Page 119 of Savage Enemy

Christ, I still hadn’t bothered to treat or wrap it. I made a mental note to take care of that while on the plane.

“Are we going against the Commission?” someone asked.

“We’re part of the Commission for now, but I intend to disassemble it from the inside out. Any objections?”

Silence.

“Good. Let’s get our asses on the plane, avenge the brothers they took from us, and retrieve our queen.”

The men lifted their guns in a triumphant yell, then headed for the waiting plane.

I stayed behind and had Tony put down Enzo’s window enough that he could see my eyes and hear me.

The boy glared at me as he swiped at the tears on his face.

“You can’t make me stay here. I’m not a child.”

“Yes, you are a child, Enzo, mine, and I can. That should be enough, but I’m going to go against my better judgment and treat you like a man right now.”

I ducked down to his eye level.

“Think you can handle it?” I added.

Enzo nodded and sat back, listening.

“You’re not going with me on this mission, not because you’re too young, or it’s too dangerous, though you are too young, and it is far too dangerous. You’re not trained yet, son. You don’t have the skills that would make you an asset on this kind of mission, not yet.

“Untrained men are a liability. It could make the mission go sideways. People, including your mother, could get hurt.”

He blinked at me, his lower lip trembling.

“So when I have the right skills, will you let me come with you on missions?”

“No,” I said honestly. “You’re my heir. Which means you and I can’t risk our lives at the same time. You’re all that’s left of this family, Enzo. You’re my son. You’re a Vignali.

“So if I die tonight, I need you to take control of everything. Tony will teach you. He’ll show you how to grow into the shoes you were born to wear. Do you understand me?”

“She’s mymama,” he insisted. “I should go with you.”

“I need you here in case I don’t come home. If I don’t come back, you’re to reach out to your uncle, Marco Moscatelli. If Marco is dead, then Santo. Never Aris.” I flicked my gaze to Tony in the front seat, who also had his window open to listen. “Understand?”

They both nodded.

“Which one is Marco, and which one is Santo?” Enzo asked.

“Marco is the oldest. Santo is the one covered in tattoos.”

He’d seen them when they invaded our home and took his mother. He probably remembered all too well.

“Aris is the one that took her?” he asked.

“That’s correct. Her twin. He’s a very bad man, Enzo.”

“So if you don’t come back, I contact Marco… but why?”

“Because he’ll know where to find your mother, and you’ll use his help to get her back. If I fail, I need you here for her sake, to try again. Okay?”

Enzo’s brows furrowed as he considered my offer, and I imagined I often wore the same expression.

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