Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Elnora took her time getting dressed, savouring the quiet before the storm she stepped out. She stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down the deep blue jeggings that hugged her curves, tucked into knee-high brown boots that added a touch of fierce elegance. Her white knit cardigan was soft against her honeyed skin. She smiled at her reflection, the look of a woman ready for anything.

As she ran a brush through her ombre brown hair, the wild curls she kept tamed under a silk press threatened to break free, a reminder of her Afro-Latina heritage that she wore with pride.

She had no intention of leaving with Giorgio until she knew Mason was safe. He would never ask for her help—he was too proud, too controlled—but he was getting it one way or another. The thought of finishing her project for him was secondary now; her focus had shifted. Joe was the target, and she planned to dig up everything he thought he’d buried, to expose him in ways he couldn’t anticipate. She needed her equipment, a secure network, and the privacy to dive into her program’s sandbox without interference.

As she moved quietly from room to room, searching for her gear, she wondered what Mason was up to at the moment. When she reached one of the doors down the hall and found it wouldn’t open, she hesitated. The main house was supposed to be free of his associates, Mason had promised she’d be safe. Who else could be here? The door creaked open, revealing Enrico on the other side, his brow furrowed in surprise.

“Ric? What are you doing up here?” she asked.

His eyes swept over her, lingering a moment too long on the curve of her hips before settling back on her face. He was dressed in burgundy slacks and a grey shirt that clung to his toned torso, but it was his gaze—dark and somewhat annoyed—that held her attention.

Without a word, Enrico stepped past her, heading toward the stairs. Elnora followed, her frustration mounting.

“Are you giving me the silent treatment now?” she pressed as they descended into the living room.

Giorgio was there, flanked by several Castelli soldiers, their presence a reminder of the danger of Mason’s world she constantly forgot in his presence. The sight of all those guns set her on edge, and for a brief moment, Anderson’s bloody, lifeless body flashed through her mind, sending a shiver down her spine.

“Boss,” the soldiers chorused to Enrico, their voices echoing in the spacious room.

“~Signora~.” Giorgio greeted her with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “We’re ready to go.”

Elnora took in their formal black and grey suits. Mason strict dress code with his organization struck her as vanity and tradition. Not that she minded—it suited them, made them look sharp, professional, dangerous.

“She should be gone by now, Giorgio,” Enrico said.

Elnora caught the tight clench of his jaw as he spoke, a barely concealed irritation. Giorgio remained silent, his loyalty to Mason evident in the way he stood making her wonder if there was something going on with the Castelli Family leadership.

“I’m not going anywhere, Ric,” she told him. “No offence, Giorgio, but I’m staying right here.”

Giorgio’s chuckle was soft, but there was no humour in it. “No. That’s not how things work, ~signora~. If the boss says to get you out, we get you out. There is no other option.”

Her eyes locked onto his, a silent battle of will brewing between them. She could see the grit in his eyes, the stubbornness that said he wouldn’t back down. But Elnora was just as stubborn, and she wasn’t about to let anyone dictate her choices—especially not now.

“Then I guess we’re at an impasse,” she said coolly, crossing her arms over her chest. “Besides, I don’t think it’s in anyone’s best interest to step outside right now.”

Giorgio’s eyes narrowed. “Our decoys are in place, signora. Thank you, but this is what we do for a living.”

She couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. She didn’t intend to question Giorgio’s competence, but the idea of leaving the compound—and Mason—didn’t sit well with her. Even if she couldn’t directly help him, she was not abandoning him to face whatever storm was brewing out there.

“This isn’t about what you want,” Enrico cut in, his glare sharp as a blade. “Get her out of here, now!”

He turned to head up the stairs, but her voice stopped him cold.

“I’m not going anywhere, Ric,” Elnora said.

He froze mid-step, the tension in his back rippling like a current. She knew she was pushing him, knew that whatever was gnawing at him would soon spill over. But she didn’t care. Mafia boss or not, he’d have to drag her out of here himself. She wondered, fleetingly, why they called both him and Mason “boss.” It didn’t make sense—only one of them could be the true head of the Castelli family, the other just an underboss.

Enrico’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Giorgio, take the boys for a walk.”

With a curt nod, Giorgio waved the men out, leaving the two of them alone in the silent room. He stroked her hair with a placid smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Why?” His voice was deceptively calm as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Why don’t you want to leave? Don’t tell me you feel some bond with Leo just because you let him fuck you all night.”

Her jaw tightened with irritation. “Is that what this is about? Me and your brother?”

Enrico’s eyes darkened, barely restraining his anger. His hands remained in his pockets, but the tension in his muscles told her everything she needed to know—he was ready to snap. “I asked you a question,” he hissed.

“No.” She walked away from him. “You have no right to ask me anything! Who I choose to sleep with is none of your business. Just go back to being dead and out of my life.”

Without giving him another glance, she marched up the stairs, her mind already focused on more important matters—like finding her equipment. Discussing her night with Mason was the last thing on her agenda, though she couldn’t suppress the small smile that tugged at her lips. The memory of Mason’s touch lingered, warming her even as she tried to stay focused.

A few doors past Enrico’s room, she finally found what she was looking for: a room with all her equipment neatly boxed up, with a desk and chair facing the window. Relief washed over her as she approached the setup, ready to get to work.

But then Enrico’s voice cut through her thoughts, pulling her back into his drama. “I apologize,” he said, his tone uncharacteristically soft. “My contention isn’t with you. Leo is the one who crossed the line by touching what’s mine.”

Elnora spun around, her eyes blazing with anger. “Don’t delude yourself,” she snapped. “I am not yours. If you cared anything about me, you wouldn’t have disappeared and faked your death.”

A smirk twisted his lips as he stepped closer, his gaze raking over her with possession and regret. “My fault, then,” he murmured. “I should have ruined you well enough for other men. I won’t hold back this time.”

The audacity, the arrogance—it was everything she remembered and despised about him. “Maybe you should focus on cleaning up the mess you’ve created by coming back,” she retorted. “Mason is putting his neck on the line for you. What are you going to do when things turn ugly?”

He shrugged with infuriating nonchalance. “Well, there isn’t much I can do. There was an agreement, which I broke when I came back here for you. The dons of the other four families are here for their pound of flesh.”

“This isn’t my fault, Ric. If you knew coming here would cause this much trouble, why did you do it? All you’ve accomplished is dragging everyone down with you. I guess this just proves you haven’t changed at all.”

Elnora turned away from him, her mind racing as she leaned against the desk. The reality of the situation hit her like a tidal wave—Mason was in far deeper trouble than she’d realized. If all the dons were here, this wasn’t just a dangerous meeting; it was a potential death trap. No wonder Mason wanted her out of the compound. The dons never met outside the underground for a reason—it was dangerous.

“You have plenty of time to hate me from a safe distance,” Enrico pressed. “It’s not safe here, and the longer you stay, the harder it’ll be to get you out.”

She turned to him, eyes narrowing. “What did you do, Ric? What did you do to offend the dons of the other families? Does this have anything to do with why you had to disappear?”

For a moment, Enrico held her gaze, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes, before he shook his head. “It’s better that you don’t know. I’m not dragging you any deeper into this.”

“Aren’t I already in it?” Elnora shot back, her voice rising. “Joe tried to snatch me to get to you. Keeping me out of the loop isn’t protecting me. And speaking of Joe, what the hell does he want with you?”

Enrico’s expression darkened as he hung his hand on his waist, frustration rolling off him in waves. “It’s complicated, and I don’t have time to explain—”

“I think it has everything to do with that crime you’re trying to avoid being prosecuted for,” she cut him off. “You really need to start talking, Ric.”

“Would you just stop asking questions and join Giorgio outside?” Enrico snapped, his silver eyes flashing with anger. “It’s not safe here. The collective is meeting in an unsanctioned, unprotected location, and the bureau—or worse—could be headed here right now.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Elnora replied coldly. “If you have any interest in being useful for once, help me set up here so I can monitor what’s going on.” And control it too, she thought.

Enrico took a deep breath, his patience visibly fraying. “You’re working my last nerve, El.”

“Do you even have any nerve left? If you did, you’d be helping Mason instead of hiding up there. Or is your real agenda to get him killed so you can take control?”

Enrico’s expression shifted dangerously as he took a step toward her, and she felt an instinctual urge to retreat. But she held her ground until her back pressed against the desk. When he reached her, his eyes burned with barely restrained fury.

“You think because you slept with him, you know everything about us?” His voice was eerily calm, and it didn’t match the rage in his eyes. “Leo is exactly where he should be. It’s what he was raised to do—take a bullet for me. It’s his duty to make sure nothing happens to me, even if it means killing the other dons and igniting a war. Your only job, Elnora, is to do as you’re told.”

Her throat tightened and she swallowed. “My job is to build this system for Mason and protect him. And I’ll do that. Your job is to have my back, and you’ve done a piss-poor job of it. But you don’t see me complaining.”

Enrico’s anger softened into something almost tender as he caressed her cheek, a smile playing on his lips. “Why are you always so hard-headed?”

“Why won’t you answer any of my questions?” she shot back.

He pressed his forehead against hers, his hands cupping her face with a gentleness that irritated her. It was the kind of softness he used to reel her back in, to make her forget how much of a mess he’d made of everything. She resented it, and yet her body responded, betraying her.

“You’re asking the tough questions, but once this is over, I’ll answer all of them. But first, I need you out of here. That’s not up for discussion.” His voice was almost pleading, but it was the way his eyes locked onto hers that made her chest tighten.

Elnora tried to pull away, but his grip on her waist tightened, refusing to let her go. His gaze held that maddening charm that always managed to weaken her, even when she knew better. She looked away, trying not to let him see the effect he still had on her.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her cheek. The tenderness of it sent a shiver down her spine, dredging up memories she’d tried to bury. Memories of when things were simpler, before everything fell apart.

“Enrico.” Her voice came out rough, betraying the emotions she was trying to suppress. He smiled, a smug curve of his lips, as if he knew exactly what he was doing to her.

“~Il mio amore—~”

“Don’t call me that.” Elnora broke free from his hold, and he licked his lips, his eyes darkening as they roamed over her. “Let’s not do this, Enrico. Instead of trying to seduce me, go clean up your mess.”

Before he could respond, Giorgio’s voice echoed down the hall, sharp and urgent. Elnora’s heart skipped a beat as Enrico turned towards the door, his demeanour shifting in an instant. Something was happening.

He walked out, shutting the door behind him, only to poke his head back in a second later. “Stay here,” he ordered, and then he was gone again, the door clicking shut with finality.

Elnora let out a long, frustrated breath. She didn’t have time for his games or his half-baked apologies. She needed to focus, to get her head back in the game. The boxes sat in the corner and she moved to them, her hands working methodically as she unpacked and set up her station. It was the only way to keep her mind busy, to drown out the chaos threatening to pull her under.

But then she heard it—a soft, familiar rattling sound. Elnora paused, setting the router on the desk before crossing to the window. She pushed it open, her eyes scanning the compound. The sight of drones hovering overhead made her blood run cold.

“They have eyes inside,” she muttered, a flare of anger igniting in her chest. Whoever ~they~ were, they were watching.

She hurried to her workstation, her fingers moving swiftly as she plugged in the necessary cables. She couldn’t afford to waste another second especially not knowing what was happening down there.

“Let’s find out who these people are,” she murmured, powering up her station. The familiar hum of the machine coming to life brought a grin to her face.

She was ready.