𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 |𝟏𝟖+|

31

Miguel Raffetò POV

Getting a call from Enzo whilst getting in the car after buying takeout to go back to Etta's, I had a weird feeling before I even answered the phone.

"Sorry man, I just need to take this."

I stepped back out of Carters car and answered the call. "Enzo?"

"Miguel, how fast can you get over here?"

And that was how I knew I was fucked.

Twenty minutes later and I found myself punching in the digits for Enzo's penthouse suite.

Enzo had taken after his brother in the Lianni family business, so for him to call us in once we'd given up that way of life was a little disturbing to say the least.

Only he hadn't call us in. It seemed to only be me.

"Where are the others?" Was the first thing I said once I found Enzo pouring whisky into two glasses.

"I don't need them. I only need to borrow your...technical expertise."

I held my hands up and immediately started backing away. "No, no, no. I've given that lifestyle up Zoey. We all did, and you fucking know that?"

He set the whisky bottle down and ran his hand through his hair, seemingly void of his usual teasing demeanour.

On closer look, the poor guy looked beat. Enzo, or Zoey as his nickname goes, is just a year older than Rome had been when he took over as capo. Gio still is behind the scenes, but the torch was passed to Enzo when Rome gave it up.

Romeo was worried for his brother, just as anyone would be, but Enzo was adamant he wanted to carry on the family legacy and to him, fair enough.

I just hope he wouldn't burn out when shit got too real.

"I know Guel. I fucking know. I wouldn't call if it wasn't important."

I started pacing, my way of putting a lid on the frustrated anger I was feeling right now. "You clearly don't know Enzo, because if you understood just how much it takes to be rid of that shit, I wouldn't be stood here right now."

He turned and rested his palms on a side counter, falling silent as he hung his head.

"Zoey?" I took exasperated steps towards him until I was at his side. "Zoey, you're like a brother to me - an annoying one at that, but we're family. You must get how pissed I feel right now?"

He nodded, reaching for his whisky before standing back to full height. "I'm sorry Migs, I fucking am. As pathetic as it sounds, I just didn't know where else to turn. I don't wanna let dad down, but I also don't wanna let Rome down."

I frowned. "Zoey, you could never. We all know how hard this lifestyle is, any man in your position has felt this way at least once in their life."

"I get that, I do. But I....Fuck."

I clasped a hand on his shoulder. "But what Zo?"

He hesitated before he confessed. "I wanna live up to Romes standard. Sure he wasn't the head all that long, but I don't wanna let him down." He dropped his head again. "But it's not just that."