on the grounds and not wander around.”
I down the rest of my bourbon. Fuck. My first reaction of course is to say no, but maybe the time away will help her. Maybe if she is able to clear her head about everything, she may see things in a different light. Maybe… aw fuck, who am I trying to kid. She’s gone, a closed chapter in my life.Move on, Michael.
Before I can say any more, Vince says, “Michael, if you want my opinion, I think you should let her go.”
“Well, I didn’t ask for your opinion, now did I?” I snap.
