The brothers themselves are the only ones who seems to understand the fucked up games that they play with each other, the abuse, both mentally and physically. The way they manipulate the people close to the other.
It’s why Enzo and I will never be on the same side.
Except for in this moment.
“I’ve got her,” he says, not releasing his grip, but not pushing either, not trying to force me. “I’m stronger, so it’ll be easier for me to get her up the stairs while you get the shower hot.”
He’s right, Enzo is pure muscle, never having lost his strength from his days in the military.
I bite down on the inside of my jaw. My heart tells me not to let her go, I can’t trust anyone else to make sure she’s safe. But my head knows better. Enzo isn’t going to hurt her, he only does that when Maximo is around and only God knows where that Costa is right now. It isn’t here and that’s the only important thing.
“We need to hurry,” he gives a gentle nudge.
I let my grip go slack and he takes her from me, his muscles bulging under her weight.
I slip past him, taking the stairs two at a time. I open the bathroom door, leaving it gaping for Enzo. I work fast, turning the hot water on in the shower. It only takes a few seconds to heat up and by that time Enzo is already in the door, moving toward the shower.
He looks at the running water for a moment before stepping right under it.
The water runs over his body and Winter’s. He makes sure to keep her face from being directly under it.
She lets out a little moan and I move to peer closer at her face. Her eyes are still closed but her brows are pinched together slightly.
I let out a breath of relief.
“Do you think she needs the doctor?” Enzo asks and he’s no longer able to mask the look on his face.
He cares too.
That much is clear, and I don’t know how that makes me feel.
It’s one thing to know another man is after the same woman’s body as you, but her heart is an entirely different entity. Up until this point, I thought the only heart Enzo wanted was Maximo’s, but now I’m starting to doubt.
And now isn’t the time for that.
“No,” I tell him after a moment. “She’s going to be okay, we’ll just need to keep an eye on her.”
He nods. “She needs a change of clothes.” Slowly, he sinks down to his knees, one at a time before sitting completely on his butt. He slides until his back is against the wall, cradling Winter’s head in his arm.
He looks down at her face and a muscle jumps in his jaw. He looks back at me and I don’t like what I see. It has to be an almost exact replica of my own face.
“You know that Maximo will never let you have her,” I say, watching him closely.
He shakes his head slightly. “I don’t want her,” he lies with a straight face. His lips press together. “The truth is that Giovanni will never let you have her.”