Chapter 14 : Unspoken Bonds
The silence that followed was warm, layered with unspoken understanding. Hazel glanced over at Valentina and found herself oddly comforted. Enzo's sister was sharp and poised, but there was also kindness in her words—something genuine.
Valentina stood and smoothed out her slacks, her eyes narrowing against the sun. "I'll leave you to your book," she said, nodding toward the chair Hazel had just vacated. "But Hazel?"
Hazel looked up.
"Be careful who you trust in this house. Not all of Enzo's allies are yours."
Hazel blinked. "You think I'm in danger?"
Valentina's expression softened, but she didn't answer directly. Instead, she walked back into the mansion, heels clicking softly against the stone. The words echoed in Hazel's mind long after she was gone.
Not all of Enzo's allies are yours.
Hazel sat slowly, her fingers gripping the edge of her book without turning the page. She wasn't naïve. She'd always known Enzo's world was dark, violent, and shrouded in power plays. But the warning felt personal—specific.
And that scared her.
As the afternoon stretched into golden evening, Hazel finally retreated inside. She returned to her room, set down the book she hadn't really been reading, and opened the tall wardrobe. Dozens of dresses and clothes—none of which she had brought—lined the polished racks. Enzo's generosity had been overwhelming, almost too much. Everything tailored to her size. Everything perfect.
Except the world outside.
She changed into a soft beige dress and tied her hair up into a loose bun. Just as she was adjusting the hem, a knock came at her door.
Enzo.
Hazel opened the door to find him standing there in a dark blue dress shirt, sleeves rolled, his collar open. He looked tired, but a small smile tugged at his lips.
"Mind if I come in?" he asked.
Hazel stepped aside and nodded.
He entered, glancing briefly at the soft furnishings, the books, the elegant touches she'd subtly rearranged to make the room her own. "I see you've made yourself comfortable."
"As much as I can in a house that's not mine," she replied softly.
He paused at that, then turned to face her. "I just came from talking to Valentina."
Hazel crossed her arms. "She's nice. Smart."
"She is," Enzo agreed. "She wanted to meet you before going back to Sicily. Said she had to 'see the girl who got through my walls.'"
Hazel arched an eyebrow. "And what did she think?"
"She didn't say. But she left with a smile," he replied, stepping closer. "That's rare for her."
Hazel hesitated, then added, "She warned me."
Enzo's expression darkened. "About what?"
"She told me not to trust everyone here."
He nodded slowly. "She's not wrong."
Hazel sat on the edge of her bed. "Are we even safe in this house, Enzo? Or are we just waiting for the next threat to find us?"
Enzo knelt before her, his eyes fixed on hers. "No place is truly safe—not in my world. But this house? It's protected. I've doubled the guards since our return. I've shut down three assassination attempts since we landed. And no one—no one—gets through that gate without me knowing."
Hazel's breath caught. "Three?"
He didn't answer. He didn't need to.
She reached out and took his hand. "How long can we live like this?"
Enzo's jaw tightened. "Not forever."
Silence filled the room, thick and heavy.
"I want to get out," Hazel whispered. "Eventually. Not just for me. For our baby."
Enzo blinked slowly. His hand tightened over hers. "Then we'll find a way. When the time is right, we disappear."
She searched his eyes, needing to believe him. "You'd give this up? The power? The money? Everything?"
"For you?" he said softly. "Yes. For us."
Hazel leaned forward, her forehead resting against his. For a moment, everything stilled—the chaos, the danger, the pressure—and she let herself believe in this fragile, beautiful possibility. A life beyond the shadows. A future that didn't involve blood on marble floors.
Then her phone vibrated.
She pulled back slightly and glanced at the screen. A single message. No name attached.
I know where you are. You're not safe. He's lying.
Hazel's breath caught in her throat.
"What is it?" Enzo asked, noticing her sudden stillness.
She quickly locked the screen, shoving the phone into the pocket of her dress. "Nothing. Spam."
Enzo stared at her for a moment, reading her far too well. "Hazel."
She forced a smile. "Really. It's nothing."
But as he stood and left the room a few minutes later, Hazel's heart pounded harder than it had since she first stepped foot into his world.
Because no matter how much she wanted to trust him…
Someone else out there knew exactly where she was.
And they were coming.