Balance (The Chicago Defiance MC Book 6)

by K E Osborn

  My heart leaps into my throat as Enzo’s eyes lock on mine.

  For the first time, I see fear sweep over his face.

  “Enzo!” I call out.

  The Ikigai pulls something from his pocket and throws it. Shards of light sparkle off into the air as a high-pitched hum whistle with the force of the throw. It’s merely a second, only a flash, before the object slices straight into the asshole’s throat. He coughs, clinging onto his neck, his hands cutting on the silver ninja star as he falls on top of Enzo.

  Chains and I waste no time rushing over to Enzo as the Ikigai runs out of the room to deal with the rest of the mayhem. I shove the dead body off Enzo, then move in behind him, lifting his head onto my lap as Chains puts pressure on his wound.

  Enzo’s eyes slowly glance up at us, and I see it—his face turns pale, his body shakes.

  I glance at Chains.

  We both know what’s happening.

  “You’re okay, Enzo,” I lie.

  He’s not okay.

  Without warning, Franky and Torque rush in with the Ikigai member who was in here previously. Torque stops dead like he’s in shock at what he’s seeing while Franky rushes to the floor grabbing Enzo’s hand.

  “Capo di tuttu capi, hold on. The Ikigai came at the right time, whoever the intruders are, they have retreated. We got through this, boss,” Franky informs Enzo as he clings tightly to his boss’s hand.

  Enzo coughs, a line of blood trailing from his mouth. “Franky, you’re my underboss, you’re next in line for capo di tuttu capi… don’t fuck it up.”

  Franky brings Enzo’s hand up, kissing his knuckles. “I won’t let you down.”

  Enzo glances at Torque. “Brother,” he calls out.

  Torque rushes forward, the look on his face says it all. He’s fucking devastated. He’s not only losing an ally, someone he can rely on, but also a true friend.

  “Mending fences with you was the best—” Enzo suddenly coughs, his body wracking with the heaving. Blood pools from his mouth.

  He settles again as Torque rests his hand on Enzo’s arm. “Best decision. Life would’ve been a hell of a lot harder if you weren’t on our side, Enzo. I’m glad we’ve had each other’s backs.”

  Enzo sniffs, the pain evident on his face. “Torque, can you do one last thing for me?”

  “Anything, Enzo. Anything.”

  Enzo grimaces, shifting his body. “Check on my wife and principessa. I need to know they’re safe. To know they’re all protected. Always… tell them… tell them, ti amerò per sempre.”

  Franky’s lip curls up. I know that must have been hard for him not to have been given that job, but we protected his daughter Zia once before.

  Torque nods, glancing up to the ceiling like he’s having trouble holding it together. He exhales then looks back at Enzo. “Of course, Enzo. Your family, my family, remember?”

  Enzo smiles, then coughs again. The smell of gas permeates the air as I glance at Chains and gesture to the burner. He walks over and switches it off, but it’s too late the room’s filled with it, it’s permeated into everything and giving me a headache. “Right, that’s your cue. I’m done for boys. He reaches into his pocket pulling out a cigar. My eyes widen. “Don’t light that En—”

  “I’m on death’s door, Ace. There’s no way out of this for me, kid. There can be no evidence left here so, I’m going to enjoy my last moment with a puff of a cigar. If I were you…” he coughs, “… I suggest you get the fuck out of here. I’ll give you sixty seconds then I’m lighting this place up.”

  We all stare at him as he pulls a lighter out of his pants pocket. “You have fifty-five seconds, you better hurry the fuck up or you’re all going with me.”

  I gently ease his head down to the floor as I stand up, keeping my eyes on him. “It’s been a pleasure, Enzo,” I tell him.

  “You too, Ace. You, too. Take care of Cindi for me. She’s special that girl.”

  “Will do,” I tell him while taking in a deep breath, then I turn walking out of the kitchen. My chest hurts, I have to admit even my eyes are foggy as my heavy feet walk fucking fast out of the room into the main dining area. Torque and Franky stay behind to say their final farewells as Chains and I rush out to gather everyone up.

  Chains sends a loud whistle through the room as brothers, Andrettis, and Ikigai stand around licking their wounds. They all turn to face us as my breaths come short and sharp. “Everyone out. We have about thirty seconds till this place is gonna blow.”

  Trax rolls his eyes at me like I’m joking, but Chains throws his hands in the air. “He’s not fucking about. Get the fuck out now, or wait to be blown the fuck up. C’mon, let’s go. Go. Go,” he calls out.

  Everyone jumps up and starts running for the opening that was the front door.

  We all rush out into the parking lot to the faint sound of sirens in the distance. I guess with the racket, the police were bound to be called. Let’s hope Torque and Franky get the fuck out before Enzo takes his secrets with him, and we can all get the fuck out of here before the cops show up.

  We stand far enough away, the kitchen’s at the rear, so I’m hoping the blast zone won’t be too catastrophic. But the most important thing right now is Torque and, of course, Franky, who are nowhere to be seen. I tap my foot impatiently waiting for my president to make his way out, hoping the gas he’s inhaled hasn’t made him pass out.

  “I should go back in,” I mention to Chains.

  He grabs my arm holding me back. “Just wait. He’ll be here.”

  Anxiety rushes through me, time’s almost up. My adrenaline spikes through the roof as I break free from Chains and start rushing toward the building to get to Torque when a loud boom bursts through my eardrums. I look up just in time to see Torque and Franky rushing out as the explosion takes over. The shockwave smacks into their backs forcing them to the ground as the heatwave washes over me pushing me to the ground and covering my face.

  A sudden rush of emotion flows over me as I think of Enzo.

  He’s gone.

  He’s really gone.

  But I don’t have time to think about him right now. I need to get Torque, and we have to go. I run forward yanking Torque up by his cut. He’s disorientated, but he shakes it off as I yell at him, “Pres, we gotta go. The heat’s on the way.”

  The roar of Harleys and vehicles starting up rings through the air as I drag him over to his ride helping him on. I just hope like hell he can ride right now. Some of the Andrettis help Franky, and I hope they’re as loyal to him as they were to Enzo. It’s the dawn of a new era with the Andretti Mafia. How that will work with Defiance is anyone’s guess. Time will tell. But right now, we have to get to Enzo’s home.

  I yank on my helmet, then turn over my engine as I watch bikes go off in all directions. Some are going to the Andretti gyms to check on them, the Ikigai are heading there too, while Torque, Franky, some of the Andretti soldiers, and I go to Enzo’s house. We need to make sure Enzo’s wife and Zia are okay. Once that’s done, we will have to tell them the hard news.

  I hammer down taking off after Torque, he seems to have settled now he’s on his ride as we take off like a shower of shit toward Enzo’s home. Franky’s Alpha Romeo is hot on our tails as we race through the traffic not even stopping for red lights.

  As we make our way past one of the Andretti gyms, I glance to see an attack in full swing. Seems this shit isn’t over. It makes me wonder what the hell we’re going to find at the Andretti home. As if to sense exactly what I’m seeing, everyone accelerates faster to get to Enzo’s girls.

  We couldn’t protect Enzo, but we need to protect his blood, his famiglia.

  ACE

  Pulling into the long driveway of the overdone Italian mansion, I’m not sure I realized how well-off Enzo had it. I knew where he lived. His address? Of course. I’m the tech guy, it’s my job, but I’ve never been here. I’ve heard stories of its extravagance, but as I ride past the giant round lawn with a huge marble water
fountain in the middle, I know Enzo lived the good life.

  But the minute we pull inside the yard, I see it, my skin prickles as I tense all over noticing the three bodies lying on the ground, blood pooling from their wounds. The mansion is a two-story, red brick with giant white pillars, and I frantically scope out the windows as I pull up my ride in front of the staircase leading to the double wooden doors with iron artwork. On either side of the doorway is two cement statues of noble lions.

  How very Enzo.

  I shut off my ride, tension flooding through me as Torque pulls in beside me with Franky behind him in the Alpha Romeo. Everything looks pretty calm considering there’s three dead bodies out the front. But the thing about looks is they can be deceiving. Sliding off my ride, I yank my helmet off and shove it on my seat, then dive into my saddle bag to pull out a fresh magazine. We tend to keep one loaded with bullets in our bags in case of times like these. Torque does the same as we switch it out of our guns. I check my previous mag, only two bullets left. Yeah, not enough if I need my Glock inside.

  Franky watches us as he signals to some of his men. They grab their guns from the trunk of the Romeo, and we head for the mansion taking slow, careful steps, our guns drawn. We don’t know if they’re already inside, round the back, or dead as well. But either way, we have to be prepared.

  I glance at Torque. “You doing all right?”

  He wracks his jaw back and forth like he’s trying to hide the pain he’s obviously feeling. “Yep, gotta do what’s right for Enzo’s family. We gotta take care of them, Ace.”

  I clasp his shoulder. “We will, brother, we will.”

  The front door swings open, my hands don’t hesitate as I swing my gun up aiming right for the door, my heart rate picking up as my breath catches in my throat. The door stays open but nothing’s happening.

  Red fucking flag.

  I side-eye Torque, and he grits his teeth.

  “Show yourself!” Torque yells.

  Slowly, a form appears in the doorway. A heavily pregnant Bianca, Enzo’s wife, steps out. Tears streaming down her pale face, her hands held high in the air, her eyes wide as she stares directly at Franky with her bottom lip quivering.

  “Bianca, it’s just us,” Franky calls out to her.

  She subtly shakes her head as she’s shoved from behind, and she stumbles out the door, a man wearing all black holds a gun into her spine as all of us aim straight at him.

  “Bianca, you’re gonna be fine,” Torque calls out.

  She takes in the leather of his cut as she sniffs. “Torque?” she murmurs, and he nods.

  “Shut up, or I’ll shoot you right in the stomach,” the man behind her grunts.

  Her hands fall to her heavily pregnant belly. I didn’t even know Enzo and Bianca had a child on the way. Enzo is always so damn secretive about his family. I could never find much information on them either. I certainly had no idea about this.

  “No, not my baby. Hurt me, I don’t care, just don’t hurt my baby,” Bianca cries.

  The baby must be important, I know motherly love is real, but she seems protective of this one. Tension filters through the air. I can’t get a clean shot at the guy from where I am. It’s too risky. Franky stands back whispering to his men. I have no idea what he’s saying to them, but Torque steps forward seeming impatient to wait for whatever plan Franky’s coming up with.

  “Who sent you?” Torque asks.

  The man aims the gun at Bianca’s head clicking off the safety. I tense my muscles as I edge a little closer. “That’s something you’re going to find out, Torque,” he replies.

  I glance at Torque, who seems not even slightly unsettled by the comments. “You obviously know who I am, but we don’t fuckin’ know you.”

  He lets out a menacing cackle as he pulls Bianca to him tighter, her soft cries echo through the darkened night. “You will find out. All of you will, and when you do…” his eyes dart between Franky and Torque, “… all hell is going to break loose.” Then his eyes drift to me in an intense fevered stare, his lips slowly turn up in a sinister way making him seem even more psychotic, somehow like that comment was directed right at me. I go to say something, but he shoves Bianca forward away from him, she stumbles trying to catch her feet as he throws his hands to the sides like he’s fucking Jesus leaving him wide open. “Onore tra la mafia!”

  His hand with the gun flies up, the tip of his gun pressing under his chin. Before I have a second to register, he pulls back on the trigger, the blast resounding through the night air like the wave of a freight train roaring through the yard. Bianca screams as his brain matter splatters all over the back of her while he falls to the porch in a bloody heap.

  Franky and his men take off at the same time we do. We all race up the stairs, the Andrettis tearing into the house obviously to check for more intruders, but Torque and I grab Bianca on either side, wrapping our arms around her as we lead her over to the seat on the porch.

  “You’re okay, Bianca. He won’t hurt you now.” I try to calm her tears.

  She sits on the seat as Torque glances around like he’s not sure we’re alone. There definitely could be more of them out there. But right now, Bianca is weeks, maybe days away from giving birth, and she doesn’t need any undue stress.

  As it is, we’re going to have to tell her that her husband died today.

  She sniffs, raising her chin as if to gather herself, while a stoic look crosses her face. “What has Enzo gotten himself into now?” Her demeanor has completely changed. She’s gone from terrified mother to Mafia queen in an instant. She’s pulled herself together remarkably as she places one hand on her stomach, the other wiping her cheek.

  Torque squats looking her right in her eyes. “Bianca, it’s not a good day.”

  She licks her lips, clearing her throat. “You know, Enzo was always so secretive about his family… about Zia and me.” Torque and I both dip our heads in acknowledgment. “Enzo needed a son, it’s Mafia tradition. So when he didn’t produce one, his family, his men, his enemies all saw him as weak.” I wonder where this is going, but before I can say anything she continues, “Before Zia…” she slowly turns up her lips as if reliving a nicer memory in her mind, “… the light of Enzo’s life, we tried to start our family. I had a miscarriage of our very first child. Then I carried our second baby to full term. Enzo’s firstborn child, a boy. Like it should be…” she steadies her shoulders like she’s trying to be strong, “… he was stillborn.” She’s stronger than I give her credit for as she continues, “Then came our beautiful principessa, Zia, our miracle baby. She may not have been the boy Enzo needed for his lineage, or the boy he needed to take over as capo di tuttu capi, but she’s the apple of his eye. Still, there was no need to stop trying for Enzo’s heir, right?”

  I glance at Torque who exhales like this is going to be hard to listen to.

  “After Zia, I had another two miscarriages, then somehow a pregnancy held. We were lucky enough to get another boy.” She inhales and her face lights up so brightly. “Enzo was over the moon. People would stop looking at him as a joke…” the light in her features falls dim, and she goes back to stoic, “… nine months later, he, too, was stillborn.”

  My stomach turns. I get now why she’s so protective of this baby she’s carrying. Even though she’s pregnant, there are no guarantees.

  She winces. “Enzo was distraught. He felt like a failure. Failure of a father and of a husband. We would try again, and one more time I miscarried… so he gave up on his dream of having a son to carry on his legacy. You see, he wasn’t the problem at all. Everyone thought it, and he let them because that’s the man he is. He’d rather take the fall than let them think ill of me. I’m the problem…. endometriosis, so bad they said to stop trying. So we did. We stopped trying. We gave up. Lost all hope.” She lets out a defeated laugh and shrugs. “Then three years later…” She rubs her stomach. “He wasn’t planned, he certainly wasn’t expected. We’d given up hope of another baby, especia
lly a boy. But he’s here, inside me. Whether he’ll make it the entire way or not, I don’t know. But for now, he’s our miracle boy. A son.”

  My head hangs low. Enzo won’t ever get to know his son. It tears my damn hard heart out. Torque exhales seeming to feel the weight of the situation as well.

  She sighs. “I don’t know what hit you all today. I don’t know who these men are, but I’m pretty sure they’re fellow Mafia. There is one thing I know for sure.”

  We both glance up to see tears welling in her eyes.

  “What’s that?” I ask.

  She sniffs her newfound hard façade starting to crack as her hand expands on her stomach. “Enzo…” Her lip trembles. “If you and Franky are here and not him…” She leaves the sentence open, her eyes welling as Torque reaches forward grabbing both her hands.

  “I’m sorry, Bianca.”

  She lets out a gasp as her façade falls. Tears stream down her cheeks as she tries so desperately to keep it together. “Did he go out fighting?”

  Her question shocks me, but I answer her, “With everything he had.”

  A satisfied look crosses her face. “That’s my man. Did he get his final cigar?”

  Torque nods. “Actually, yeah, he did. Kinda took out the pizzeria with it, though.”

  “Literally going out with a bang.” She closes her eyes with a warm smile. “Il mio amore.”

  “He said to tell you both that he’ll always love you,” I tell her translating what Enzo said in Italian.

  She closes her eyes pressing her hand to her chest as Franky steps outside holding onto a now thirteen-year-old Zia. Her once black curly hair is now long and straight. She’s come into her own and is on her way to being a beauty like her mother. Franky yanks her by her arm through the door onto the porch. “There’s another three dead inside,” Franky states matter-of-factly.

  Zia seems really pissed off as he strides her up to us. She takes in the sight of Torque and me, and she softens slightly. Zia stills in front of her mother and drops onto the bench beside her, pulling her into a hug. “Mom, I was so worried about you.”